{"id":5738,"date":"2014-12-05T21:45:51","date_gmt":"2014-12-06T05:45:51","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/hoshanarabbah.org\/blog\/?p=5738"},"modified":"2014-12-07T19:04:36","modified_gmt":"2014-12-08T03:04:36","slug":"the-torah-connection","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hoshanarabbah.org\/blog\/2014\/12\/05\/the-torah-connection\/","title":{"rendered":"The Torah Connection"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Link Between the Infinite and the Finite \u2014 A New Paradigm in Which to View the Bible<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

The Torah Connection<\/b><\/p>\n

If you were the infinite, omniscient and loving Creator of the universe who made man in his own image to have a relationship with him, how would communicate with finite man? How could you pour all that you know and are into man, so that he could experience the love, joy, peace, goodness, holiness, wisdom, understanding and truth that you have? It would be like trying to pour the world\u2019s oceans into a thimble. The best you could do would be to distill down the essence of who you are and what you know into the simplest and most basic form and then give it to man in hopes that he would accept and understand it and then apply it to his life.<\/p>\n

\"Torah<\/a><\/p>\n

This is exactly what YHVH Elohim did when he gave man his Torah. The Torah is a small kernel representing the essence of the very mind, will, character and heart of the Creator, and it\u2019s his gift to man, for man to live an abundant leading to immortality in Elohim\u2019s eternal kingdom.<\/p>\n

How do we know this? The Bible likens the Torah that emanates from the Eternal Creator to divine light that pierces the spiritual darkness of the man\u2019s physical existence. Moreover, the Torah is like a path that leads man to YHVH Elohim, the Creator. It is the epitome of all wisdom, knowledge and understanding that when embraced and obeyed leads man to the fulfillment of his highest desires. This very Torah is revealed in the pages of the Bible from Genesis to Revelation. Yes, not just in the books of the law of Moses, but in the New Testament or Testimony of Yeshua as well! It is there for those who will remove their religious blinders and open their eyes to the truth that has always been there.<\/p>\n

The Living and the Written Torah Is the Central Theme of the Bible<\/b><\/p>\n

The Living (Yeshua the Messiah) and Written Torah (specifically the biblical books of Genesis to Deuteronomy, and in the larger sense, the entire Old Testament or Tankah) is<\/i> the dominant theme of the Bible. They are one in the same thing\u2014totally unified and absolutely indivisible, which is why I used the singular verb is<\/i> and not the grammatically correct plural form of the vert to be <\/i>in the previous sentence. Another way to say this is that the whole Bible is about Yeshua the Torah-Word of Elohim who was made flesh (John 1:1, 14).<\/p>\n

To illustrate this point, as we shall discuss later, we find this dominant theme prominently highlighted at the beginning, middle and end of the Scriptures. This brief study is, by no means, a comprehensive study of the subject of the Torah as presented in the Bible. It\u2019s merely a brief overview to help you to begin viewing the Bible through a different set of spiritual glasses.<\/p>\n

In this study, we will focus more heavily on the Written Torah, as opposed to Yeshua the Living Torah, although in our minds, without Yeshua, it\u2019s impossible to fully understand, much less obey the Written Torah. Furthermore, it is only Yeshua, the Living Torah and not the Written Torah who is capable of saving us from our sins (which the Bible defines as the violation of the Written Torah), and granting to us by his merciful grace the righteousness required to receive eternal life and entrance into Elohim\u2019s everlasting kingdom.<\/p>\n

The Written Torah Defined<\/b><\/p>\n

Let\u2019s first define our terms. What does the word Torah <\/i>mean as defined in the Bible? The primary meaning of the Hebrew word Torah<\/i>, VRU< is \u201cteaching, precept, instruction\u201d and not law<\/i>, although it is translated as such some 219 times in the Tanakh (Old Testament). What is the fuller meaning of the word Torah<\/i>?<\/p>\n

According to Strong\u2019s Expanded Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible<\/i>, Torah<\/i>, as already noted, signifies primarily \u201cdirection, teaching and instruction\u201d (Prov 13:14). It is derived from the verb yarah<\/i>\/VRh meaning \u201cto project, point out\u201d and hence \u201cto point out or teach.\u201d The law of Elohim is that which points out or indicates His will to man\u2026Seen against its background of the verb yarah<\/i>, it becomes clear that Torah is much more than law or a set of rules. Torah is not restriction or hindrance, but instead the means whereby one can reach a goal or an ideal place.<\/p>\n

Similarly, The Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament<\/i> states that the word Torah means \u201cteaching\u201d whether it is the wise man instructing his son or Elohim instructing Israel. The wise give insight into all aspects of life so that the young may know how to conduct themselves and to live a long blessed life (Prov 3:1f). Likewise through the Torah, Elohim, motivated by love, reveals to man basic insights on how men are to live with each other and how man is to approach Elohim. Through the Torah, Elohim shows his interest in all aspects of man\u2019s life which is to be lived under his direction and care. The Torah of Elohim is his word to mankind \u2014 his instructions in right living or in righteousness.<\/p>\n

As already noted, the word Torah originates from the root word yarah<\/i>\/vRH, which also means \u201cto flow as water, to lay or throw as in shooting an arrow; to point out as if aiming the finger to make a point, to teach.\u201d Another cognate (related word) of the word Torah is the Hebrew word moreh<\/i> (Strong\u2019s<\/i> H4175), which means \u201cteacher or archer (as in one who shoots at a target).\u201d Moreh<\/i>\/vRun derives from the same Hebrew root word, yarah<\/i>, as does the word Torah<\/i> and signifies that law is the revelation of Elohim\u2019s will (e.g. Isa 1:10). Therefore, when one is walking according to the Torah of YHVH Elohim, one is walking in the light of YHVH\u2019s truth, which is hitting the mark of righteousness. Likewise, YHVH\u2019s teachings or instructions are a river of life flowing from his throne aimed at hitting the mark of truth and righteousness. By contrast, the Hebrew word for sin is chata<\/i>, which means \u201cto miss the mark,\u201d or to transgress the Torah as 1 John 3:4 states, \u201cSin is the transgression of the Torah-law.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Origin of Torah and Its Introduction into the World<\/b><\/p>\n

The Torah predates Moses who gave the Torah-law in its codified form to the children of Israel at Mount Sinai. There are many examples in both the books of Genesis and Exodus before Mount Sinai that YHVH\u2019s servants both knew of and followed the Torah. That is another study and beyond the scope of this present discussion. Moreover, the Bible reveals that the Torah not only predates Moses and his ancestors, but the creation of man as well as the following points will hopefully make abundantly clear.<\/p>\n

In the creation account, Elohim said, \u201cLet there be light\u201d (Gen 1:3). The light of Elohim came into the darkness of this world. The creation of light was Elohim\u2019s first creative act. As we shall see below, light<\/i> is a Hebraic metaphor for the Torah, which is the divine knowledge and wisdom of Elohim representing his perfect and undefiled character and nature.<\/p>\n