Restorative justice and the story of Cain and Abel

Cain became angry when God ‘did not have regard’ for his offering. The
Bible doesn’t say who Cain was angry with, except that he was angry.
His countenance fell.

God doesn’t even mention the offerings when he
addresses Cain, he just asks him why he is angry- telling him that if
he does well his face will be lifted, if he does not do well- sin is
waiting for him. God warns Cain and gives him advice on how to deal
with his anger.

What astounded me was God’s interjection.

God
created a perfect world, with people who hadn’t sinned and their
community was perfect, between humans and between God and humans. Until
humans sinned.

Adam and Eve were kicked out of the garden, but they
remained together, having their relationship and started a family. Eve
says that it was through God’s help that Cain was born; community was
being restored.

And then Cain is angry, and him not being at peace,
even with himself (we don’t know who he was angry with) put the peace
and wholeness of the community at risk.

So God addresses this before
there is a problem; God is proactive and preventative (our criminal
justice approach tends to be reactive).

Read the whole entry.