Evil Genius

“its desire is for you, but you must master it.” Genesis 4:7

Desire – Once again I am indebted to the splendid work of Rabbi David Fohrman for this insight.  We have looked at this word before, noting its unusual connection to ‘ezer, the Hebrew term that identifies “woman” at her creation.  But Rabbi Fohrman makes another point that simply cannot be ignored.  This word (teshukah), used three times in the Bible, is really a word about the unbelievable energy resident in every one of us to create.  It is the deepest longing that we have – the longing to make something that lasts.  This is Rabbi Fohrman’s insight.  Teshukah is a part of who we are!  Without it, we would cease to be human.

Now this is very disconcerting.  Why?  Because this word is used in the story of Cain’s murder.  Most of us think of this “desire” as something hideous, something evil and elemental, something that we must get rid of.  But the Hebrew doesn’t allow that reaction.  Teshukah is built right into what it means to be a woman (see Genesis 3:16), what it means to love deeply and passionately (Song 7:10), and here, where it takes on the nuance of something lethal that wishes to bond with Cain.  Notice God’s warning.  “You must master it.”  That isn’t the same as “You must deny it,” or “You must remove it.”  This vital force deep inside must be domesticated, not erased.  It must be harnessed so that it can be put to use as God directs.  The greatest danger of teshukah is not its presence but rather it insistence that it be let loose.

Cain has not sinned; not yet.  He is simply aware of the raging power within, the power that pleads to become his bedfellow.  Yes, there is an intimacy connection here.  In the movies, it is called “Sleeping With The Enemy,” but that isn’t quite right.  Teshukah is not really the enemy.  It is me, released from the governing hand of God.  It is passion without judgment, creative desire without discipline.  It is precisely what James calls the precursor to sin.  And it is a part of every man and woman since the Fall.  Eve knew it.  Now her son knows it.  And so do we, the offspring of her teshukah.

This is terrible and wonderful at the same time.  You see, when I align my deepest need to create with the gentle restraint of God, He and I produce something fabulous, something that glorifies Him and blesses others.  In the process, I experience who I really am and I am flooded with joy (who He really is).  But when I let my ferocious energy serve myself, when I use it to acquire my own destiny, then something disastrous occurs.  I create without God – and the result can only be unholy.  God warns Cain that he is threatened by a force much more powerful than he can imagine.  It is the force to act according to his own will.  Once unleashed, this power will not go back into the bottle.

But God does not tell Cain to destroy this energy.  He tells Cain to control it, to bring it into alignment with God’s purposes and God’s use.  This divine power to create ultimately belongs to God.  We only borrow it while we live with His breath.  Of course, how we use it is the really scary question, because it can be the power to kill.  You and I have this same teshukah.  Used in partnership with God, we create life.  Used in partnership with self, we bring death.  These are the only options.  There is no “unused” choice here.  So, what are you doing with your deepest passion?

Topical Index:  Human Being