VII.
Today as you spend time with this Scripture passage, pay attention to what strikes you as discouraging and what strikes you as hopeful.

VIII.
Genesis 4:1-15 (NRSV)

Now the man knew his wife Eve, and she conceived and bore Cain, saying, “I have produced a man with the help of the Lord.” Next she bore his brother Abel. Now Abel was a keeper of sheep, and Cain a tiller of the ground. In the course of time Cain brought to the Lord an offering of the fruit of the ground, and Abel for his part brought of the firstlings of his flock, their fat portions. And the Lord had regard for Abel and his offering, but for Cain and his offering he had no regard. So Cain was very angry, and his countenance fell. The Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry, and why has your countenance fallen? If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is lurking at the door; its desire is for you, but you must master it.”

Cain said to his brother Abel, “Let us go out to the field.” And when they were in the field, Cain rose up against his brother Abel, and killed him. Then the Lord said to Cain, “Where is your brother Abel?” He said, “I do not know; am I my brother’s keeper?” And the Lord said, “What have you done? Listen; your brother’s blood is crying out to me from the ground! And now you are cursed from the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand. When you till the ground, it will no longer yield to you its strength; you will be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth.” Cain said to the Lord, “My punishment is greater than I can bear! Today you have driven me away from the soil, and I shall be hidden from your face; I shall be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth, and anyone who meets me may kill me.” Then the Lord said to him, “Not so! Whoever kills Cain will suffer a sevenfold vengeance.” And the Lord put a mark on Cain, so that no one who came upon him would kill him.

IX.
What disappoints and discourages you the most in these scenes?

What echoes of these attitudes and actions do you see in today’s world?

X.
Where is hope found in this passage?

Is there hope in Cain’s words as he confronts God regarding his “punishment”?

Do you think God offers Cain hope and a path to redemption?

XI.
Read this passage once again, and notice the choices Cain made and the choices that he could have made.

Does Cain have any reason to believe that his wanderings from this place will not be hopeless?

If Cain asked you “Where can I find hope as I go about my aimless wanderings?” what could you tell him?

charles
{ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est}