This is a primal story of tragedy. Cain is angry with his brother Abel and with God. God
warns Cain that the anger he holds in his heart has lethal risks. But Cain ignores God’s
message, plots to act out his anger against his brother, and kills him. Sadly God says, “Your
brother’s blood cries to me from the ground.”

• The story gives few details. We don’t know how much time passed from the offerings to the murder, or just why God did not view Cain’s gift favorably. The focus is internal. What was the spiritual danger against which God warned Cain? How does the image of sin “crouching” in wait (v. 7) fit with your experience?
• When God asked Cain where his brother was, what was Cain’s callous answer? Do Cain’s words in this ancient story ever echo the way that you are tempted to deal with the results of your anger? What does the story tell you about God’s attention to actions and situations we’d like to gloss over?