We know that “where are you?” means “you aren’t where you are meant to be.”
When we read “where is your brother?” the message is the same: “you aren’t where you are meant to be.”
So when God made me wander from my father’s house, I said to her, ‘Let this be the kindness that you shall do me: whatever place we come to, say there of me: He is my brother.’”
Genesis 20:13 (The Contemporary Torah, JPS, 2006)
I don’t typically take single verses and disconnect them from their context, but I can’t help but notice the sweetness in this thing Abraham says.
To shield me from harm, your kindness is to call me “brother.”
May we all hold this notion close to our heart. May we love one another.
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)
Cain’s question, “am I my brother’s keeper” is quite tragic. The word “keeper” is means to protect, to guard, to celebrate over, to watch for.
to keep, have charge of
to keep, guard, keep watch and ward, protect, save life
watch, watchman (participle)
to watch for, wait for
to watch, observe
to keep, retain, treasure up (in memory)
to keep (within bounds), restrain
to observe, celebrate, keep (sabbath or covenant or commands), perform (vow)
to keep, preserve, protect
to keep, reserve
H8104: שָׁמַר (šāmar)
It’s what God does for us, and what we are commanded to do for one another.
Yes. You are your brother’s keeper.