Cain and Abel (Genesis 4: 1-18)

One was a farmer, the other a shepherd. They were, by legend, the first two children of Adam and Eve. And, also according to legend, the first murderer and his victim. And God played the first forensic detective in search of the truth. (Crime scene investigations have been going on a long time, now.)

When asked under interrogation, where his brother was, Cain said the words written above. Did he think that was going to satisfy God? God is not mocked.

You might ask, “Where are you going with this?” Isn’t it obvious?

The story of Cain and Abel is presented in the Old Testament as a sibling rivalry for God’s blessing. The shepherd’s offerings were deemed more acceptable to God than the fruits of the earth. Hmmm. I wonder why and by whose standards was this judged?

Envy is one of the seven deadly sins. Was this a Sunday School lesson from the future to help explain why we haven’t ‘ascended’ yet? Notice that Cain is marked by his sin: in other words, he has blotted his copybook. And now he cannot enter the Kingdom of Heaven. (In real terms, he knows he has only himself to blame, but doesn’t realize that he can forgive himself, and all will be restored.) This is probably the basis of The Prodigal Son parable. When he finally learns that he needs to follow the Golden Rule, he’ll be welcomed back to the spiritual realms with open arms.

And Cain said to the Lord, “My punishment is too great to bear. Now that You have driven me this day from the soil I must hide from Your presence, I shall be a restless wanderer on the earth and whoever finds me will kill me.” And the Lord said to him, “Therefore whoever kills Cain shall suffer sevenfold vengeance.” And the Lord set a mark upon Cain so that whoever found him would not slay him.

Wikipedia

The hint is in the use of the number seven.