Abel was a shepherd...Cain was a farmer.
verse 3: In the course of time, they each brought offerings of their occupation to God.
verse 8: Cain spoke to his brother.
Was it a sharp retort? A long argument over hours or days?
It led to anger, violence, murder.
Cain spoke to Abel his brother. And when they were in the field, Cain rose up against his brother Abel and killed him. Then the LORD said to Cain, “Where is Abel your brother?” He said, “I do not know; am I my brother's keeper?” And the LORD said, “What have you done? The voice of your brother's blood is crying to me from the ground. And now you are cursed from the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother's blood from your hand. When you work the ground, it shall no longer yield to you its strength. You shall be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth.”
(Genesis 4:8-12 ESV)
Cain's punishment was linked to his crime. He will no longer be able to cultivate the soil because his brother's blood cries out to God from the ground.
How old were these guys when this happened?
Was their silence in the field immediately after? did the blood in the ground begin to scream immediately?
Could Cain hear the haunting sound? Could he ever push a plow again without invading memories?
Did he have to change jobs? Did he ever find satisfaction in his work again?
Did he re-live that fateful day for the rest of his life?
How could one ever be free of that one awful hour?
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