Brotherhood

“Then Cain said to his brother Abel, ‘Let us go out to the field.’ And while they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him.” (Genesis 4:8)
 

I always enjoy looking at old postcards depicting different parts of a city. On many of them, one can see shop signs bearing the name of a business run by brothers. Today, such signs are much rarer. Yet the unity of brothers is such a beautiful thing. In Psalm 133 we read: “How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity!”
Cain and Abel were brothers, but instead of harmony, jealousy arose in one of them. Both offered sacrifices to God. Cain was a farmer and brought an offering from the produce of the land. Abel was a shepherd and brought an animal sacrifice. God looked more favorably upon Abel’s offering than upon Cain’s. As a result, Cain became jealous of his brother and murdered him. Thus ended a brotherly relationship.
How many similar situations exist where hatred replaces love between brothers and sisters. Often this jealousy begins already in childhood. Siblings come to resent the very person they should love the most.
Cain could not accept that God favored Abel’s sacrifice. Likewise, the brother of the prodigal son could not accept how eagerly and joyfully his father welcomed back his irresponsible brother and showered him with gifts and honor. Yet we also find positive examples of sibling relationships in the Bible. We see brothers such as Peter and Andrew, James and John, who all became disciples of Christ. They lived in love with one another because the greatest treasure of their lives was Jesus. From the story of Martha, Mary, and Lazarus, we learn about siblings who cared deeply for one another and did everything they could for each other.
Thus, both Scripture and everyday life present us with many kinds of sibling relationships. Today, do not ask what kind of sibling your brother or sister is; rather, ask what kind of sibling you are to them. Amen.

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I thank You for my sibling, who rejoices with me in my joys and suffers with me when I am in pain. Preserve among us brotherly love and peace. Amen.