Signs and Wonders Read Online Free

he built an altar to the Lord and offered Him the first fruits.
    Each morning he visited the altar to see if God had taken the offering, but the fruit lay there withered and dry. Cain saw that his offering had not pleased God, and he did not know why.
    Then Abel raised an altar and offered the firstborn of his flock. Before his wondering eyes the wood burst into flame and the lamb was consumed. Abel rejoiced. And Adam and Eve rejoiced in the favor that had been shown him.
    But Cain took fire. A murderous rage burned in his heart.
    God said: “Why are you angry? Do you question my will? If I refuse your offering it is because I am not pleased, and you must study how to do better. And beware! If you close your heart to my will, you will be opening your heart to Satan, who squats always beyond the door. Put aside your pride, Cain, and heed not that fatal whisper.”
    Cain’s wrath was not cooled. He said to Abel: “Let us walk in the fields.”
    They walked in the fields. Abel spoke of this and that, but Cain said nothing.
    “You are silent, brother,” said Abel.
    Cain did not answer, but strode across the darkening field holding Abel tightly by the arm. The sun was falling, sending out shafts of light that were like spear shafts dripping with blood.
    “Where are we going?” said Abel.
    “Into the hills.”
    “Why must we go so far?”
    “I have a heavy matter to impart. I do not wish to be near where we dwell.”
    “Brother, I am weary.”
    Cain did not answer, but strode up the slope of the hill toward the sun, which was bloodying the whole western part of the sky.
    “Brother, you look so strange. I am afraid.”
    Cain said nothing. He tightened his grasp on Abel and strode up the hill.
    “I am weary,” said Abel. “I go no farther.”
    Cain turned on him and said: “Why did the Lord God refuse my offering and take yours?”
    “I do not know.”
    “I know,” said Cain. “And the knowledge is sore. You are a thief, born to steal whatever I have.”
    “No,” whispered Abel.
    “Yes! Oh, yes. I was happy until you came. I dug the fields with my father, and the earth prospered under my care. No one harmed me, and I harmed no one. But then, cursed day, you were born, and everything changed. For you immediately began to steal. First you stole my mother’s love, then my father’s. And now you have robbed me of God’s favor—all in the same soft, false way and with that lying smile. Now I must punish you.”
    “Cain, stop! Do not raise your hand against your brother.”
    But Cain had seized Abel by the throat and held a rock raised over his head.
    “Cain, forgive me. I did not mean to steal their love. I mean you no harm. I love you. You are my only brother.”
    “I hate you. You are my only brother and my only enemy. You must die.”
    Abel fell to his knees, sobbing. But Cain had no mercy. He smashed the rock down on Abel’s hands, which were covering his head. The hands slid away, and Cain smashed the rock down again and again on the bowed head, until it was a mush of blood and bone. Then he took up rocks and covered Abel with them so that he could not be seen. Only a rim of the sun clung to the edge of the sky now. Cain reached his bloody hands to the bloody light and laughed a wild, bitter laugh. Far off across the valley he heard the lost voices of Abel’s sheep. Then suddenly he was afraid.
    God came down and said: “Where is Abel?”
    “I do not know,” said Cain. “Am I my brother’s keeper?”
    God said: “What have you done? Your brother’s blood calls out to me from the ground.”
    Under God’s glance the rocks fell away, revealing the broken body of Abel.
    “You have murdered your brother,” said God. “You have dared to take life from him whom I have given life. Now the earth itself shall curse you, because you have made it drink your brother’s blood. From now on that earth will be barren to your touch. You will till it and water it and plant it with seed, but it will not bear