STORY OF THE WEEK: The First Murder in the Bible and What It Means For Me and You
Beyond Good and Evil: Decoding the Cain and Abel Story
The first time I read the Bible from cover to cover, I was eleven years old. I dutifully read four chapters every single day — the minimum that is required to get through the whole book in a year.
And at the end of it all, what had I learned?
Not very much.
But, at the time, I sure felt like God was proud of me because I was told by my Sunday School teacher that Bible reading was one of the things that made God happy. But, my reading of the Bible was nothing more than religious box-ticking.
Fast forward to my twenties, and I went off to seminary and went through the Holy Book a second time. This time, I was taught how to interpret the Bible properly, at least in the evangelical tradition. There, I was instructed on how to view scripture through a certain lens — one that emphasized a literal interpretation above all else. It was a perspective that left little room for ambiguity or metaphor. Humans may have written it, but it was God’s literal words… apparently.
But I’ll be honest: I struggled with the talking donkey, a global flood, and the idea of the earth being created in just six days, to name a few. But, since I was a church leader, I toed the company line.
Now, I’m in my forties, and I’m no longer leading in a church. So, I am working through the Bible again, but this time with a different eye. This time, I am not reading it as a book of history, morality, or religious doctrine. This time, I am reading these ancient words to see what I can learn about myself, the people around me, and how we relate to each other and God.
I’m taking an archetypal view.
What does that mean, exactly?
Viewing the Bible Archetypally
Taking an archetypal view means examining the Bible’s characters, stories, and themes as representations of universal patterns and symbols that resonate with the human condition across cultures and time periods. Instead of just seeing the narratives as literal historical accounts or religious teachings, I’m exploring them as reflections of fundamental human experiences and emotions.
In this approach, figures like Adam and Eve, Moses, Jonah, and others become symbols of broader concepts such as innocence, liberation, struggle, sacrifice, and redemption. Their stories serve as allegories for the trials, triumphs, and complexities of human existence.
I’ve decided that maybe each of the characters in the Biblical narrative has something to teach us about what it means to be human. In fact, if you’re able to move past those mind-numbing debates about whether this story or that story in the Bible happened exactly as written, I think you’ll find yourself in virtually every single character. Not only that, but you’ll encounter the collective struggles of human beings and the timeless quest for meaning and purpose.
I started my journey with Adam and Eve, which you can read about here. And now, I’m diving into the complex narrative surrounding their firstborn children, Cain and Abel. You thought your family was messed up; just wait!
I think there’s a little bit of Cain and Abel in all of us.
Cain and Abel and You
If you want to read the full Biblical narrative of Cain and Abel, then go and check out Genesis 4. Otherwise, here’s a summary:
In the ancient tale of Cain and Abel, we witness the timeless drama of sibling rivalry and divine favor. Adam and Eve welcome their firstborn, Cain, into the world, celebrating his arrival as a gift from the Lord. Soon after, Abel joins the family, each brother carving his own path in life — Abel tending to his flocks and Cain tilling the soil.
As the story unfolds, we see the brothers offering sacrifices to the Lord, Abel presenting the finest of his flock, and Cain offering the fruits of his labor. Yet, it is Abel’s offering that finds favor with the divine, sparking jealousy and anger within Cain. In a moment of unchecked rage, Cain commits the ultimate act of betrayal, taking his brother’s life.
When God confronts Cain, Cain denies responsibility, saying, “Am I my brother’s keeper?”
However, even as he denies it, divine justice intervenes. Cain is sentenced to wander the earth, carrying the weight of his brother’s blood on his conscience. It’s a heavy burden to bear, but despite the weight of guilt and the loneliness of exile, there’s a glimmer of mercy in his story — a protection from immediate punishment, a chance for redemption despite his grave mistake.
Growing up in the church, we always heard about Abel getting it right and Cain messing up big time. It was like a simple morality play: Abel good, Cain bad. Cain was the poster child for jealousy and disobedience, and his story was a cautionary tale against being a sore loser.
But now, as I revisit this story, I’m starting to see it in a different light. Instead of just seeing Cain as the bad guy, I’m wondering if there’s more to his story. Maybe this Biblical tale is about more than who’s good and who’s bad. Maybe it’s about understanding, archetypally, the messy, complicated nature of being human, and especially being part of a family.
Here is where the story meets us.
The Favoured Child
How many great stories feature a child who basks in the warm glow of parental favoritism while their siblings languish in the shadows of neglect or disapproval?
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