RMPS - Int2/Higher - World Religions - Judaism - Education Scotland

THE CAUSE OF THE HUMAN CONDITION
Suffering as a result of disobedience to God’s will
There are many examples in the Torah of the consequences of evil
actions. The first of these was the result of eating of the tree of
knowledge of good and evil, for which Adam and Eve were thrown out
of the Garden of Eden. (See Genesis 3: 1–21 for this account.)
The following quotation from the very next chapter – describing the
very first murder and its consequences – is another example.
Source
Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him. And the Lord said unto
Cain: ‘Where is Abel thy brother?’ And he said: ‘I know not; am I my brother’s
keeper?’ And He said: ‘What hast thou done? The voice of thy brother’s
blood crieth unto Me from the ground. And now, cursed art thou from the
ground, which hath opened her mouth to receive thy brother’s blood from
thy hand. When thou tillest the ground, it shall not henceforth yield unto
thee her strength; a fugitive and a wanderer shalt thou be on the earth.’
Genesis 4: 8–12
Some questions about this text:
1. Was murder the only crime Cain committed?
2. In which way did the Yetzer Harah influence the actions of Cain?
3. Can all the actions of Cain be explained by the Yetzer Harah?
Sometimes the results of disobedience are not due to the actions of an
individual, but the actions of an entire people and there are many
examples of the consequences for the Children of Israel of their
disobedience as a nation. One of the best examples of reward for good
behaviour and the consequences of disobedience being spelled out is
the following which forms part of the Shema (see also section 2, p9).
RMPS: WORLD RELIGIONS – JUDAISM (INT 2, H) 25
© Learning and Teaching Scotland