Cain versus Abel – John Monyjok Maluth

The article “Cain versus Abel” aims to highlight the key differences between these two historical figures and guide you in identifying and aligning with your personal traits in today’s world. It suggests that the archetypes represented by Cain and Abel persist on Earth and will likely continue indefinitely. Now, let’s delve deeper into this subject.

Who Is Cain?

According to the Bible, Cain was the firstborn son of Adam and Eve (refer to Genesis 4), and his name is associated with being a male offspring. He was born after God expelled our earliest ancestors from the Garden of Eden. Professionally, Cain was a farmer, while his younger brother, Abel, tended to livestock. This sets the stage for why it is pertinent to compare Cain with Abel.

Cain was a man known for his own virtues and vices, but in this discussion, we aim to contrast him with his brother, Abel. Cain is often portrayed as the malevolent figure, which is why he is juxtaposed with his brother in this discourse.

His actions, much like any of ours, are telling of his character as depicted in the fourth chapter of the Book of Genesis. Cain harbored intense animosity towards his younger brother, solely because God favored his sibling’s offerings for the first time.

Cain made no effort to understand why his offerings were spurned. He did not attempt to present God with a different version of his harvest, leaving us to draw our own conclusions about his personality and character.

Like many might, Cain refused to admit any wrongdoing towards his younger brother, even after murdering him. God was aware of his actions, but desired a confession from Cain, similar to how He did with Adam and Eve. Cain could have sought God’s mercy, yet he chose not to. Instead, he retorted to God, “Am I my brother’s keeper?” which speaks volumes.

Humans, including figures like Abraham and Isaac, are adept at denying facts for personal reasons, often resorting to falsehoods. Consider Abraham’s actions when he journeyed to Egypt with his wife, Sarai.

Isaac, his son, also committed a similar act. Although their justifications for lying differed from their later confessions when the truth eventually emerged, their underlying motive was fear for their lives.

This suggests that even in those times, many individuals exhibited traits akin to Cain. Such people, particularly rulers, might forcibly take another’s wife if she were deemed beautiful, and might even murder a husband who attempted to defend her. The behavior of men in those days was animalistic, a trait that persists or has worsened in modern times.

Cain-like individuals, regardless of gender, are exceptionally cruel and dangerous. They are capable of any deed and will likely deny all knowledge of it, though they may have their own justifications for such denials. It could be surmised that Adam resembled Abel in nature, while Eve was more akin to Cain. This is perceived as their inherent disposition. For further discussion on this topic, please refer to the comments section below.

Related: Life Coaching Ultimate Guide

Psychologists assert that two primary factors contribute to our development: nature and nurture. In my book, “Your Self-Discovery Guide,” I discuss how these elements influence both the physical and spiritual aspects of our being. Our innate characteristics shape our physical traits, thoughts, speech, and actions, as does our interaction with the environment.

The environment significantly shapes our identity. It encompasses the people we meet, the places we visit, the weather we experience, the events we witness, and the objects around us. These factors subtly impact us, often beyond the awareness of our conscious mind.

Together, they forge our current selves and will shape the future identities of our children. However, it appears that nature has a precedence over nurture. It seems to govern our thoughts, expressions, and behaviors, even influencing what we accept into our hearts and minds.

To me, the terms heart, mind, and spirit are synonymous. They all denote the non-material, ethereal aspects of our being. Similarly, the soul is just another term for the heart, spirit, and mind. These are not tangible entities; they are of a spiritual nature.

Thus, Cain was inherently an evil man. He was born with a heart full of malevolent intentions, thoughts, words, and actions. This is evident from his words and deeds as recorded in Genesis chapter 4. It is observable that even in our current generation, there are individuals akin to Cain.

An article titled “Cain versus Abel” would elucidate the distinctions between the two brothers.

Such individuals may be found among our parents, siblings, friends, relatives, neighbors, partners, colleagues, co-workers, and acquaintances. They are prevalent and outnumber those who are like Abel. There are advantages and disadvantages to embodying traits similar to Cain, as outlined below.

Pros of a Cain-like personality

Brave and strong
Cunning and wise
Dominance and leadership
Dictatorship and power of force
Personal wisdom and denial of hurting facts
Shifting of blames on others

Cons of a Cain-like personality

Judgement and punishment
Foolishness and selfishness
Loneliness and despair
Lying and being cunning
Mistrust and low opinion

Who Is Abel?

According to the Bible, Abel was the second-born son of Adam and Eve. He was a shepherd, tending to goats and sheep. Little is known about him, except for the tragic end he met at the hands of his brother, Cain, which suggests he may have been an introverted individual.

Abel is often thought of as a good and righteous man, yet, as is often the case, the righteous seem to suffer at the hands of the wicked. The wicked are sometimes compared to the Devil in their cunning.

An interesting perspective I came across is from an author who discussed the Hebrew word for God. He mentioned that ‘Elohim’ is actually a plural term that could be translated as ‘Gods.’ Throughout the Bible, ‘Elohim’ is consistently used in the plural.

In contrast, ‘HaElohim’ could also be translated as ‘Gods.’ However, while ‘Elohim’ represents Gods of love and life, ‘HaElohim’ is associated with Gods of law and death.

In my language (Nuer & Dinka), this concept is also used to assess someone’s words and actions. It’s common to hear phrases like “the Gods who made you,” suggesting that each individual has their own deity or deities. This echoes the narrative that Cain and Abel were born of different creators. Cain embodied the Gods of law and death, while Abel was the embodiment of the Gods of love and life.

Yet, it appears that both evil and good are integral parts of the whole. To lack one is to possess only half of everything, life included.

Is it possible for God to embody both good and evil simultaneously or at different times? Indeed, there are scriptures that seem to support this notion, stating that God is the origin of both good and evil.

Years ago, my belief was contrary to this. However, in 2017, while engaged in a bus preaching ministry in Juba, I encountered a young girl whose perspective challenged mine.

She pointed out that God has the power to both heal and destroy as He pleases. At the time, I didn’t understand her viewpoint, believing she lacked knowledge, so I encouraged her to study the Bible more thoroughly. Since then, I have not crossed paths with her again until today (as of writing this on Sunday, 27th September 2020).

According to the biblical account of Abel, he is seen as a righteous man, favored by God. His brother, on the other hand, is often associated with evil. This narrative can influence one’s perspective on the inherent nature of people and challenge the notion of individuals being naturally evil. It suggests that both good and evil originate from the same divine source.

However, our subconscious minds often resist new concepts, particularly those that contradict our established beliefs.

The Bible acknowledges the existence of multiple deities besides the God of creation mentioned in its texts. These gods were revered during biblical times and some continue to be worshipped today.

Whether these deities possess the power of creation is a question that remains unanswered. Yet, I agree with the author’s assertion that there is one God with two distinct aspects.

This singular deity is credited with creating both good and evil for reasons known only to Him. It is posited that without evil, good would not be definable, as it is understood in contrast to evil. Similarly, light is only appreciated in the absence of darkness, and positivity is recognized in relation to negativity.

Pros of an Abel-like personality

Truthfulness and openness
Patience and long suffering
Humility and goodness
Recognition and good reputation
Legacy and fame

Cons of an Abel-like personality

Falling prey to other bad people
Failure for self-defence
Goodness as an advantage for others to manipulate you
Being unable to speak up as soon as needed

Wisdom from John Monyjok Maluth

As observed, the world harbors both virtuous and malevolent individuals, akin to Cain and Abel from ancient times. The presence of good and evil people is a constant. It is wise to embrace oneself as is. Comparing Cain to Abel is not to suggest a change in nature if one finds themselves erring.

It is crucial to recognize that people are inherently diverse. No individual has the power to create, recreate, or alter their innate nature, be it akin to Cain or Abel. Yet, understanding these profound truths can significantly enhance one’s life.

Since altering one’s nature is beyond reach—a common human desire—it becomes essential to discover one’s ultimate purpose in life and strive towards its realization. This is the counsel I extend to you, esteemed reader. This is the wisdom I share. Self-discovery is the first step towards self-improvement.