The LORD said to Cain, “Where is your brother Abel?”

We are starting to see a pattern emerge here in these readings from Genesis. The Lord had asked Adam where he was, if he had eaten the forbidden fruit. Here after Cain had murdered Abel, the Lord was asking him where his brother was. God is not looking for information here, He already knows the answers. What God wants more than anything else, is relationship with his creatures. And there can be no meaningful relationship without honesty and integrity. As we saw earlier, Adam was not willing to take responsibility for what he had done. And what we see here, is Cane lying to the Lord. He answers “I don’t know, am I my brother’s keeper (Genesis 4:9)?”

Since we are to be imitators of God (Ephesians 5:1), then we can learn something from this passage about God, and about how to deal with those who have wronged us. So first of all, the Lord is respectful in the way that He approaches those who have wronged Him. He brings no railing accusation, but in line with His desire for relationship, asks a question which if answered honestly would go a long way to restoring the relationship. He does this even though He knows that he will not receive the desired response.

Secondly, He implicitly affirms his fairness in dealing with us when He asks “If you do well, will you not be accepted” (Genesis 4:7)? It is evident that Cain did not think that he had been dealt with fairly, nevertheless with this question he can either see the truth, or refuse to see it. Thirdly, God speaks the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15), when He warns Cain that sin lies at the door, and that its desire is for him (also verse 7). Paul reaffirms these three aspects of the way that we are intended to deal with others in Galatians 6:1 when he says “If a man is overtaken in a sin, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted.” He adds the last phrase, since we are not perfect like God!

Father, thank You for the gracious way that You deal with us. As Cain did, others have massively misunderstood You. But in order to understand the good news, we first need to understand the bad news. You are just and You must punish sin. But You are also merciful and in what Jesus Christ did on the cross, You have revealed that You can be just to forgive (1 John 1:9). In this way You can, if we are willing to receive it, restore us to right relationship with You. Nevertheless, as the Scriptures say, You cannot be mocked, we reap what we sow (Galatians 6:7). Knowing that there are consequences to my sin, helps to stay on the right path. I seem to need this. Thank You Lord in Jesus Name Amen