Sin: Cain and Abel

With the slaughter of Abel, sin is introduced into the natural fabric that makes up human emotions and actions. Adam and Eve may have introduced sin into the world by eating from the tree of knowledge but they themselves did not commit the first act of sin, for they had no understanding of what was immoral and considered to be a transgression towards the laws that Yahweh had yet to lay. Yahweh knew of the sin that was to come but instead of stopping it, he foretells of the death and destruction that is to come throughout the holy scripture of the Bible. By letting Abel die by the hand of his brother Cain, Yahweh exposed the power that sin has over all of humanity.

Though Adam and Eve gave humanity the power of knowledge through the consumption of the fruit, the underlying storyline of the Bible could not have progressed until Yahweh introduced conflict within the narrative. "The LORD said to Cain, 'Why are you angry, and why has your countenance fallen?'" (Genesis 4:6). Within the Holy Writ, the Bible creates an ideological view that Yahweh is all knowing which explains why he questions Cain about the murder he has yet to commit. Since Yahweh is all knowing he knew what was to come but instead of physically stopping the act of violence he tried to enlighten Cain by hinting that sin is always "lurking at the door," and that he "must master it" before it devours him. Though Yahweh tried to enlighten Cain with the knowledge of the flaws that humans possess, he knew that he could not stop this act of violence because though he is all knowing, he is not powerful enough to overpower sin. Even so, Yahweh had planned for the death of Abel years earlier when he was born. Abel which comes from the Hebrew word or the noun version hebel means vapor, breath, having no substance, or being a little more than nothing. Abel was nothing more than a symbolic tool that Yahweh used to create sin in the world and show how it works in its dark ways. The death of Abel happened so fast within the text that he did not even have a line or narrative quote. With the slaughter of Abel the narrator introduced the flaws that humans posses and the death and destruction that is to come throughout the Holy Scripture.

Cain, which comes from the Hebrew word qayin translates into the English meaning of possession. When Yahweh saw what Cain had done he not only blessed Cain and sent him to roam the land, he as well possessed him with the burden of spreading sin throughout the land. By exiling Cain from the land to roam the earth, Yahweh spread the sins of man around the world. By sending Cain into the world he reminded all of humanity that sin is a flaw that is possessed by all humans. "Then the LORD said to him, 'Not so!' Whoever kills Cain will suffer a sevenfold vengeance" (Genesis 4:15). Yahweh marked Cain and sent him into the land so that he could remind those of the sin that they possess, but instead of warning those around him Cain conceived a son who spread sin throughout the world. Mark, which comes from the Hebrew word owth, translates into remembrance, warning, omen, and sign. Cain was cursed with this mark by Yahweh to be more than a reminder of sin; he was a sign and warning of the horrific events to come. Yahweh could have put an end to sin or slowed the progression of sin throughout the Bible and the world by murdering Cain, but he did not, why? Because he needed to create events in which he could show how truly powerful he is. With the spread of transgression towards Yahweh throughout the world, Yahweh created the pedestal from which he struck down those who were against him to showcase his power. Sin was not introduced into the narrative to show how evil humans can be, but to instead create a foundation for which Yahweh could display how much power he possesses. "Lamech said to his wives: 'Adah and Zillah, hear my voice; you wives of Lamech, listen to what I say: I have killed a man for wounding me, a young man for striking me'" (Genesis 4:23).

With Cain's fifth son Lamech, sin spread throughout the world allowing Yahweh to display his first amazing act of power by flooding the land, and killing all of those who inhabited it except for Noah and those aboard his ark. When Pharaoh sinned against Yahweh by enslaving and killing the Israelites, Yahweh flexed his almighty power once again by cursing the Egyptians with ten deadly plagues. Yahweh showed his might again when the Israelites sinned against Yahweh by complaining about the lack of food and water that they were receiving by delaying their journey through the dessert to the Promised Land of Canaan for forty years. If humans did not sin or show transgression towards the deity Yahweh, then there would be no account or proof of the astounding events that he created. Without sin within the Holy Writ, Yahweh would never have a chance to show how powerful he truly is.

"If you do well, will you not be accepted?" (Genesis 4:7). Repeatedly being shown throughout the different books of the Holy Scripture, Yahweh proves that those who will follow him will be rewarded with his protection, but those who stand against him will be punished. Taking a look back at the story of Cain and Abel, Yahweh hinted to Cain that though his offerings may not be Yahweh's favorite he was still accepted by Yahweh. By hinting to this, Yahweh is expressing that no matter the sin and evil that mortals possess or commit, they will still be accepted by Yahweh if they just merely praise him and follow him. "And if you do not do well, sin is lurking at the door; its desire is for you, but you must master it" (Genesis 4:7). Even after Yahweh established the Ten Commandments at the top of Mount Sinai the Israelites still sinned against him. No matter who they were whether it be an Egyptian, Azurite, Canaanite, or Israelite, they still possessed sin. Though Yahweh may be able to create covenants lasting hundreds of generations, horrific plagues that devastate only those who he finds unworthy of his love, and part the waters of the Yam Suf for the Israelites to escape through, he still cannot stop his own people from sinning against him. "He took the gold from them, formed it in a mold, and cast an image of a calf; and they said, 'These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt!'" (Exodus 32:4). Yahweh may be all knowing but his power does not exceed that of sin and evil. He may be able to instill fear so that humans will do as he proclaims, but he cannot control them for all humans still have the freedom of choice even if Yahweh has written their destiny.

From the moment that sin is introduced in the Bible, Yahweh's people struggled between loving and following the word of their deity and giving into temptation. This repetition throughout the Bible keeps reminding the reader that worshipping and following the word of God is not easy and that though Yahweh may be all knowing, he still cannot control the actions of humans whether they are sinful or not. Sin created the murder of Abel, the ten plagues, and the golden calf which without these events, Yahweh would have never been able to prove how mighty he truly is.

Bibliography

The new Oxford annotated Bible. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2007.

Uittenbogaard, Arie. "Meaning, origin and etymology of the name Abel". Abarim Publications. March 18, 2009 .

Blue Letter Bible. "Dictionary and Word Search for 'owth (Strong's 226)". Blue Letter Bible. 1996-2009. 27 Mar 2009. < http:// www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?
strongs=H226 >.

Blue Letter Bible. "Dictionary and Word Search for Qayin (Strong's 7014)". Blue Letter Bible. 1996-2009. 27 Mar 2009. < http:// www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?
strongs=H7014 >