The first act of violence as recorded in History presents God as being present and witnessing the act. This suggests that in every act of violence, God is a witness. In the recorded act, however, the case is presented as not only witnessed by God, but He also acts as vengeance itself. How can he watch innocent children being massacred and do nothing?
Genesis narrates the story, “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. Then the Lord said to Cain, “Where is your brother Abel?” “I don’t know,” he replied. “Am I my brother’s keeper?” The Lord said, “What have you done? Listen! Your brother’s blood cries out to me from the ground. Now you are under a curse and driven from the ground, which opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand. When you work the ground, it will no longer yield its crops for you. You will be a restless wanderer on the earth.” Gen 4:1ff NIV
If Eve had known that the act of following Satan’s argument on the forbidden fruit would lead to this act by her own son, would she have followed him? It is a question that must vibrate in the heart of every mother whose son or daughter ends up killing others. There are those who believe that parents have blame for the sins of their children. In fact there is a modern theology taught in many Pentecostal circles in Kenya associating misery and tragedy with the sins of the fathers. They ask people to go to church to remove the spell of the devil from their family.
While it is true that genetic makers are “transported” from one parent to the other, resulting in humanity inheriting certain traits of their great grand -parents through antiquity, it is wrong to argue that God stamps a state of curse in a family. In fact when the disciples asked Christ the question, who in a family was cursed to result in a certain man being ill, He said, nobody. He however made a statement that brings God as witness of misery. “It was so that God maybe glorified.” Christ did not present event as case specific, rather he alluded to the idea that misery is for the glory of God. Even massacre?
God witnessed the murder of Abel and passed judgment. In this case, he specifically chose to get involved. Why? Well, given that this was the first demonstrable result of the consequences of Man’s fellowship with Satan, the creator wanted to establish also precedence for all humanity. He stood and watched as Cain murdered his brother. He let him murder him and refused to appear and knock Cain down saving Abel. This He did because the consequences of sin had to be manifest. He declared that He will not be lifting his punishment. That His declaration was absolute and final: The fellowship with Satan would result in DEATH.
However, He declared judgment on Cain to set the precedence also as absolute: That those who commit acts of murder, massacre or those who kill their fellow brethren (man) are being watched. That he takes account of all these. That He curses the life line (ground) of those who arrogantly declare, “Am I my brother’s keeper?” Both Cain and Abel were religious men. They both sacrificed to God their father. And whether one or the other is blessed has nothing to do with the individual, rather, it is a free hand of God. Therefore even within faith, we should not kill our brothers. Rather we should embrace them as thus: brothers!
“Cain said to the Lord, “My punishment is more than I can bear. 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.” 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”. Gen 1:1ff NIV
God watches over every murder, massacre and strife. That He watches and does nothing is of no consequence. He has in the case of Cain and Abel declared that he watches. And in his punishment of Cain, He takes responsibility for judgment. However, even in his punishment he preserves Cain because Cain realized his sin and cried for mercy. The mercy, however did not remove the punishment, rather, it preserved Cain’s life while leaving intact the judgment. The precedence is: those who shed innocent blood shall walk on cursed ground! And this is generational!
We mourn the massacre of our brothers and sisters, declaring that we are our brother’s keepers. Yet God watched and declares those who committed this act guilty! When will He punish them? I do not know, but you can bet He will! The blood of the innocent always cries out to Him. The sad thing is that the punishment may involve the ground where women and children draw water!
Teddy Njoroge Kamau (PhD) HTBluff Associates. EMG consortium #Htbluff. Diaspora Messenger Columnist
