Timshel

We named our house after the moral of East of Eden, by John Steinbeck. If you haven't read it, you should.

If you read it once and can't remember what "timshel" means, or if you are very sure you won't read East of Eden, this post is for you. Here's a summary of timshel, our ranch's namesake.

Throughout Steinbeck's novel, the protagnist's servant and cook, Lee, struggles with the statement God made to Cain in Genesis, "If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him." (Genesis 4:7)

What Lee wants to know is the meaning of "thou-shalt-rule-over" sin. This is the Hebrew word, timshel (תִּמְשָׁל).

As the story progresses, (Lee is the "wise old sage" type of supporting character,) Lee works very hard to translate timshel correctly. Finally, his search culminates in the discovery that historically, the word timshel has been understood by Hebrew scholars to mean "thou mayest."

Here's Lee profound revelation:

Lee’s hand shook as he filled the delicate cups. He drank his down in one gulp. “Don’t you see?” he cried. “The American Standard translation orders men to triumph over sin, and you can call sin ignorance. The King James translation makes a promise in ‘Thou shalt,’ meaning that men will surely triumph over sin. But it’s the Hebrew word, the word timshel —‘Thou mayest’ — that gives a choice. It might be the most important word in the world. That says the way is open. That throws it right back on a man. For if ‘Thou mayest’ — it is also true that ‘Thou mayest not.’ Don’t you see?”

Later in the story, Lee observes to another character, "And now that you don't have to be perfect, you can be good."

Timshel. Thou mayest.

It's the freedom humanity has to choose God's irresistible grace when He determines to extend it. It's Galatians 4:9,

But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how can you turn back again to the weak and worthless elementary principles of the world, whose slaves you want to be once more? 

By the righteousness of Christ, who took your place at Calvary, you are free.

Timshel.