Confession in the book of Genesis

It really amazes me how God kind of showed us the sacrament of reconciliation even before the time of Jesus. Right at the creation of men, the book of Genesis tells us that Adam and Eve were expelled of paradise for disobeying God. After this Eve gave birth to a two children, Abel and Cain.
As Genesis 4-2-5 tells us: Now Abel kept flocks, and Cain worked the soil. In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the LORD. But Abel brought fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The LORD looked with favor on Abel and his offering, but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast.

Cain was very angry with his brother because God liked Abel’s offering more than his own, and was therefore partial to him. Now, look how Abel gave God some of his best portions of the flock while Cain gave just enough to pass the “task”. Notice how sometimes we are like Cain with God, giving Him just enough instead of giving Him EVERYTHING we have and are.

Now the book keeps telling us in chapter 6: Then the LORD said to Cain, "Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it."

I specially like this verse because it is really true how often we are ruled by our vices -- vices that make us fall away from Him. For example, not going to mass because we prefer to sleep in or simply because we are too lazy to walk or take the bus to church. God is telling us, “I know you are weak, but if you master those vises and transform them into virtues and practice them, you will not have to suffer of despair or be absent from ME.”

Notice how the story starts with them (Abel and Cain) working and offering sacrifices to God. In other words, worship Him, then due to a vise Cain did not do it the way he was supposed to, like his brother, so the story goes on in chapter 8: Now Cain said to his brother Abel, "Let's go out to the field." And while they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him.
Look at how Cain, out of the vice of despair and envy, ended up killing his own brother. Now God comes and says to Cain in chapter 9: Then the LORD said to Cain, "Where is your brother Abel?" "I don't know," he replied. "Am I my brother's keeper?"
It is OBVIOUS that God knew what happened to Abel, but here is the key: God wanted Cain to CONFESS his sin by simply saying, “Yes God, I killed my brother out of envy, can you please forgive me?” And God in his infinite mercy would say, “Yes.” But he did not say that. Knowing that God can see everything, he denied and said: Am I my brother’s keeper? YES you are your brother’s keeper, you should always be taking care of him, and because of this as we all know, Cain was taking away from the land.

Now, not like Cain, let us confess to God that we are sinners and ask Him for forgiveness. Let us fight our own weaknesses and vices, and transform them into virtues. Let us keep our eye on our brothers and sisters and watch for them as they watch for us. In that way, we can grow closer in our relationship with God.