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Cain and Abel

In the shadows, evil lurks. Watching. Simmering. Waiting for the right moment topounce.

It started out as a day among days. A light autumn breeze stirred through the orchards andsweet apple scents surrounded the morning travelers. Adam and Eve and Cain and Abel

were climbing the mountain for their annual feast of thanksgiving. The late harvest sun

shined through the trees and the red seemed more red, the greens seemed more green:everything pulsated with life and possibility.

Atop the mountain they set up camp and each person prepared for their part in the feast.

This year was to be special. It was the first year that Cain and Abel would approach Abbaas young men. Before they had always watched Adam as he set up an altar of worship.

They had listened as Adam retold the story of Creation and the wondrous stories of and

from Abba. They grieved with Adam as he told of his own profound rebellion and failure,

but rejoiced as he told of Abbas loving-kindness. Then he would pause in the story andexplain that every breath is but a gift from Abba. And though he had nothing of value to

offer Abba, he would express his profound gratefulness for Abbas love in gifts ofworship. Cain and Abel would watch in amazement as Adam place the gifts on the altar

and fire from heaven consumed them. It was as though Abba had kissed the earth in his

love.

But this year Cain and Abel would approach the altar as young men. Instead of

approaching through Adam, they would bring their own gifts of thanksgiving.

Cain worked the soil and this year his harvest was particularly grand. The orchards

overflowed with apples and pears and peaches and cherries. The ground produced astunning spread of tomatoes and corn and carrots and onions and more. This exceedingharvest pleased Cain. He had worked the fields day and night, and his efforts had paid

off. He harvested more than enough food to meet his obligation for the great feast. Cain

chose a sample fruits and vegetables to offer Abba and prepared to display his wares atthe great feast.

Abel cared for the flocks. Like a father, he came to love each of the animals like his own

children. Many a night, Abel would sit alone on the hilltop making up songs for hisflocks. Abel was grateful to Abba for allowing him to care for the animals and when time

came for the feast, Abel choose the finest, firstborn from his flock. Abel loved this sheep

more than any man has loved his pet. And in some sense by offering this sheep, he couldexpress how much more how loved and was thankful to Abba for his loving-kindness.

When time came for Cain and Abel to approach the altar, Cain led the way. He proudlydisplayed this fine bounty. I am thankful that you have given me such ingenuity. For I

have worked long and worked late and have produced a most glorious harvest of fruits

and vegetables. The selection before you today is just a sample of the fine harvest Ive

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produced in the orchards and fields below. After his speech, Cain sat down and awaited

Abel.

But Abel didnt say much. Abel simply said, I give the best but it is still not good

enough. You are greater than all I can imagine and I am grateful for your love and

kindness. Please have mercy and accept this precious lamb as a token of my unendinglove for you.

Before Abel could even sit down, fire shot down from heaven and kissed the gift hebrought. Abba delighted in such faith and readily expressed his pleasure.

But Cain was puzzled. His fruits and vegetables were more glorious than anything Abel

brought but Abba almost seemed to snub him.

From the shadows, a cloud descended on him and he stumbled off the mountain in

frustration and anger.

He had been humiliated in front of Abel and Adam and Eve. His fine selection of fruits

and vegetables had been virtually ignored. Shamed and alone, dark thoughts began totorture Cain. The more he thought about it, the more he realized that Abel was always the

favored. Adam and Even had always praised everything Abel did while virtually ignoring

his own efforts. Cain was a victim. He had been rejected all his life and this latest

rejection was just a very public demonstration of what everyone thought. No one, noteven Abba, realized his worth. No one, not even Abba, realized how hard he worked to

benefit everyone else.

Deep into the night, Cain stared up into the dark sky and wondered if Abba was really

that good after all. Maybe he had duped everyone. Cain was frustrated, confused and

angry. In the middle of his torments, a voice. Abba comes to comfort and confront. Cain,Cain. Why are you angry, and why has your face fallen? The shadow of darkness is

waiting to take you. But it doesnt have you. You can still do right and your joy will

return.

In his shame, Cain cried, Oh God. Forgive me. You are right. I allowed the darkness to

choke me, but when I arise tomorrow things will be different.

But they werent different. When Cain awoke, the conversation with Abba had slipped

into the stream of forgotten dreams. A cloud covered his heart and mind. And all he could

think about was how he had been wronged.

Stumbling from bed, he went to face the day and instead found Abel. Anger simmered

and yet hid. Abel said, Come with me and let us return to the mountain. For Abel wasdeeply concerned for Cain. Yet Cain interpreted this as Abel seeking to embarrass him yet

once again. He followed quietly behind as Abel described the events of the previous day.

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Suddenly the darkness came out of the shadows. Cain leaped. Abel fell. And the blood

cried out. In a terrified stupor, Cain realized what he had done and ran. He ran and ran

and ran. He tried to run from himself. But could not escape the dark terror of his deed.

In the shadows the voice called, Where is your brother Abel?

Im not my brothers keeper. How should I know?

Even now your brothers blood is crying. Calling out from the ground. Youve plantedcurses and youll reap curses. Your field of plenty will rot on the vine as blood cries out

for vengeance. Wherever you go, the land will recognize and reject you. From now on

youll wander the earth without a home, without a place.

Even as the Lord God spoke, Cain was coming undone. Its too much. I cannot bear it. I

cannot bear it. The angry world knows my name and will consume me.

No Cain. Anyone who kills you will be repaid 7 times. And with that promise Abba

marked him for protection and left him to wander the world alone.

Traveling east, Cain stumbled into the waiting darkness. He married. Had a family. Builta city. And his son had sons. And they had sons. And they had sons. From his people

came nomads, musicians, and blacksmiths. They were a people marked in blood. One

day, his great grandson Lamech, with blood on his hands, proclaimed to his wives:

I killed a man for wounding me, a young man who attacked me. If Cain isavenged seven times, for Lamech it's seventy-seven!

And the seeds of destruction continued to fall on the ground.