Cain's Story
based on Genesis 4:1-17 by Matt, 11, British Columbia.
Looking back, I can’t believe what I did. Jealousy. It’s a dangerous emotion. I haven’t talked to Mom or Dad for ages. Look at me! Here I am, building a city. Why can I only think of Abel? Abel, the perfect. And me, the wretch. Oh, there it is again! Jealousy.
I need someone to talk to. Would you listen? Please? I was Adam and Eve’s firstborn. Abel was my younger brother. As we grew, we developed different interests. I was fascinated with growing fruits and vegetables; my brother tended animals. He always liked sheep the most. I don’t know why. You can’t just take one and eat it—like my fruit. My fruit was important, even more than God. But the Lord came first in Abel’s life! He gave the best to God. I didn’t see the point. Don’t get me wrong. I gave! You know, a rotten tomato here, a wormy apple there. I should have expected the result: God blessed Abel and looked upon me with disfavor. I became angry with God, with Abel and with myself. God noticed, of course. I mean, there were only four people on the earth. "Why are you angry?" He asked. "If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it." I did not "master it." Sin had me. I thought up a plan to do away with Abel. "Let’s go out into the field," I said. He came. I wish he hadn’t! For when we were out there, I killed him. I planned to say that wolves attacked him, but there was one hole in my plan: God. He came to me and asked me where Abel was; though He already knew. I lied and said I didn’t know. God sent me away to be a restless wanderer. So here I am. I believe I’ll go and take a walk through my half-built city of Enoch. Thank you for listening.
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