As stated earlier, God has a unique way of asking questions, a method that speaks volumes using few words. Recall that in Genesis 3:9 the Lord asked a cowering, terrorized Adam: “Where are you?” The all-knowing Creator knew where Adam was hiding and why. He was asking about Adam’s newly-assumed spiritual condition. In 4:10 we find Him asking Cain basically the same question using slightly different words.

Though Adam and Eve had only themselves and the other to “keep,” their failure to “keep” themselves and each other proved to be catastrophic. Likewise, Cain and Abel were tasked with “keeping” themselves and each other. Abel succeeded by being a good model of obedience for Cain. Cain, on the other hand, failed totally. He not only defied God’s will in the sight of his brother, he then killed him. This episode reveals two provable facts: 1) sin begets sin, and 2) our actions affect others.

We who profess to be God’s people are responsible for “keeping” our spiritual brethren as well as those who might want to become our spiritual brethren. We “keep” them by either conducting ourselves in a godly manner in all areas of life, or by doing the opposite. In this sense the question, “Am I my brother’s keeper” takes on a special meaning. Because of its life or death significance, we must view the question from a spiritual point of view. Spiritually, we indeed are our brothers’ “keepers.” If we can report that we are “keeping” our brethren by obeying the Word of God, then upon His return He will not have to ask us the questions He asked Adam and Cain–“Where are you?” and “What have you done?” respectively. To be continued. L.J.