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Choices
In his novel, East of Eden, John Steinbeck tells the story of two brothers. It's an allusion to another story of two brothers, the first brothers. One of them had a choice to make. Every moment of every day we are faced with decisions to make. Some are mundane, some are a matter of life and death, and some may be a matter of sin and salvation. But whatever the situation may be, we are all given the opportunity to make decisions, to choose.
For these first two brothers, Cain & Abel, living out their own version of sibling rivalry, there were decisions to make. Choices. And choices have outcomes.
Cain was into production - creating gardens - focused, it would seem, on what he had produced. We, in the western world especially, like that. Plant a seed, and it pretty well stays there, growing in place, generally predictable and relatively easy to manage.
Abel was a shepherd. He cared for living creatures, moving them from one place to another where they could find nourishment Abel had not provided, keeping them safe from those things that would do them harm, nurturing their growth. Plant a sheep somewhere, turn you back for a moment, and it may or may not still be there. Not exactly the same skill set required here. We, in the western world especially, find this more challenging. Relational things are more challenging simply producing things.
Choices are made. A conversation between God and Cain ensues. More choices are made. Poor choices. The conversation resumes. For all the conversation, much was not really being heard, and the consequences were huge, for Abel, for Cain, and for all of us who live out similar patterns.
Genesis 4
Genesis 4
New International Version (NIV)
1 Adam made love to his wife Eve, and she became pregnant and gave birth to Cain. She said, “With the help of the LORD I have brought forth a man.” 2 Later she gave birth to his brother Abel.
Now Abel kept flocks, and Cain worked the soil. 3 In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the LORD. 4 And Abel also brought an offering—fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The LORD looked with favor on Abel and his offering, 5 but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast.
6 Then the LORD said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? 7 If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.”
8 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.
9 Then the LORD said to Cain, “Where is your brother Abel?”
“I don’t know,” he replied. “Am I my brother’s keeper?”
10 The LORD said, “What have you done? Listen! Your brother’s blood cries out to me from the ground.11 Now you are under a curse and driven from the ground, which opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand. 12 When you work the ground, it will no longer yield its crops for you. You will be a restless wanderer on the earth.”
13 Cain said to the LORD, “My punishment is more than I can bear. 14 Today you are driving me from the land, and I will be hidden from your presence; I will be a restless wanderer on the earth, and whoever finds me will kill me.”
15 But the LORD said to him, “Not so; anyone who kills Cain will suffer vengeance seven times over.” Then the LORD put a mark on Cain so that no one who found him would kill him. 16 So Cain went out from the LORD’s presence and lived in the land of Nod, east of Eden.
It is into the dynamics of this story, and our stories, that Pastor Fidi leads us this week as he reflects on the story of these two brothers, the choices they made, and the routes they took. If you would like to listen to the sermon again, or perhaps for the first time, you can access our sermon library by clicking here.
Are we listening? Are we listening soon enough? And if we have failed to listen well at the outset, are we ready to listen now? God does not cut off communication with us, even when we turn a deaf ear to Him. There is good news in that for us, even now, if we're willing to listen once again.
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