My Brother's Keeper

February 11

There’s a famous quote from Genesis that we’ve all probably repeated a time or two. Cain has just slain his brother Able and God asks him where Abel is. In Genesis 4:9 Cain responds to God’s question with a blatant lie, “I know not…” then he goes on to justify himself by adding, “Am I my brother’s keeper?”

Of course, God knows precisely what has happened to Abel and tells Cain that the blood of his slain brother is crying out to Him. Our Heavenly Father cares about His people. He knows where they are at any given moment and He is aware of their needs. Sometimes He supplies their need to them from His own hand,

Sometimes, He expects us to do it. As it would have been right and good for Cain to ‘have his brother’s back’ as God had expected him to do instead of slaying him, so God desires those who call upon His name to have compassion upon people among us who are in need.

Proverbs 28:27 is very clear in the matter. It says, “He who gives to the poor will lack nothing, but he who closes his eyes to them receives many curses.” God does not expect those who love Him to neglect to love his fellow man. Indeed, He places great esteem upon those who are compassionate—on those who are their brothers’ keeper.