LIFE SCRIPTS

Now Cain said to his brother Abel, “Let’s go out to the field.” While they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him. Then the Lord said to Cain, “Where is your brother Abel?” “I don’t know,” he replied. “Am I my brother’s keeper?”
Genesis 4:8‭-‬9 NIV
https://bible.com/bible/111/gen.4.8-9.NIV

The first account of murder in scripture is filled with conspiracy, hatred and a vengeful drive. Cain hated his brother Abel to the extent that he conspired to kill him. But one stark reality from this account is the way he hid his anger and pain. He even asked his brother to go with him out into the fields without his suspicion. Later on as God asked him about his brother, he responded asking whether he’s his brothers keeper! Resentment of others for whatever reason is always a slippery slope. Festering anger builds to a climax…a desire to inflict physical harm…a desire to hurt…a desire to kill. This desire can be so strong that we disregard the people close to us. But God in His wisdom points us to His way. In the previous verses, He confronted Cain about his sacrifice and asked him to ‘look into his heart and do the right thing’. Our resentment of the success of others should lead us to ask ourselves what we’re not doing right. God is a gracious God. He always points us towards the right direction. However, the choice is ours. We may decide to look into ourselves and mend our ways or to resent others because of their success and be jealous. Later on, the jealousy to build into more resentment which builds into anger and ultimate a desire to hurt others physically. Christ stated in Mathew 5 that anyone who’s angry at his (or her) brother (or sister) is guilty of murder. Here in the story of the first brothers, we see this reality playing out clearly.