August 29, 2020

Day 9: Am I My Brother’s Keeper?

Day 9: Am I My Brother’s Keeper?

Scripture Focus:
"Then the Holy One said to Kayin, 'Ei Hevel achicha?' [Where is Abel your brother?]"
—Genesis 4:10

A Call to See Others as the King Sees Them

The Holy One is gentle, gracious, and good.

He could have confronted Kayin with a sword and judgment—and Kayin would have deserved every bit of it.

But instead, the Holy One approached him with the gentlest of whispers.

  • No accusation.
  • No condemnation.
  • No judgment.

Instead, He simply asked:

"Where is your brother Hevel?"

Sometimes, how we respond to a simple question reveals the true condition of our heart.

Kayin’s answer?

"Lo yadati."
"I do not know."

Kayin’s Misunderstanding of the King

Kayin did not try to justify himself.
He did not blame the serpent, his brother, or even the Holy One.
He did not call himself the "real victim."

Some might call Kayin’s "Lo yadati" a bold-faced lie.

But the Holy One already knew the truth.
Kayin knew the Holy One knew.

Yet Kayin did not know:

  • How precious the death of the innocent is to the King.
  • The ways of the Holy One in dealing with His beloved ones.
  • The eternal and earthly consequences of his rash, anger-driven actions.

By the time Kayin allowed his anger to turn into violence, he had already failed to consider the weight of his actions.

Then he followed up with:

"Ha-shomer achi anochi?"
"Am I my brother’s guardian?"

And with that, Kayin revealed his deepest flaw:

He had no idea why he was placed on this earth.

True Worship Requires Love for Others

Kayin sought to touch the heart of the Holy One in worship…
But he had no love for the one made in the Holy One’s image.

He failed to understand that:

  • We cannot truly worship the King unless we love those He has placed in our lives.
  • We are responsible for how we treat others—not as obstacles, but as beloved children of the King.

Prayer for the Journey

Great King,
Teach me to value the lives of the people You have placed in my life
the way You do.

Awestruck Heart Challenge #9

See people as the Holy One sees them.

  • Stop seeing them as obstacles to your enjoyment of life.
  • Start seeing them as sons and daughters of the King,
    in the process of being trained to serve in His Kingdom.

Awestruck Heart Exercise #9

  1. Read: Exodus 4:22-23 and Psalm 2:7-12

  2. Self-Examination:

    • Think about the people who irritate you most.
    • Some should be people you personally know.
    • Others may be public figures—celebrities, politicians, world rulers.
    • What do you think is the Holy One’s purpose for their life?

  3. Reflection:

    • Think of someone who has angered or hurt you.
    • Ask the Holy One:
      "How could You use this person’s actions to bring forth good?"

  4. Read & Meditate:

    • 1 Samuel 30:1-19
    • Matthew 18:12-13
    • Matthew 5:23-24

  5. Tell the King:

    I HAVE SINNED, MY KING!
    I HAVE SINNED BY THINKING I COULD TOUCH YOUR HEART
    WITH OUTWARD ACTS OF WORSHIP
    WHILE HOLDING ANGRY OR INDIFFERENT FEELINGS
    TOWARD THE PEOPLE YOU HAVE PLACED IN MY LIFE.
    FORGIVE ME.
    BEGINNING TODAY, TEACH ME HOW TO SEE EVERY PERSON
    YOU HAVE PLACED IN MY LIFE AS YOU SEE THEM—
    AND TO LOVE THEM THE WAY YOU LOVE THEM.

Final Reflection

We are not called to live for ourselves.

The Holy One cares about people.
If we truly worship Him, we must care as well.

Will you see others through His eyes today?


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