from my perspective…
Cain and Abel were brothers. Abel did well. Cain did not. Cain killed Abel. God punished Cain. Adam and Eve had more kids. End of story – right? Not if we pause a minute. What does this mean? – for us? – here and now in our relationships?
Human beings are wrapped up in themselves.
Years ago, a friend complained to me about how they were treated at work – for almost an hour. Some of the instances were thoughtless and mean. But many of the examples were imaginings of suspected slights. Emails were seen as disrespectful. Questions in meetings were viewed as put-downs. Assignments were perceived as unfair and so it went. “Everybody is so mean to me. I work so hard. Why don’t they appreciate me?”
Of course, people are often thoughtless and sometimes petty and cruel, but my friends' imagined slights had made working with others nearly impossible. I decided to try to narrow the problem to reveal any real disrespect with some, which is easier to deal with than imagined disrespect from all.
Therefore, I said, “The truth may be far worse than you think – they aren’t being unappreciative – they aren’t thinking about you at all. – They are wrapped up in themselves, so of course, they say thoughtless things, being disrespectful and not considering your feelings. They are only thinking about themselves.”
God deeply desires that all people live in peace with one another.
The stories in Genesis are about God’s desire to create a peaceful world. The account is painfully honest. No heroes, only imperfect people following God’s direction or not. They stumble and fall, and yet miraculously, God does not abandon them.
When we meet Abram in Genesis 12, we see a man, unlike Cain, who considers others before himself. God promised Abram that he would father a family that would become a great nation. The phrase ‘great nation’ should not be considered ‘great’ as the political definition of nations of power and might, but rather “a people under God,” living in the blessings of God so that through their lives, others will be attracted to live as God’s people. Eventually, God proclaims, “In you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” (Genesis 12:1-3, ESV)
In November, we will remember two other brothers who fought, Jacob and Esau. And then, as God’s word is known to do, we follow Joseph (like Abraham) as an example of how one attempts to walk with God.
Throughout it all, let us as inheritors of God’s promise consider heeding Paul’s words to the Philippians (2:3–4, ESV)
“Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.”
Your Pastor, Dennis.