How I viewed the Torah before versus how I view it now.
In this second article, I hope to help you on your journey as I unpack my appreciation for the Torah. My journey of the Torah went from believing it was obsolete, to trying to figure it out, to delighting in it.
If I were to put the church on trial for crimes against the Creator, my first allegation would focus on its utter disdain for the 613 commands given to us in the Torah. Well, I was once included in that allegation. I was taught that the Torah is done away with. I referred to the Torah in a negative connotation. Connotations such as old, burdensome and the law. Neither of those paint a positive picture. I was one of millions who believe the Torah was ‘nailed to the cross.’ The only time I would read it was to recall the fall of man and use it to support a concept the benefited the church. Truth is, I did not understand it, nor did I believe it was relevant to salvation. Most of the writings after the Tanakh are from Paul. So, in hindsight, I ignored the Torah and gave my full attention to what Paul taught and wrote. (I will unpack how Paul is false in a later article). I accepted the rhetoric that he was the true prophet sent by the Messiah Yeshua.
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Spiritually, I served my time, was renewed and set free. This brings me to the second leg of my journey. When I left the church, I read the Bible on my own. Starting from Genesis, I was already lost and needed help in figuring it out. I am not an enthusiastic fan of social media, but my wife is. She came across a Messianic Rabbi. Wait, what is a Messianic? Jewish people who believe in Messiah Yeshua? People who keep the commandments of the Torah and follow the testimony of Yeshua as outlined in Revelation 14:12? Do you mean like the disciples who followed Yeshua? This became my goal; become an authentic believer, just like the first century followers. I wanted to lock arms with these believers. My journey took a major turn. I had a teacher and a community to learn from. My mind exploded with a wealth of understanding and discernment. I went from being lost to gaining understanding of the Torah and in turn, a better understanding of the writings of John, Peter, and James. They proved to be a witness of the relevance of the Torah. I started reading the Torah in its entirety, year after year. A portion/Parashat of the Torah is read every week, ensuring you complete the cycle every year. In the process, I also learned about the Shabbat, the feasts and the fasts outlined in Leviticus chapter 23. But my journey was just beginning. More showers of blessing would continue.
To say I delight in the Torah would be an understatement. Three years after finding a teacher and a community, my family and I were in a new country. Why did we leave? I believed that GOD was telling us to go. Little did I know what incredible faith building junctions awaited us. The next major step in our journey was meeting a family group that was light years ahead of us in terms of keeping the commandments and the testimony of Yeshua. To say we have learned a great deal from them would be an understatement. Today, we do things better. Learn better and do better has been the theme. In my attempt to figure out the Torah, I now delight in it. Anyone who dares to say it is done away with is disqualifying themselves from the one true GOD who is the same, yesterday, today, and tomorrow. Upon further examination, Yeshua is Jewish, was born of Jewish parents, circumcised on the eight day, wore tzitzit and taught the very words of Torah. He did not abolish the Torah but delights in it and lives it. He lived it perfectly, the examiners could not find him guilty of breaking one of the commandments. The Torah is a delight. I teach it to my children, think about it while I lay down, when I arise and when I walk along. I have it written on my doors, I give it my heart, soul, and strength.
