Ask a Christian how G-d punishes his people and they will tell you that Hell is hot and awaits all those who have not accepted Jesus. As Jews, of course, we know this is nonsense. Christian Hell results from a misunderstanding of the pit, in the book of Enoch, which G-d created for the immortal fallen angels and did not throw man into. What then is the worst punishment G-d hands out? Death? No. Death is a release and a chance to start again. The worst punishment, and the one I fear the most, is being forced to live this human existence outside of communion with G-d. Surely, that is Hell. While I have heard some Jews argue that we are never distanced from G-d, only from community with each other, I do not think this argument tracks Biblically and it certainly was not true in my own life.
Cain’s Hell
In Genesis, we see G-d beginning to punish mankind. How does he do this? He removes them from the garden where he communes with them personally. Later, Cain kills his brother Abel. G-d forces Cain even further out into the wilderness. Cain is forced to live even further from direct communion with G-d than his already exiled family.
This is the punishment of being forced to live separately and apart from G-d and his blessing. Cain immediately recognized this. He responded, “My punishment is more than I can bear. 14 Today you are driving me from the land, and I will be hidden from your presence; I will be a restless wanderer on the earth, and whoever finds me will kill me.” Cain’s first fear was that he would be hidden from the presence of G-d and be forced to remain on this Earth. If there is a hell, surely this is it.
G-d’s Protection
It is important to note that G-d even though exiling Cain from his presence did not remove his protection. G-d assures Cain anyone who kills him will suffer G-d’s vengeance seven times over. Once we are G-d’s we always have his protection, but we do not always have his presence and blessings in our life. Also, all hope is never lost. There is a theory that Cain returned to his parents under the name Seth. This is due to the fact that Cain and Seth’s children share the same names in Biblical genealogy and G-d often changes a character’s name when they become holy. Separation from G-d is a time-out, not an eternal punishment. Still, that time out of G-d’s presence is the most difficult thing one can experience in life.
I went through a period of being distant from G-d shortly during and after an unmatched marriage. That to me was hell. I prayed repeatedly asking G-d to talk to me just one more time. Then one day after half a year of my praying that prayer G-d said “You been praying for 6 months G-d if you will just talk to me one more time and I have been talking all morning,” and a Ram’s horn was blown. Like Seth, I was returning home from exile. Never again do I want to know that separation. To me that was hell.
So, Christian talk of hell does not scare me. I have experienced true hell, human life without G-d’s presence. That is the hell to be avoided at all costs. Hell is life without G-d. Therefore, love Adonai with all your heart and cling to him as a child clings to its mother. For, in G-d’s presence, there is life.
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