The previous edition of the magazine featured an interview with Cain, the first born child of Adam and Eve. We are continuing with the interview series this month with the second son, Abel as our guest. We emphasise that this is purely a work of fiction and not intended to add to Scripture in any form or shape. We believe that God empowered us with creativity for a purpose. It is our pleasure to use it to bless others.
Abel came into the picture in Genesis Chapter 4, verse 2 which records his birth. Verses 3-14 tell us about his profession as a shepherd and the circumstances of his murder by Cain, his eldest brother. The summary of the story is that Abel offered sacrifice to God from his flock of animals, while Cain did the same with the fruit of the ground. We are not told why God accepted Abel’s sacrifice and rejected that of Cain.
Some of us assume that Cain offended God because he ignored the requirement for atonement for sin which is by shedding of blood (Hebrews 9:22). The long and short of it is that God’s rejection of his offering infuriated him and he murdered his brother. We have with us today, Abel in person to give us his own side of the story.
Shepherd Heart: A pleasure having you with us Mr. Abel.
Abel: Thanks for the opportunity to tell the world my side of the story.
Shepherd Heart: Before we jump into the meat of the discourse, tell us a little bit about your teenage years.
Abel: Hmm. Life was uncomplicated during my growing up years. In fact, it was idyllic. We had so much to occupy our time that there was no room for mischief.
Shepherd Heart: What was your typical day like?
Abel: My parents were not autocratic in their enforcement of discipline. We generally woke up before dawn and life actually began after breakfast. Before I was given the task of keeping the flock, Cain and I would take turns to fetch water from the well for the family and the flock. My father kept the flock before I took over that responsibility.
Shepherd Heart: How did you youngsters keep yourself busy after doing your chores? What kind of games did you play?
Abel: In our younger years, Cain and I chased lizards just like the kids of your generation. Boys will be boys!
Shepherd Heart: I know. Hunting runs in the blood of our men folk! What was your relationship with your parents like?
Abel: Mum and Dad dotted on us but were very firm when we missed the mark of their discipline. They were very loving but strict in their engagements with us.
Shepherd Heart: Now to your brother Cain. How did both of you relate as teenagers?
Abel: Cain was an extrovert but a good listener. I was the exact opposite. It was a good blend because it brought stability to our relationship during those growing up years. The relationship became strained as we found our niche in life; he as a farmer and I, the shepherd boy.
Shepherd Heart: Were there issues between the two of you that could have poisoned his mind against you?
Abel: Not to my knowledge. If Cain showed any sign of hostility towards me, I would not have been stupid enough to follow him to the field. On the other hand, I would have tried to protect myself.
Shepherd Heart: Are you implying that his attack took you by surprise?
Abel: Exactly. Cain was not bigger than me physically. I could have successfully defended myself if I had any inkling of his plot to kill me.
Shepherd Heart: Scripture records that your blood cried out to God for vengeance after you were murdered. Where you satisfied with the punishment meted out to Cain by God after the incident?
Abel: If you have even the tiniest knowledge of God, you would understand that He is merciful and does not treat us the way we deserve. The mercy of God restrains His judgement. God’s mercy is the reason the world is still standing today despite the intensity of wickedness perpetrated by your generation. I cried out to God for justice in the midst of the betrayal by my brother. I did not hate Cain. I still do not hate him despite what he did to me and my parents. It is very painful for me to bear the title of the brother of a murderer. No family wants to live with such a reputation.
Shepherd Heart: What would you say to Cain if you have the opportunity to meet him again?
Abel: I would welcome him with an open arm. I would tell him that what the devil meant for evil, God turned it into good, because though I exited the earth early, I have had the most amazing time since the LORD received me into His glory.
Shepherd Heart: Many people in our generation have problems of unforgiveness. What advice do you have for such people?
Abel: The mercy of God flows in direct proportion to what we give out to others. That is what Jesus said in His Sermon on the Mount, recorded in Mathew Chapter 5, Verse 7, “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy”. It is natural to feel the pains of betrayal, especially from a loved one. The solution is not to yield yourself to the spirit of destruction in your quest for vengeance. God said in Romans Chapter 12, Verse 19, “vengeance is mine, I will repay”.
Have you taken time to look at the word “forgive”? It really implies more than accepting an apology from someone that has wronged you. “Forgive” goes beyond mere forgiveness. It demands that we show mercy even before the crime is committed or before we are wronged. That is what God does for sinners who find shelter in the blood of Jesus. God demonstrated this principle by sending Christ to die for humanity while everyone was still a sinner as explained in Romans Chapter 5, Verse 8. He did not wait until humans showed Him love or repented of their wickedness before He sent Jesus to pay the supreme price for all of us.
Shepherd Heart: Awesome! We at Shepherd Heart agree with you that forgiveness should be total and unconditional. However, some people view such a ‘large heart’ as a ‘danger’ to the society. They believe that forgiveness should be graded. That is to say, it should be determined by the nature of a crime or offense committed. For instance, a lie could attract mere scolding but a murderer should face the full brunt of the law. What is your take on that?
Abel: When forgiveness solely depends on us, it should be total. There is a place for law enforcement in every society. We do not judge or condemn the law. It must take its full course. It is however vitally important that we do not use human standards to dispense forgiveness. We risk incurring God’s wrath if we refuse to forgive others after enjoying His mercy. I guess it would make sense to grade malfeasances and transgressions under societal law. But this should not be the consideration in inter-personal relationships. We cannot receive God’s mercy in Christ unconditionally and insist that our fellow men should earn it from us by their conduct. The Scripture is clear on this. We must forgive to the measure we have been forgiven.
Shepherd Heart: No truer word has been spoken on the matter. Unfortunately, some of us do not realise that unforgiveness gives the devil room to operate in our lives. Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts with us. We pray that they would minister to our readers and help them to see unforgiveness in a new light. We must learn to live in peace with everyone for the sake of Christ.
Abel: The pleasure is mine.
