sin is crouching at the door; and its desire is for you, but you must master it.   Genesis 4:7  NASB

Crouching – Genesis chapter 4 is the story of Cain and Abel.  It is a story that we have probably known since childhood.  It is the story of the results of allowing the yetzer ha’ra to guide emotions. God knows that emotional situations can become the seedbed for sinful acts.  He sees Cain’s depression.  He knows that there are two monumental choices facing Cain.  Cain can agree with God’s assessment of the situation and take steps to repair the relationship, or Cain can defend himself, refuse God’s offer and let his emotional state carry him into another action.

The text tells us that sin is crouching at the door.  Notice some very important things about this statement.  First, sin is still outside.  It is right there, ready to come in if invited, but it is not yet part of the emotional equation.  The word used here is ravats.  It means “a resting place.”  In almost every occurrence in the Old Testament it is associated with “repose” or “rest after exertion.”  It does not carry with it the idea of something evil lying in wait.  In fact, this word is used many times to symbolically describe the rest of sheep under the shepherd’s care.  Translations that imply that this verse means sin is crouching like a tiger, ready to spring into action probably miss the mark.  God says to Cain, “Sin is in repose just outside you.  If you choose to accept my solution, it will stay there.  It cannot begin to work until you open the door.  But if you don’t heed my warning, if you let the yetzer ha’ra guide your emotions, sin will have the opportunity it needs to spring into action.  Be careful, Cain.”

Then God closes His conversation with this remark, “Sin’s desire is for you but you must master it.”  Sin wants control.  Sin needs control.  The word for desire used here occurs only three times in the Old Testament. In both of the other occurrences, the word indicates a turning point, a moment when the person (Havvah in the Genesis 3 account) opts for actions controlled by personal desire rather than godly advice.  God makes it very clear.  Sin wants to own you.  Sin wants a controlling, intimate involvement with you.  And it will use the emotional gateway to get what it wants.

But God says that Cain can be sin’s master.  It is up to him.  Choose!  “You still have time, Cain.  You can still reverse this emotional roller coaster you are on and prevent the downhill slide.  Nod your ascent to my evaluation of the circumstance of your life.  Agree that I am your King and deserve your tribute.  And it will be acceptable.  You will find joy.  You will be released from this depression.”

How often do we find ourselves standing next to Cain, receiving God’s gentle instructions about the direction of our emotional decisions?  How often have we discovered the power of the yetzer ha’ra is not in choosing, but in desiring what must not be chosen?  But have we learned that sin has no power on its own.  It lies dormant at the door and as long as the door remains closed, it can do nothing to harm us.  Perhaps that’s why Sha’ul tells us that sin entered the world by Adam’s act of opening the door.  That’s the way it enters our world too.  We need more practice keeping the door shut.  It helps to remember that there is no door handle on the outside.

Topical Index:  Genesis 4:7, sin, yetzer ha’ra, crouching, ravats, repose