Genesis 4: 1- 10 Denying Right to live to “Worthless’

Genesis 4: 1- 10 Denying Right to live to “Worthless’

“And when they were in the field, Cain rose up against his brother Abel, and killed him” (V.8b)

This story portrays the breakdown of communication and it also explores the reasons too. The issue ‘otherness’ is prominent here as Cain looks his brother as ‘other’. Cain is in dialogue with God on two occasions, but both times there is not an equal dialogue. Both times God forces Cain to speak. In this text looking is the supreme form of expression for a good relationship. Cain doesn’t look directly at his brother Abel, but lies in ambush for him like a wild animal prowling for prey. God’s speaking in 4:6,7 lays bare Cain’s anger and bad intention. God urges to do well, to lift up his head and to look at his brother, and God warns Cain .In God’s speaking to Cain ,’your brother occurs 3 times. Where as Cain only speaks once of ‘my’ brother, and it is in negative sense. In his words and actions Cain never behaves like a brother. God urges Cain to accept Abel as his brother and to behave as a brother. Abel, as his name indicates functions as the ‘worthless’ one .He is also continuously referred to as ‘brother’, and never as a person in his own right, with a value of his own.

As we have seen, Cain’s posture o (not) speaking and (not) looking plays an essential role throughout the story. His ‘empty’ speaking to his brother in4:8a, which represents the non-existing or empty relationship with his brother. Cain both directly and indirectly, treats Abel as completely worthless. The causes underlying the murder and the consequences that follow it are more central to this story than the murder itself. Broken relationship caused the destruction of the communication and where starts the actual annihilation of the brother.

Rejection of Brotherhood

Cain is described as negating his brother: he rejects his brotherhood with Abel through his looks, his words, and his final deed, the murder of Abel. Envy can be the one reason for the rejection of the brotherhood. Cain is envious not because Abel is more successful, but because God looks at a blunderer like Abel while ignoring Cain. A participatory community living is essential for a meaningful communication.

Justice Issue.

While God encounters Cain, he retorts, without any qualm of conscience, that he does not know where his brother is and that he has no responsibility for his brother(Am I brother’s keeper?).God constantly asks the question, Where is your brother? The unity of the entire human race and the mutual responsibility of the individuals with one another are grounded on God’s will. The society is grounded on the fact that humans are keepers of one another. Any action against this relationship is injustice. The injustice done by the humans against humanity is violence against God, against the structure of the universe, and even against oneself.

Domination.

According to the Old Testament view, blood and life belong to God alone; wherever a person commits a murder he/she attacks God’s very own right of possession. Domination means negating the mutual love and responsibility. God confronts Cain with God’s relationship to his brother.

God’s search for weak In this story Abel is not in the limelight. Abel means vapor. His name strongly suggests that in the eyes of other people he does not amount to much. Cain does not look directly at his brother Abel but lies in ambush for him like a wild animal prowling for prey. God reproaches Cain for not looking at his weaker brother. God does give attention to this so-called worthless one. God’s inclusive nature strengthens the communication process. This story shows that God holds out a plea for brotherhood between human beings in spite of their differences.

Prayer- God of Communication, helps us to see life’s interconnectedness and dignity of God given life in our relationship.

Thought for the day- Give respect to life and don’t look anybody as ‘other’ but see as brother or sister.