Cain already knew the answer to God’s question, but he gave a rather flippant, arrogant answer.

Not only had Cain just murdered his brother, he had a big-time attitude problem. In anger, he killed his brother. God’s question zeroed in on him and put him on the spot.

Cain tried to avoid the pointed question by saying, “How do you expect me to know where he is? Am I my brother’s keeper? Am I supposed to follow him around every minute and know where he is? He’s not MY responsibility!”

Cain responded to God with calloused indifference, an all too common attitude the church has. It says, “I’ve got enough to do to look after myself.”

Names in the Old Testament are often significant and indicate character. Experts in language tell us that “Cain” means self-sufficient; strength; the first-born with first rights to everything; power and self-assertion.

By contrast, “Abel” means nothingness and frailty. This paints a picture of two brothers who have completely different attitudes to life.