Be Still And Know

Genesis 4:8-9 This is the world’s first murder. Isn’t it terrible that, so early in the Bible, we have to confront such an appalling evil? If you have ever known a family that has experienced a murder, you will know the awful impact that it has – for years to come – on everyone concerned. It isn’t clear why Cain’s offering to the Lord was unacceptable, but he is furious about it and determined to do away with his brother. After the murder, God caught up with Cain and his response to God was a bizarre one: “Am I my brother’s guardian?” he asks. The translation that you may be more familiar with is: “Am I my brother’s keeper?”, although I quite like the Living Bible paraphrase of: “How should I know? Am I supposed to keep track of him wherever he goes?” Whichever version you choose, it is a crazy response. God’s reply might well have been: “No, Cain, you don’t need to know everything about your brother and everywhere he goes, but that doesn’t mean you can kill him.” God tells Cain that Abel’s bl