In the previous edition of the magazine, we interviewed the first couple, Adam and Eve. As we pointed out in the August 2021 edition, the interview series are works of fiction. They are not an attempt to add to the Scripture. God’s word is sacrosanct and does not require embellishment by any mortal. Our reason for introducing the interview series is to use our imagination to bless other people. Our guest for this edition is Cain. He was introduced to the rest of humanity in Genesis 4:1 as the first offspring of Adam and Eve. In verse 3, we are told that Cain was a farmer, while another son born to the first couple named Abel reared animals.
The two children were not mentioned again until we read in verses 4 and 5 that both made sacrifices to the LORD. While Cain sacrificed the fruits of his farm, his brother Abel gave God the first born of his flock. Trouble started in the family when God honoured Abel’s sacrifice and despised that of Cain. The Bible is silent on why the LORD was not happy with Cain’s offering. Anyway, this offended Cain greatly and he took it out on his brother.
The hatred was so intense that he eventually murdered Abel as recorded in verse 8. When God showed up and asked him to account for the whereabouts of his brother, he insolently replied, “Am I my brother’s keeper”? Cain has graciously agreed to tell his side of the story. We will now proceed to conduct the interview.
Shepherd Heart: A very pleasant day to you Mr. Cain. We are glad that you agreed to chat with us. Last month, we featured an interview with your parents, Adam and Eve in the August 2021 edition of the magazine. We deliberately did not bring up your issue with them because we wanted to keep an open mind in our discussion with you today.
Cain: That was very thoughtful of you. No parent wants to be reminded of the failures of his or her children. I’m also grateful for the opportunity to speak for myself, though I’m not contesting the picture of me painted by Scripture.
Shepherd Heart: Nothing much is known about you in Scripture except that you killed your brother Abel in cold blood. Before we talk about that epic act, walk us through what it was like to be the first offspring on earth.
Cain: I had an idyllic childhood. It was fun all year round. Abel and I had a lot of fun chasing each other around the big farm our parents cultivated after they were expelled from the Garden of Eden by Almighty God. We also had our brawling moments. We however did not hate each other growing up.
Shepherd Heart: What was the nature of your relationship with your parents?
Cain: Abel and I were loved and cherished by our parents. There were only four of us at the time so, there was no reason for any rancour. We had all we needed in terms of provisions. In your day, men have a lot to fight over- women, money, power etc. We were contented with our lot.
Shepherd Heart: If everything was as idyllic as you just painted, where did the hatred for your brother that led to his murder spring from?
Cain: I need to address something. Because the Bible captures only specific incidents and events, people who read it erroneously use their own idea of time to try to fill in what they perceive to be the missing links. For instance, the fall of my parents in the Garden of Eden did not happen immediately after they were created. From creation to the fall took hundreds of years. Abel and I had a smooth relationship throughout our teen years.
Shepherd Heart: So, at what point did you begin to look at him as a rival?
Cain: It wasn’t something that came on in a moment. Sibling rivalry is as old as creation itself. I guess that the hatred must have grown like a weed in my heart without any conscious effort on my part.
Shepherd Heart: Was there any time you scolded yourself for looking at him with envy?
Cain: You should realise that there was no compass for me to measure my emotions. You have the Bible as your compass. We had nothing.
Shepherd Heart: Were your parents aware of your feelings for your brother in your later years?
Cain: All parents have to deal with some form of sibling rivalry. As I said earlier, it’s natural for you to be jealous or envious of your siblings. That’s acceptable except such feelings move to the realm of hatred. That was what happened between Abel and me.
Shepherd Heart: Did it occur to you to talk things over with Abel?
Cain: That would have been the best course of action if he offended me in anyway. Abel was a cool guy. He was not argumentative at all. He was also generous to a fault. Abel could have sacrificed his life for me if that was required of him.
Shepherd Heart: Your pen picture of your brother makes the murder more hideous. Why did you do it?
Cain: I could go the way of normal man and say, “Satan made me do it” or I could take responsibility for my action. I choose the later course. I own the murder of my brother. I know that I have been branded from eternity to eternity with this singular action. First human murderer. First person to kill a saint because Abel was blameless. What can I say or do to turn back the hand of the clock?
Shepherd Heart: Now, it sounds like you have regretted the killing of your brother. Our first introduction to you in the Bible showed a man that was completely remorseless. When God asked you in Genesis 4:9, “Where is your brother Abel?”, why were you so gruff in your response to Him?
Cain: You mean the now famous “Am I my brother’s keeper”? You must know that a man that is caught in that kind of uncompromising position as I was, would recourse to either of two actions- use bravado to still the torment of his conscience or have a meltdown from remorse. I was still under the grip of the jealousy and hatred that influenced me to kill my brother. My response to God showed the state of my heart.
Shepherd Heart: With the benefit of hindsight, how else would you have responded to what you felt was a slight by God in rejecting your offering?
Cain: If I had my emotions under control; If I had the interest of my family at heart, I would have chosen a different course. I would have sought God’s face to know why He rejected my offering. I didn’t do that because I was full of myself. I was my own god. The world revolved around me. And that is the problem with all unregenerated humans. They may claim to have faith in a Supreme Being but their worship is to themselves. They only use whatever being they claim to worship as a means to attain their end.
Shepherd Heart: That really cut to the heart of sin. It shows that people transgress God’s laws or commandments primarily because of their own interests. Satan knows this too well and he goads them into believing that they are doing all those things for God.
Cain: I have tormented myself without let. It’s a private hell that no one can share with me.
Shepherd Heart: How did your parents react to the incident?
Cain: They were absolutely devastated. What parents wouldn’t be? For days I could not reach them. They shut me out of their lives and wept for their son. I did not hold that against them because I was totally drained emotionally after I realised the enormity of the crime I had committed. We later patched things up after some years, but the relationship was never the same. Of course, God consoled them by giving them my brother Seth and several daughters.
Shepherd Heart: What counsel would you give to people who face similar temptation as you did with your brother Abel?
Cain: The most important thing to do in life is to reflect on the consequences of an action before stepping out to actualise it. We all know that every decision we take has its consequences. If people use their brains more often to examine the pros and cons of their actions, there would be fewer criminals in the society.
Shepherd Heart: Thank you very much for the nuggets you have given us for our readers. We hope that they would take heed to your counsel and desist from taking impulsive actions that could put them at odd with God’s word or the civil authority.
Cain: The pleasure is mine. Thanks for having me.
