Embedded Files
– Hope Dies
– Hope Dies
Back to Outside the Garden
Back to The Fall
Back to Creation of Woman
Go to Creation of Man
Go to Way Back Yonder
Adam and Eve were very fruitful and they were becoming many. As the years passed, they had two sons, Cain and Abel, and fourteen daughters. The two oldest daughters were the twins Aklia and Awan. Aklia was almost the spitting image of her mother, whereas Awan had features that more resembled her father.
The first human pair was proud of their children. Adam was grateful that as they grew older, they could help him farm for food. With more mouths to feed he needed the help. Eve welcomed the help in preparing the food and caring for the wood house the men had built. And both of them were thankful for the hope Cain and Able had brought to the world. They had learned the hard way that God expected faithfulness to His commandments and would only continue to bless mankind if they were loyal and only worshiped Him. Having failed at this themselves, their hope now rested in their sons. It was up to them to love God and bring forth generations of faithful worshipers of the Almighty. Without them the human race would be doomed to perish as God would withhold any protection or blessings.
Cain and Abel were the first born of Adam and Eve’s children. Both had good qualities but were as different as day and night in their temperament. Being the oldest, Cain was the first human child and was looked upon as the heir of all. It seemed he was destined to be the patriarch of humanity once Adam’s life was finished. He realized the importance of this, as his father was over him and his siblings, whereas he would be the leader over many more as humans multiplied and spread over more of the Earth.
Abel knew all this and had no resentment toward his brother. In fact, he admired Cain and looked up to him. Abel was a mild and meek individual. He was the happiest tending his flock of sheep and delighted in anyone showing interest in raising animals. There were many times he would go out of his way to show somebody the proper way to milk a cow. His tenderness and personable manner, not to mention his good looks, made him a darling with many of his sisters, not to mention his parents.
Cain, on the other hand, was not a people person and was a rugged individual. He had great qualities, such as, strong leadership, a quick wit, and the strength of two men. Instead of tending animals he delighted in being a farmer like his father. His dynamic personality resulted in him being swift to act. This had its good side but it made it easy for him to take offense and become angry. He wore his feelings on his shoulder and almost dared anyone to cross him. This resulted in Adam having to have a man-to-man talk with him on several occasions and him, in turn, having to apologize for an outburst.
One day the twin girls, Aklia and Awan, were busy sewing clothes near Cain’s tent. They chose this place because it was near where Abel tended his sheep and they could watch him as they worked. Cain was out in the field gathering grain and so they had an unobstructed view of Abel as he worked unaware of the attention he was drawing.
Aklia stopped sewing for a moment and just watched her brother in the distance. She couldn’t help herself and said, “Look at him over there.”
Awan was already looking and exclaimed, “Wow! Look at him flex those muscles.”
Without taking her eyes off him Aklia asked, “Do you think he’s doing it on purpose just to tease us?”
Awan giggled and replied, “I don’t know and I don’t care. I just want him to keep on doing it.” Aklia started giggling too when Abel looked up and saw his sisters looking at him. She whispered, “Look busy. He’s looking this way.”
They waved at him, and he waved back before returning to sheering a sheep. Awan kept sewing and matter-of-factly said, “He wants you.” This stunned Aklia, not so much as it was what she wanted, but, that someone had noticed and had said it. Especially was this uncomfortable as she knew her sister was infatuated with him, too. She stammered, “You think so? I mean, I’m sure he wants you, too.”
Awan rolled her eyes and declared, “Now, Aklia, everybody sees the way you two look at each other. He doesn’t look at me that way.”
She wasn’t too sure she was at ease with this conversation, so she mildly protested, “Oh, I don’t know.”
Awan touched her sister’s arm and stated, “Yes, you do. You know you’ve got mother’s good looks.” Aklia modestly protested, “You’re the beautiful one, not me.”
Bursting out laughing Awan responded, “No, I’m not. I favor Dad. And let’s face it, he’s good looking, but not as a woman.”
“Oh, don’t sell yourself short, sister,” Aklia retorted.
Trying to concentrate on her sewing, Awan acknowledged, “I’m not, but I’ve decided you and Abel should be together. I’ve set my sights elsewhere.”
Aklia’s mouth dropped open with surprise. “Oh—Awan! You sly one. You’re in love with Cain!”
With a subtle smile Awan confessed, “Well, let’s just say, if he ever asked me, I’d be willing to be his wife.”
Aklia had to admit she could see the two together. “You and he would make a good couple. He’s got a little bit of a temper, but you’re probably what he needs to help control it.”
“I know he’s not as handsome as Abel, but he works hard in the fields,” Awan observed. “He reminds me a lot of Dad.”
In the distance Cain was walking toward them as he came home from working in the fields. Aklia whispered, “Shhh! Here he comes.”
He approached the two girls and laid some grain down at the foot of his tent. “Hello, Aklia, and you too, Awan. How are my beautiful sisters today?”
Trying not to blush Awan replied, “We’re fine. Have you been working hard?”
He nodded his head and answered, “As always.”
Awan reached into a bucket of water sitting between her and Aklia and poured him a cup. “Here’s some cool water for you,” she said as she handed him the cup.
“Thank you,” he said. And then turning toward Aklia he declared, “You’re looking radiant today.”
She was taken back by his sudden interest in her. This was not what she wanted so she responded, “Thank you. And doesn’t Awan look good?”
“Yeah, sure,” he mumbled as he felt a tinge of resentment at her apparent rebuff.
An awkward silence ensued and was only broken when Abel joined the group and greeted everyone. “Hello, my brother and sisters.”
Still awestruck, the two girls responded in unison, “Hello, Abel.”
Cain was well aware of the fondness his sisters had for his brother. So, he tried to think of something to say that would impress them and take their attention off of Abel. “Brother, you’re all sweaty and smelly.” Then he started laughing and quickly added, “Do I detect the smell of goat?”
He was the only one laughing and Abel said in defense, “It’s honest work, Cain. There’s nothing a little water and soap won’t cure.”
Realizing he had placed himself in an uncomfortable situation as he was the only one to see the humor in Abel’s smell, he tried to save face and turn the tables. “Oh, you’re saying you do honest work and I don’t. Is that how it is?”
Abel shook his head and meekly replied, “That’s not what I said and you know it.”
“Well, that’s the way I heard it,” Cain bristled as he was now becoming angry.
“Then you heard wrong, brother,” Abel responded as he too was becoming irritated at his brother’s obvious attempt at gathering attention.
“So, now I can’t hear. What else are you going to find wrong?” Cain snarled as he was close to shouting.
“I don’t have time for this,” Abel said with disgust. “I’m going back to work.”
He turned and started walking back to his herd when Aklia yelled after him, “Wait up, Abel. I’ll go with you.” Abel stopped and let her catch up to him. A look of shock spread over Cain’s face and he shouted, “Aklia, I thought you and me could spend some time together.” She didn’t even turn around but yelled back, “Sorry, Cain, but I’m going with Abel.”
It so happened that Lucifer was walking nearby and had detected humans angry with one another. So, he decided to investigate. He had been interested in the rivalry between the two brothers and checked in on them from time to time to see if one of them might need a little prodding to do something that would displease the Lord. Cain was his primary source of interest, and unknown to Cain and Awan, he stood beside them listening to the conversation. He could tell Cain was about to explode with anger and he sensed the timing might be right to help matters along.
As for Cain, he was red faced with anger at his brother and embarrassment for Aklia’s snub. “I just don’t understand him. Everything’s given to him and it’s still not enough.”
Awan stood, touched his arm and said, “I’ll go with you. We can spend some time together.”
Ignoring her offer and trying to control his rage he muttered, “I hate him.”
“Don’t say that, Cain. You can’t mean it,” Awan protested as she was becoming more and more anxious at his attitude.
“Aklia likes him. He’s Mom and Dad’s favorite son,” Cain continued. Then he turned and looked her in the face and asserted, “I bet if the truth be told you even like him better than me.”
“I like him, but I like you, too,” she declared.
He gave a snort and started walking away. “Ah, just forget it!” She ran after him yelling all the way, “Cain! Cain! Wait up.”
Lucifer saw right away this had possibilities. He had been thinking and plotting for some time on what to do with the humans to show the Lord what a mistake it had been in creating them and now this was being handed to him. While he was pondering the implications the angel Azazel landed nearby and approached him.
“Pitiful! Just plain pitiful!” Lucifer said when the angel was in hearing distance. “What is?” Azazel asked.
Pretending to wipe a tear from his eye Lucifer continued, “Pitiful! I mean pit—ti—ful!!”
Azazel was becoming concerned as he had never seen Lucifer act this way. “What is, Luce?”
“The way that mean old Abel treats poor innocent Cain,” Lucifer explained, “It’s just pitiful, Az, it’s just pitiful.”
“Yeah?”
Lucifer continued his explanation, “Just because he’s better looking, and his parents like him better, not to mention God likes him, and all his sisters think he’s the greatest, just because of that he has to rub it in Cain’s face all the time.”
“I’ve never noticed before,” Azazel declared.
“That’s because you’ve been guarding the gate to the garden all these years. You’ve missed a lot,” Lucifer offered and then asked, “By the way, why aren’t you there now?”
“Oh, I got tired of watching that flaming sword turn day in and day out. It was so boring,” he explained. “And why bother, nobody ever tries to get through the gate. They know better.”
“So, who’s guarding it?”
“Uriel’s still there,” Azazel answered.
Lucifer shook his head in disgust. “He’s always been a goody-two-shoe, just like Abel. So, who did you get to fill in for you?”
“I talked Metatron into it,” the angel explained.
“Another do-gooder.”
“Well, he was willing to do it,” Azazel stated.
Lucifer patted him on the back and said, “I’m glad you got away from there. Maybe you can spend some time with Cain and see if you can help him.”
“How can I help?”
“I hear the Lord is willing to accept sacrifices from the humans. He says it will be a way of atonement for them,” Lucifer explained.
“What are they going to sacrifice?”
“I hear he wants animal sacrifices,” Lucifer replied.
“That doesn’t seem fair to the animals.”
Lucifer shrugged and said, “That’s the way it goes. Of course, animals are what Abel raises. It’s seeming awful convenient that He would want what Abel has and not what Cain has.”
Azazel mulled this over and then declared, “That doesn’t seem fair.”
Lucifer gave a long sigh and then offered, “My brother, that’s the way it’s been since that tree of good and evil thing. Nothing makes any sense anymore.”
Azazel thought about this for a moment. Lucifer was right, things had changed and he wasn’t sure he liked the way they had. He said, “You said I could help Cain.”
Lucifer reared back on his heels and offered, “Yeah, why don’t you help him prepare the best of what he has to offer from the field? Surely, with your help his sacrifice will be pleasing to God.”
“That’s a great idea, Luce!” Azazel excitedly declared. “With a little help I know he can present something the Lord will like.”
“It’ll make you look good, too,” Lucifer offered.
“Well, that’ll be a plus,” Azazel said as he smiled at the prospect. Looking off into the distance he saw Cain walking toward his tent. “Look, here he comes. I’m going to go ahead and get started.”
“Good. I’ll see you later,” Lucifer said as he left to leave Azazel alone with Cain. He didn’t go too far, just out of sight but still close enough to hear what was said.
Cain was still upset over Aklia’s choosing of Abel over him. Awan had tried to comfort him, but he finally told her he wanted to be alone and came back to his tent. He was about to go inside when Azazel appeared and said, “Hello, Cain.” Hardly turning around he sneered, “What do you want angel?”
Approaching closer Azazel asked, “Do I detect hostility?”
“Why shouldn’t I be angry?” Cain asked out of anguish for his situation. “It’s Abel this and Abel that. Everybody thinks I’m nothing.”
“Well, maybe I can help,” offered the angel.
“Why would you want to help me?”
“It’s what some of us angels do,” Azazel replied. “Besides, I think you have a point about how you’re treated. So, I’ve come to help.”
“Help with what?”
“Why don’t you offer some of your produce to God?” Azazel asked. “Surely He’ll be pleased with your sacrifice.”
This intrigued Cain as he thought about it: A sacrifice to God. This could be his chance to outshine Abel for once in his life. “You think so?” he asked.
“It will be a gesture He cannot ignore,” the angel offered.
Cain liked the idea. It would easy enough to do and if the Lord showed him favor then maybe Aklia would too.
“I think you’re right, angel,” he declared as he mulled it over a little more. “I’ll do it. At least, maybe the Lord can appreciate that I’m as good as Abel. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome, Cain,” Azazel said as he spread his wings and left Cain to carry out their plan.
Hurrying to make an offering, he threw a few leftovers of corn, barley, and wheat onto a pile on a nearby altar as a sacrifice to God. As he was finishing, Abel came up with the intent to make amends with his brother. Seeing the altar of food he asked, “You’ve made an offering, too, brother? I’ve finished mine, too.”
Still smarting from their last encounter and a little upset that Abel had provided a sacrifice to God, too, he snarled, “What’d you offer? Goat’s milk?”
“No. I took some firstlings from the flock and burnt them in sacrifice to the Lord,” Abel explained.
Cain gave a haughty laugh and snorted, “Hmmph, I don’t see how God will like you wasting good food like that. At least, I shared with him and didn’t waste anything.”
Before Abel could respond all became quiet as the Lord’s Voice appeared amongst them. Both humbled themselves and fell to bended knee. Abel bowed his head while Cain looked straight ahead in anticipation of a blessing.
The rich mellow Voice of God spoke, “Abel, the odor of your sacrifice is sweet and pleasing to me.”
“What about mine?” Cain bristled.
The Lord’s Voice responded, “Cain, why do you mock the Lord and offer what is left over after you have already partaken?”
This was too much, and Cain jumped to his feet and shouted, “What?!? It’s not good enough for You?!?”
Abel rose and placed his hand on Cain’s arm to try to calm him. “Cain, please don’t talk to the Lord that way.”
Cain was about to explode in anger and he balled his fist before saying as menacingly as he could, “Take your hand off me and get out of my sight!”
Backing away, Abel said as calmly as he could, “Okay, I’m leaving. We’ll talk later when you’ve had a chance to calm down.”
As Abel was leaving Cain kicked the altar he had built to God and the food on it went flying to the ground. The Lord’s Voice asked, “Why are you hot with anger? Why has your appearance become one of a mad man?”
“Why shouldn’t I be angry?” Cain sneered. “I can’t do anything right. It’s all about Abel. He can’t do any wrong. Well, I’m not Abel. I’m me!! Quit expecting me to be him!!! The way I’m being treated is not fair, and You know it.”
“If you turn to doing good, will there not be praise for you?” asked the Lord’s Voice.
Cain huffed and replied, “Yeah, right.”
God’s Voice warned, “If you do not turn to doing good, there is sin crouching at the entrance, and for you is its craving. Will you, for your part, get the mastery over it?”
With that Cain was left alone as he stewed over what had happened. He was convinced everyone was against him. It was him against the world.
Lucifer came over to him and was soon joined by Azazel who came down from above. Rubbing his chin Lucifer observed, “That didn’t go too well.”
“I thought it was a good idea,” Azazel said as he too was smarting from God’s reaction to Cain’s sacrifice.
“Well, it looks like He’s rejected both of you,” Lucifer offered. “Believe me, I know about rejection.”
“It doesn’t feel good,” Azazel pouted.
“Tell me about it,” Lucifer agreed. Then he offered, “Look you can still help Cain turn this thing around.”
“How?”
This was what Lucifer had been waiting to hear. Now, with Azazel’s help he could thwart God’s plan and eliminate this waste called “human.” Then everyone would be able to see that he was right and God had been wrong to reject his humble offer of himself. So, he laid out the plan for Azazel. “Well, it seems to me he’s never going to be able to compete with goody-goody Abel. But, say, what if Abel was no longer in the picture? What if Cain was the only male heir around? Then everybody would have to like him.”
Azazel smiled as he understood exactly what Lucifer was saying. “Hmmm…you present a very interesting solution. I think I could help with that.”
“Then I’ll leave him in your capable hands,” Lucifer said returning the smile.
Lucifer left Azazel as he appeared to Cain. It was time to think about the next steps in his battle against the Lord. He walked back to the Garden of Eden and waited in his hole for events to unfold.
Azazel approached Cain and asked, “Why are you sad, Cain?”
“Leave me alone, angel,” Cain barked.
“I regret you feel that way,” Azazel replied. “I was only trying to help.”
Cain shook his head and said, “It’s the same old story. Abel does something better than me and everybody thinks I’m a failure.”
“Then you need my help,” Azazel offered.
“I think you’ve helped enough,” Cain retorted.
“Well, I was willing to try again,” the angel explained as he raised his wings in preparation for flight. “But, since you’re not…”
“How can you help?”
Azazel lowered his wings and came closer. He looked around to make sure no one was listening and then explained, “I can show you how to make all different types of tools. They’ll help you with your work, but more importantly, everyone will be impressed with your skill as a craftsman. You’ll know how to do things that Abel doesn’t have a clue as to how to do them.”
Cain’s interest was peaked and he asked, “Hmmm…tools? What kind of tools?”
“Well, let’s start with a sword,” Azazel answered.
“Like the flaming one that blocks our entrance into the garden?”
Azazel snickered and then replied, “Yes, like that one but without the fire.”
“I don’t know. What do I need a sword for?”
Azazel patted him on the back and answered, “It will be useful to chop corn stalks and to rid your fields of weeds.”
“That has possibilities,” Cain agreed.
The angel continued, “And it will be a good instrument to protect yourself from wild beasts and, dare we say, from troubling siblings.”
“Like Abel!” Cain thought aloud. He smiled as he felt for the first time since Abel’s birth something was coming his way. This was a chance to change things. Maybe, for once, he could actually gain the upper hand over his brother.
Azazel nodded his head and said, “Possibly. Here let me show you how to make one.”
Cain fully absorbed himself in watching the angel weld a sword. It wasn’t hard at all if you knew how to do it. As they were working Cain started to relax and actually started to enjoy himself. He was still smarting from Aklia’s and the Lord’s snubbing of him but he wasn’t as mad as he had been. After awhile he asked, “Angel, am I wrong for disliking my brother?”
Without looking up Azazel replied, “You cannot deny your feelings.”
“Well, I know how I feel,” Cain declared.
“And how is that?”
“I know how I’ve been treated,” Cain responded. “I know how hard I try and it’s never enough. I don’t like the way that feels.”
“I can appreciate your feelings,” Azazel offered. “I know it’s got to be hard to have a brother who is loved more than you, to have people you love expect you to be more like him.”
--I’m Not Abel
Cain
♫ To hear such things makes me unstable,
But believe you me I’m not Abel.
He’s such a dear, and it’s so clear,
He’s the favorite of Dad and Mom.
He acts so good, the way he should,
But I don’t know where he’s coming from.
I feel so small; he’s got it all,
He knows how to get under my skin.
They love him more, me they ignore,
This is the truth and it’s always been.
He’s so pretty, pretty, pretty,
He’s such a pretty boy.
Everybody loves him,
He brings them all such joy.
It’s a pity, pity, pity,
To me he’s just a toy.
Something I can play with,
Or something to destroy.
You can call me evil,
Think that I’m insane.
But I’ll never be my brother,
I’ll never play his game.
Don’t try to place a label,
Don’t you dare think I’m Abel.
For one day I will make it plain,
I will make it plain.
I am Cain. ♫
Azazel
You’ve got to admit he is good looking.
Cain
♫ To hear such things makes me unstable,
But believe you me I’m not Abel.
She turns me down, when he’s around,
And I don’t know how to change her mind.
He takes the best, leaves me the rest,
He knows I’ve loved her for a long time.
It just not fair, but no one cares,
He gets any girl that comes his way.
I’ve had enough, this is no bluff,
Soon the time will come for him to pay. ♫
Cain & Azazel
♫ He’s so pretty, pretty, pretty,
He’s such a pretty boy.
Everybody loves him,
He brings them all such joy.
It’s a pity, pity, pity,
To me he’s just a toy.
Something I can play with,
Or something to destroy.
You can call me evil,
Think that I’m insane.
But I’ll never be my brother,
I’ll never play his game.
Don’t try to place a label,
Don’t you dare think I’m Abel.
For one day I will make it plain,
I will make it plain.
I am Cain. ♫
Azazel
You’ve tried your best, but even God turned his back.
Cain
♫ To hear such things makes me unstable,
But believe you me I’m not Abel.
God loves him too, what can I do?
I’ll never be that good in His eyes.
I find it strange, he’ll never change,
But wait until they see my surprise.
I have complained, but it’s in vain,
For no one has cared for what I’ve said.
But they’ll hear me; I’ll dance with glee,
When their wonder boy is good and dead. ♫
Cain & Azazel
♫ He’s so pretty, pretty, pretty,
He’s such a pretty boy.
Everybody loves him,
He brings them all such joy.
It’s a pity, pity, pity,
To me he’s just a toy.
Something I can play with,
Or something to destroy.
You can call me evil,
Think that I’m insane.
But I’ll never be my brother,
I’ll never play his game.
Don’t try to place a label,
Don’t you dare think I’m Abel.
For one day I will make it plain,
I will make it plain.
I am Cain. ♫
Azazel
But God loves you.
Cain
♫ You well know His love is a fable.
But God will find out I’m not Abel. ♫
Cain & Azazel
♫ We all know God’s love is a fable.
And they’ll soon find out,
Yes, they all will find out,
I’m not Abel.
I’m not Abel—. ♫
Azazel handed the sword to Cain and said, “There, it’s finished. What do you think?”
He took it and swung it back and forth to get a feel for it. It felt good. It felt powerful. There was a hint of mischief to it and he found himself liking it. He smiled at Azazel and replied, “I like it. Thank you, angel.”
Azazel lifted into the sky and said, “I’m glad to be of help.”
As Cain gripped the sword, he felt an odd coldness spread over him. The chill helped calm his heated spirit. He was now certain of what had to be done. Everything else he had tried never worked, so there was only one thing left to do.
Carefully running a finger along the blade’s edge, he felt the power the tool gave him. As he picked at the sharp edge, he sensed its power running through the handle and surging into his body. It was a wonderful feeling, one of supremacy, one of being in total command. A devious smile spread across his lips as he anticipated what was to come.
Abel had been spending his time thinking about his brother. He didn’t like what had happened and he didn’t like his brother being mad at him. How did he know God would pick his sacrifice over Cain’s? He wasn’t trying to show his brother up, he just wanted to please the Lord, and he would have been eager to work with Cain and offer a sacrifice together, if only his brother had been willing. All his life he had looked up to his older brother. It was Cain who took the time to teach him all sorts of things as they grew up, as their parents were busy eking out an existence and bearing and raising their sisters. He enjoyed the company of everyone, which made him likable to almost everyone, and it tore at his heart that his only brother was angry with him. So, he decided he would try one more time to make amends with him.
He took a deep breath to calm his nerves as he approached his brother’s tent. Cain was still examining the sword when Abel greeted him. Then after a pause he blurted out, “Brother, I feel bad about what’s going on between you and me. I don’t like what’s happened.”
“Then why don’t we go and talk about it,” Cain grinned. “Besides, I wanted to show you a tool I’ve invented.”
“Sure, let’s go to my tent and I’ll fix us something to eat,” Abel excitedly said as he thought he could finally do something to make amends with his brother. Then he asked about the sword, “What is it?”
As they walked toward Abel’s tent Cain explained how he had made the sword and what it could be used for. “It’s like the one the angels use to guard the garden only it’s not flaming.” Then after a pause he added, “I want to show you how to use it.”
Aklia had told her parents what had happened between Cain and Abel that morning and they became concerned over what they heard. It was not the first time Cain had become upset over the attention given Abel, but lately he seemed to become more violent in his outburst against his brother. So, they talked about it and decided to go and discuss it with him. They wanted to reassure him of their love and try to help him see he had no need to be jealous.
They approached Cain’s tent and found it empty. Adam looked around at the food slung everywhere. He shook his head and said, “Look at this mess! Where is that boy?”
Eve, always the mother, corrected him, “Now, dear, he’s not a boy. He’s a man.”
“I know,” he sighed. “But he needs to start acting like one. Sometimes I wonder...”
She gave him a friendly swat on the arm and then said, “I’m going to go and see if Abel has seen him.” As she was leaving she turned and stressed, “If you see him, please remember to be nice.”
“Yes, dear,” Adam replied as he motioned for her to go on.
“Well, I might as well help clean this place up,” he said to himself when Eve was out of sight. He was carrying some of the scattered food into Cain’s tent when he heard Eve scream. It was a bloodcurdling scream, and he dropped everything and ran as hard as he could to see what was wrong. When he found her, she was cradling Abel’s lifeless body. Her hands were covered in his blood that had poured from the gaping wound in his chest. Distraught, he fell to his knees beside her, and they both sobbed their hearts out.
Cain had been hiding in some bushes and when he saw his father run off to join his mother he came out and hurried over to his tent. He quickly grabbed a piece of cloth and wiped the blood off of the sword. Then after cleaning his hands he went out and started cleaning up the rest of the food scattered around. He did his best to act as if nothing had happened.
All became quiet as the Lord’s Voice came to him. He was nervous and he took deep breaths to try and ease his anxiety. The Lord spoke and asked, “Where is Abel, your brother?”
Cain kept working and coolly replied, “I don’t know. Am I my brother’s keeper?”
He could hear his parents’ weeping before he could see them. Adam was trying to help Eve walk but he was almost too distressed himself. When they reached Cain’s tent Eve slumped to the ground in grief. Adam blurted out, “Cain, your brother is dead!!”
The Lord’s Voice moved closer to Cain and declared, “What have you done? Listen! Your brother’s blood is crying out to me from the ground.”
Eve looked up at her son and begged, “Cain! Tell me it’s not true.”
Aklia and Awan came running as they had heard their mother scream. They saw the looks on their parent’s faces and Aklia, trying to catch her breath, asked, “What’s wrong?”
Through his tears Adam sputtered, “Cain has killed Abel!”
Both girls were stunned at the news and broke down crying. Aklia kneeled beside her mother and started holding her as she howled with grief. Wiping her tears, Awan went over to her brother and not knowing what to say just asked, “Cain?!?”
He looked down at his feet and then declared, “He deserved it!!”
Adam couldn’t believe it. “He deserved it?!? That’s all you can say?”
“You’re an animal!!” yelled Aklia as she helped her mother to her feet.
The Lord’s Voice spoke again, “Cain, you are cursed from the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood at your hand. When you cultivate the ground, it will give nothing back to you. A wanderer and a fugitive you will become in the earth.”
Cain was astounded. He quickly looked around at everyone and then declared, “What?!? You’re banishing me.”
Filled with anger and grief Aklia tried to rush and hit him but Adam restrained her. She shouted, “I pray to God, someone finds you and kills you!!”
When the full realization of what was happening struck Cain, he fell to his knees and cried, “I didn’t know!! I didn’t know this would happen! My punishment is too great! Please have mercy! Anyone finding me will surely kill me to revenge my brother’s death. Please Lord, I don’t want to die!!”
Before anyone else could speak the Lord’s Voice stated, “This I declare: Anyone killing Cain must suffer vengeance seven times. A sign will be placed upon you to protect you.”
Eve, responding to the Lord’s words, walked over to her son, and reaching out with a bloodied hand, she smeared Abel’s blood on his forehead in the shape of an “X.” Then she drew a circle around it. The Lord moved and tattooed what Eve had drawn as a permanent sign of protection. No one was ever able to remove it for the rest of his life. Eve turned and buried her head in Adam’s shoulder. She cried, “I’ve lost both of my sons!!”
Cain rose and looked at his father. “I did what I had to do.” Adam looked away and simply said, “Leave.”
As he was gathering some of his belongings, he turned to Aklia and asked, “Will you go with me and be my wife?”
She spat at him and declared, “I would never go with someone like you.”
Awan rushed to his side and said, “Then I’ll go with you. I’ll be your wife.” He looked at her for a moment and then responded, “Okay, let’s go.”
As he started to leave, he stopped and tried to kiss his mother. She sneered, “Don’t touch me!” So, he and Awan started walking away. In anguish, Eve broke free of her husband and ran after him. She hugged and kissed him and asked, “Where will you go?”
He shrugged and replied, “I don’t know. We’ll probably head toward the land of Nod, and from there, I can’t say.”
She kissed him again and then hugged and kissed Awan. With heavy hearts, they turned and headed away from their family to never be seen again by their parents. Eve returned to Adam and broke down crying again. He held her tenderly and finally said, “Aklia, please look after your mother and take her home. I must go and return Abel to the ground.”
Eve objected, “No, I want to go and be with my son for awhile.”
“Are you sure?” Adam asked. She bit her lower lip and nodded her head.
Lucifer had been determined to stay in his hole while all this was happening, but curiosity got the best of him. He had been standing to the side watching events unfold and now he watched as Aklia, Adam, and Eve went to say goodbye to Abel. As soon as they had left, he ventured over to Cain’s tent to look around. It was not long before Samyaza came down to join him.
He looked at the angel and declared, “Such a tragedy. I’m not one to say I told you so, but I knew this wouldn’t work. I knew He was making a big mistake by creating such feeble and insecure creatures. He could’ve done better. He could’ve made them noble like me, but He chose not to.”
Samyaza nodded his head in agreement, “You were right, Luce. You were right.”
“It’s a shame, too,” Lucifer continued. “And now there’s no righteous man to continue their lineage. I hate it but I guess this is the end of man. There’s no one left who pleases God. My, my, my.”
“Yep,” Samyaza agreed. “You know, I believe our chance to make some changes around here has come.”
“You’re right, this is a good time,” Lucifer declared. He’d been thinking the same thing but it was good to hear someone else say it. “But we’re going to need help.”
Samyaza smiled and offered, “I told you I would talk to the others. They’re ready to join us.”
“How many?”
“About two hundred to start with,” Samyaza declared. “There’ll be even more when they see our success.”
Lucifer stuck his chest out with pride and said, “You’ve done good, my friend. Gather them together. We’ll meet upon the mountain, Artos Dagi. There we’ll make our plans.”
Samyaza raised his wings and took flight. “We’ll meet you there.”
Lucifer smiled to himself. This had been a good day. All God’s plans were going up in smoke and he was set to benefit by it. Now, others were impressed by what he had been able to accomplish and were ready to join him. He was convinced that the day was coming when all living creatures would bend to their knees to him. Looking toward the heavens he defiantly declared, “I really didn’t want it to come to this. All You had to do was show me a little respect. But, no, You rejected me for dirt! Dirt, by God, dirt!! Well, now You’re being rejected. Tell me, Lord, how does it feel?” He skipped and laughed all the way back to his home in the hole.
Adam gathered all his family, except Cain and Awan, to mourn over the death of Abel. Then, while Aklia and her sisters escorted Eve back home, he dug a grave and buried his son. Afterwards, he was still distraught and decided he wanted to be by himself. So, he returned to Cain’s abandoned tent. His face was stained with dried tears. To stay busy, he started gathering up all the belongings Cain had left behind when his emotions rushed to the surface again. Falling to his knees he buried his face in his hands.
--Adam’s Lament
Adam
♫ Should I lament?
Should I repent for all this tragedy?
Is it so bad?
Should I be sad it’s all because of me?
I wanta know.
I’ve gotta know.
Please tell me so.
Should I bewail?
That I have failed in serving God above?
Are you upset?
Should I regret for listening to my love?
I wanta know.
I’ve gotta know.
Please tell me so.
Don’t try to tell me I don’t know how much it’s cost.
For we have buried one son and the other we have lost.
You can blame me for it all,
I’m the one who made us fall.
So, hate me if you want to hate someone.
But you will reap what you’ve sown.
So each must stand on their own.
And keep from doing the things I have done.
Let me ask you…
Where do I turn?
How can I learn to make it right again?
What can they show?
How do they know to stay away from sin?
I wanta know.
I’ve gotta know.
Please tell me so.
Should I be strong?
Try to atone or has the Devil won?
Is there a case?
For showing grace for all that I have done?
I wanta know.
I’ve gotta know.
Please tell me so—.
Should I lament?
Should I repent?
Please let me know.
Please—
Please tell me so—. ♫
Adam whispered, “I’ve gotta know.”
♪
Go to The Fallen
Back to Outside the Garden
Back to The Fall
Back to Creation of Woman
Go to Creation of Man
Go to Way Back Yonder
Page updated
Google Sites
Report abuse