What does Cain’s Question “Am I My Brother’s Keeper?” means today?

By Rev Alusine Diamond-Suma

Curator: It’s JESUS Revival

(232news)

Text: Genesis 4:9

After Cain killed Abel, God asked him a simple question: “Where is your brother Abel?” Cain replied, “I do not know. Am I my brother’s keeper?” (Genesis 4:9).

This question “Am I my brother’s keeper?” echoed in my mind throughout the Understanding the Bible series on It’s Jesus Revival. I see Cain’s defence as human’s first attempt to escape responsibility. Cain tried to separate himself from his brother’s wellbeing. Yet Scripture reveals that God never permits such detachment. From Genesis to Revelation, the biblical witness insists that we should love our neighbours as ourselves. It is a responsibility.

The story of Cain and Abel is not just about murder. It is about jealousy, wounded pride, failed accountability, and ultimately the breakdown of community. When God warned Cain that “sin is crouching at your door” (Genesis 4:7), Cain ignored the counsel. Instead of mastering his anger, he allowed resentment to grow into violence. The result was not only Abel’s death but Cain’s exile and the fracturing of the first family on earth.

Today, Cain’s question defines much of our world today, particularly many societies struggling with social neglect, community breakdown, violence, and contentious migration debates.

1. Social Neglect: The Sin of Looking Away

Cain’s response reveals indifference. He knew what had happened, yet he distanced himself from his responsibility. Social neglect begins in that same place when we know suffering exists but chooses remove ourselves from.

The prophet Isaiah confronted a similar condition: “Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen, to loose the chains of injustice, to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter?” (Isaiah 58:6–7). Biblical faith never separates spirituality from social responsibility.

In many societies today, poverty stands beside prosperity. Youth unemployment rises while opportunity concentrates in few hands. Public resources meant for community development are sometimes diverted through corruption. When leaders and citizens alike say, “It is not my concern,” Cain’s voice speaks again.

Scripture insists otherwise. Proverbs 31:8–9 commands: “Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves… judge righteously, defend the rights of the poor and needy.” Silence in the face of suffering should not be seen as neutrality, it is moral failure.

2. Community Breakdown: Losing the Language of Brotherhood

Cain and Abel were brothers. The problem deepened because violence entered the most familiar human relationship. When the act of brotherhood collapses, society weakens.

In Psalm 133, we read, “How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity.” Unity is foundational for stability and growth of every society. In many African nations, ethnic divisions, political rivalries, and regional tensions has constrained the fabric of community. The rhetoric of “us versus them” replaces shared identity.

The New Testament deepens this in 1 Corinthians 12:26 when Apostle Paul reminds believers that “If one part suffers, every part suffers with it”. The body cannot thrive when it ignores wounded members. A nation cannot prosper when segments of its population are excluded. Cain refused to see Abel as “my brother.” Our societies must recover that language across tribes, regions, colour, classes, and not only within churches.

3. Violence: When Anger Is Left Unchecked

God warned Cain before the he killed his brother, saying “Sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it” (Genesis 4:7). Violence often begins internally before it manifests publicly. Across different parts of my world, communities are wounded by insurgency, communal clashes, banditry, overuse of power, and sexual and domestic abuse. These realities are not statistics, they are Abel’s crying from the ground. After the murder, God said, “Your brother’s blood cries out to me from the ground” (Genesis 4:10). Violence leaves a voice that heaven hears.

Jesus confronts the root when He teaches on the mount, “Anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment”(Matthew 5:22). The gospel addresses transformation of character is essential. Leaders must create just structures. Communities must encourage reconciliation. Individuals must dominate anger before it dominates them.

4. Migration Debates: Who Is My Neighbor?

Cain’s exile made him a wanderer (Genesis 4:12). Ironically, the man who refused responsibility became vulnerable himself. In Africa today, migration (whether due to conflict, climate, or economic hardship) has become a pressing debate. Borders tighten. Fear rises. The foreigner is often seen as a threat. Yet Scripture repeatedly commands care for the stranger. “The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native-born. Love them as yourself” (Leviticus 19:34). Jesus expands the moral horizon in the parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:33–37), redefining neighbor by compassion and not by geographic proximity but

The question is no longer only “Am I my brother’s keeper?” but also “Who counts as my brother?”

Conclusion

Cain’s question was defensive. God’s question was relational: “Where is your brother?” That question still confronts those in authority, in churches, in public institutions, and in homes. A more beautiful world begins when we reject Cain’s posture and embrace Christ’s example. Unlike Cain, Jesus did not deny responsibility; He bore it. “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ” (Galatians 6:2).

Africa’s future like any society’s future should highly be depends on moral renewal, rather than economic policy or political reform. The spirit of Brotherhood must be restored. Justice for all must be practiced. Violence must be restrained. Compassion for one another must cross borders.

So the ancient question remains before us as invitation: Where is your brother?

And how we answer may determine the future of our communities.

May God Bless His Holy Word.

PAC RECOVERS13.5B

Chairman of the Public Account Committee (PAC) who is also the Deputy Speaker of Parliament Hon Ibrahim Tawa Conteh revealed that the committee was able to work with the National Revenue Authority (NRA) in terms of recovering 13.5Bn of under payment for under value taxation for 2024.

Hon Conteh made this statement this past Tuesday February 17 when the Deputy Chairman of the committee Hon PC Desmond Kangobai table the Auditor’s General report of 2023.

According to him it shows that parliament and the committees are doing good work and their good work is deepening.

He went on to say that PAC with the attachment recovered the sum of 24. 25499.86, they  were able to deduct and settle outstanding royalty of the sum of US$ 750.000.

According to him, the committee was able to resolved 60% of the issues raised in the 2023 audit report on account of MDAs, 42% of issues from the councils were resolved.

He advised other committees in parliament to work on unresolved issues and use the report with regards issues that were either resolved or not as it re-echoes the work of Parliament.