Annoyance

November 29, 2025

“Alexa, how do you annoy your little brother?” My brother’s family was over during Thanksgiving and the kids were asking silly questions to Alexa. This was its response. “Repeat your brother with a high pitched voice. This has worked since the dawn of time.” 

I think this method works, but I would advise not to do it.

In the Bible, at the dawn of time, the older brother was annoyed by the little brother (it was the other way around). We find the story in Genesis 4, where Cain and Abel brought offerings to the Lord. The Lord respected the younger brother’s offering, but did not respect the older brother’s offering. And, we know the story’s results, with Cain killing his younger brother Abel. 

While Genesis 4 does not give a clear rationale for why God only accepted Abel’s offering, Paul writes about this in Hebrews 11:4 that Abel’s offering was an act of faith. “By faith, Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts; and through it he being dead still speaks.” This whole chapter talks about the different characters of the Bible that testified of their faith, followed by this particular verse: “Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith.” Hebrews 12:1,2. 

In the season of Thanksgiving, may we learn to express faith like Abel did. I know that will annoy the Master Deceiver for sure. Moreover, may we look unto Jesus as we are running with endurance. Happy Thanksgiving!