"Then the LORD said to Cain, 'Where is your brother Abel? "
I don't know,'he replied. 'Am I my brother's keeper?"' Genesis 4:9 Niv
"Then the LORD said to Cain, 'Where is your brother Abel? "
I don't know,'he replied. 'Am I my brother's keeper?"' Genesis 4:9 Niv
With teeth clenched, cheeks flushed, and head turned away in defiance, Cain was only the first in a long line of humanity to utter the words, "Am I my brother's keeper?"
Those who follow Cain in answering this question in the negative have often shared his method of resolving interpersonal conflict: kill (or at least inflict harm on) your opponent. We have only to consider Bosnia, Kosovo, Rwanda, and lately, Maasailand to illustrate this point.
A few weeks ago, a land dispute erupted between the Maasai and a neighboring Kenyan tribe to the north, the Kipsigis. The center of the dispute was contested land about 25 miles from where we live. One tribe killed some members of the other, and the fighting escalated in subsequent battles. One day, women came running through our area wailing loudly. At first we thought someone had died at our clinic, but the cries seemed different this time. This was not a soulful expression of grief. This was a call to arms. Able-bodied Maasai men were needed to defend their territory. Some Maasai houses had been set ablaze near the disputed border. It got very quiet as the young men left to join the battle. Community leaders traveled to see for themselves what was happening.
But what would the believers do? At I I p.m. that night, I found out what one village had done. At considerable risk, they had provided safe haven for two Kipsigis men, a carpenter and a schoolteacher, who were working on projects in our area. When they learned that some small bands of Maasai were looking for them with bloodshed in mind, this Christian family hid them in their village. Under the cover of darkness, two young men made their way to our home to tell me of their plight. They were concerned that these men's lives were in danger. Through no fault of their own, the carpenter and the teacher found themselves behind enemy lines in a battle they wanted no part of. Our neighbors had a plan. They would lead me to their village in our truck where we would pick up the Kipsigis men, then make the three-hour drive to the town of Narok under the cover of darkness It was a clear, moonlit night. Our journey was far from the conflict, on tracks winding through plains seldom traveled by anyone but us. We reached Narok without incident in
the middle of the night. We discovered the safest haven for our travel companions was the police station until an armed escort could be arranged to take the men home. We returned home at 5 a.m.
You can imagine how pleased I was to see our neighbors' faith in action. Their actions demonstrated that they had chosen a very different path from that of Cain and his followers. For followers of Christ, there is only one answer to the question "Am I my brother's keeper?" A resounding "Yes!"
For those who model their lives after Christ, the definition of brother takes on a much wider scope. The Maasai believers who sheltered the Kipsigis men showed a willingness to extend their definition of "brother" to those of another tribe. This perspective is vastly different from much of the world where tribal allegiance separates us from them.
I believe this is what Paul had in mind when he wrote: "For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus." Galatians 3:26-28 NAS
Thank you for your continuing prayers for our health, safety, and the wisdom and strength to meet the challenges of life here. May God bless each of you in your ministries to your neighbors.
In His Service,
Dave for the Snyders
We challenge our supporting churches to designate this summer's VBS offerings for the purchase of clinic motorcycles. These motorcycles are an important asset to CMF's medical and evangelistic ministry. They provide the only means for the clinic workers to reach remote areas when someone is critically ill.
Checks should be made payable and sent to:
CMF International
P.O. Box 501020
Indianapolis, IN 46250-6020
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