Your Brother's Keeper - Building On The Rock

"Then the Lord said to Cain, “Where is Abel your brother?” He said, “I do not know. Am I my brother’s keeper?” -  Genesis 4:9

I have been watching the developments in central Texas after the flash flooding. As of this morning July 8 there have been at least 100 deaths. Many were young girls at a Christian Camp on the river. There has been a huge outcry all across the nation. And a great outpouring of financial, material, and volunteer help. Having been involved in disaster relief since 2005 I understand the challenges that the survivors, families and the responders face. I also understand that losses like this have stirred up wounds of the heart for others who have lost loved ones at other times. I, in no way intend to minimize the emotional pain associated with this time. But it has raised the greater issue of being our Brother's keeper for me.

I have been "ruminating" on this post for several days. Then this morning the Lord brought to my mind the confrontation between the Prophet Nathan and King David, where Nathan said to King David after, he - King David, became angry with what a man in a story Nathan told had done. Nathan said "King, you are that man" The one that David was angry with. David was guilty.

There is human tragedy happening all over the world. Did you know in Gaza at least 57,130 civilians have been confirmed killed, including 17,400 children. I have read news articles every day about the tragedy that those civilians are facing. But then I just move on to the next headline. And then the question stirred in me, "Do those lives matter as much as those in Central Texas or do they not matter because they are not in my country or of my faith? Do I feel as compassionate about the loss of those innocents? (Now I do understand that not all of the adults were innocent). But I don't think that God will give me or you a "pass" on our apathy because the people happen to be Ismael's descendants. That thought reminded me of the parable of the Good Samaritan? 

"[Jesus asked] So which of these three [the three who had opportunity to give aid] do you think was neighbor to him who fell among the thieves?  And he [ the man Jesus was talking to] said, he who showed mercy on him.” Then Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise." - Luke 10:36-37

The Lord has been essentially asking me, "What side of the road was I walking on?" Am I too busy to be concerned? Every time I write one of these devotions, my own heart is convicted. 

Certainly we are not walking on the other side of the road for the people in Central Texas. But can you put that parable into the context of the people in Gaza - Palestinian people? Like me, I am fairly certain that you will not identify with the priest or the Levite, [religious professionals - schooled in God's law] but with the Samaritan? Or at least, like me, you will want to. Do you remember the sheep and the goats in Matthew 25.

"Then He will also say to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels: for I was hungry and you gave Me no food; I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink; I was a stranger and you did not take Me in, naked and you did not clothe Me, sick and in prison and you did not visit Me.’ “Then they also will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You?’ Then He will answer them, saying, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.’ And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life." - Matthew 25:41-46

Those are hard words coming from the Lord? This is what Jesus said about it!

“But why do you call Me [Jesus] ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say?  Whoever comes to Me, and hears My sayings and does them, I will show you whom he is like: He is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently against that house, and could not shake it, for it was founded on the rock. But he who heard and did nothing is like a man who built a house on the earth without a foundation, against which the stream beat vehemently; and immediately it fell. And the ruin of that house was great." - Luke 6:46-49

Let's use this time to consider the plight of literally thousands of innocents around the world - not just Gaza. (Might I mention the unborn who are aborted every year -  in 2024 there were 1,038,100 clinician-provided abortions in the US, alone, in those states without total abortion bans, an increase of less than 1% from 2023.) There is so much more that could be said about abortions - but I will refrain ....but before I do, one thing that comes to mind - people want to justify abortion - why it is really OK - by defining when a human being is a human being. Perhaps this verse will give you some context in that regard. (read my post from July 8, 2025 for more context). God - the Father said - 

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; Before you were born I sanctified you.” - Jeremiah 1:5

That means that God recognized me even before I was conceived - He didn't wait until after the first trimester to acknowledge my existence.

Think about it – Pray about it – Believe it – Walk in it. Let your light shine and give God the glory.

By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone