Genesis 4:8 (NKJV)

‘Now Cain talked with Abel his brother; and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother and killed him.’

Killing someone close to you cannot be an easy task or a public assignment. This type of killing is done in the secret place, away from the eyes and ears of men. Cain knew what he was doing. The Samaritan Pentateuch, Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate add Cain saying to Abel, “Let us go out to the field.” Why a field? Because there will be no noise, no witnesses.

May God deliver us from sneakingly killing our brethren. We may not kill physically but there is a lot of emotional killing happening among God’s people. Betrayal of trust and evil speaking behind the back of your friends is a deadly way of killing. Whenever we feel hurt or slighted, may we raise the issue with the persons concerned. Backstabbing is a more painful death than front stabbing. If I must die, may I die facing my executor. If we cannot confront a person from the front, then may we vow never to stab from behind.

‘I pray that you, Lord, will always convict me and force me to repent, if I ever backstab anyone. Jesus, give me the boldness to speak directly to people if I need to, rather than speak behind them. This I ask in your name. Amen.’