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From: Eddie Chumney
To: heb_roots_chr@hebroots.org
Subject: Chapter 3: Restoring the Two Houses of Israel
CHAPTER 3
G-D'S POWER TWINS: TORAH AND GRACE
from the book by Eddie Chumney
"Restoring the Two Houses of Israel"
PART 2 of 3
G-D'S TORAH IS THE WORD OF G-D
The G-d of Israel's Torah is His Word. The "Torah" and the "Word of G-d" are synonymous terms in the Bible. Most members from the house of Israel (Christianity) view the "TORAH" as the first five books of the Bible but "The Word of God" as the entire Bible from Genesis (Bereishit) to Revelation. However, in Isaiah (Yeshayahu) 2:3, we see an example where the Torah and the Word of God are used interchangeably as it is written:
"And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law [TORAH], and the WORD OF THE LORD from Jerusalem."
In this verse, we can see an example of Hebrew parallelism. "Out of Zion shall go forth the Torah" is the same as "The Word of the Lord from Jerusalem." Therefore, from this example, we can see that the Torah and the Word of the L-rd are used synonymously in the Bible.
Another example where we can see the word TORAH used interchangeably with the WORD OF THE LORD is in Psalm 119. In Psalm (Tehillim) 119:97 it is written:
"O how love I thy law [Torah]! it is my meditation all the day."
In Psalm (Tehillim) 119:105 it is written:
"Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path."
Once again, we can see from the example in Psalm (Tehillim) 119 that in one verse, David refers to the TORAH and in verses following he refers to the WORD OF GOD. Therefore, in a strict interpretation of the meaning of the word, TORAH, the Torah is the first five books of the Bible. However, in a broad sense, everything in the Bible from Genesis (Bereishit) to Revelation should be seen as the G-d of Israel's TORAH or instruction to His people.
WHAT WAS THE TREE OF LIFE IN THE GARDEN OF EDEN?
When the G-d of Israel created Adam and Eve (Chavah), He placed them in the Garden of Eden (Gan Eden). In the middle of the Garden of Eden (Gan Eden) was the "Tree of Life." (Genesis [Bereishit] 2:9). What was the tree of life (etz chayim) that the G-d of Israel planted in the middle of the Garden of Eden (Gan Eden)? The Tree of Life (etz chayim) is the Torah! In Proverbs (Mishlei) 3:1, 18 it is written:
"My son, forget not my law [TORAH]; but let thine heart keep my commandments ... She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: and happy is every one that retaineth her."
THE TORAH IS MORE DESIRED THAN FINE GOLD
The G-d of Israel said that His Torah is to be more desired than fine gold. In Psalm (Tehillim)19:7-8, 10 it is written:
"The law [TORAH] of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple. The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes ... More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb."
THE TORAH IS THE TREE OF LIFE
Those members of the family (mishpochah) of the G-d of Israel who delight in the TORAH of the G-d of Israel and meditate in His TORAH day and night are like a tree planted by the rivers of water. In Psalm (Tehillim) 1:1-3 it is written:
"Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law [TORAH] OF THE LORD; and in his law [TORAH] doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not whither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper."
In these verses we can see that a member of the family of the G-d of Israel who delights himself in the TORAH of the L-rd and meditates day and night in the TORAH is like a tree planted by the rivers of water. In Revelation 22:1-2, the tree planted by the rivers of water is the tree of life as it is written:
"And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations."
Furthermore, the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus told the members of His body that those who DO His commandments (Torah) will have right to the tree of life. In Revelation 22:14 it is written:
"Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have
right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates
into the city."
THE PAGES OF THE TORAH SCROLL ARE CALLED LEAVES
In Revelation 22:2, we are told that the LEAVES of the tree of life (Torah) are for the healing of the nations. The pages of the Torah scroll are called leaves. An example of pages of a scroll being called leaves can be found in Jeremiah (Yermiyahu) 36:21, 23 it is written:
"So the king sent Jehudi to fetch the roll . and it came to pass, that when Jehudi had read three or four leaves."
Therefore, from these scripture verses we can understand the following:
1. The tree of life that was planted in the Garden of Eden (Gan Eden) was the Torah.
2. G-d's Torah is worth far above pure gold.
3. G-d's Torah is for the healing of the nations.
4. Those who keep the Torah of the G-d of Israel have right
to the tree of life.
ABRAHAM: THE FATHER OF OUR FAITH
In Romans 4:16, Abraham (Avraham) is called the father of our faith (emunah). Why did the G-d of Israel choose Abraham (Avraham) and why is Abraham (Avraham) called the father of our faith (emunah)? The G-d of Israel chose Abraham (Avraham) because G-d knew that Abraham (Avraham) would teach his children the Torah of the G-d of Israel. In Genesis (Bereishit) 18:18-19 it is written:
"Seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him? For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the Lord [the Torah], to do justice and judgment; that the Lord may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him."
Abraham (Avraham) kept the Torah of the G-d of Israel. In Genesis (Bereishit) 26:5 it is written:
"Because that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws [TORAH]."
WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF THE TORAH?
Listed below are seven purposes of the Torah of the G-d of Israel. They are as follows:
1. Teaches and reveals the Divine nature of G-d.
a) G-d is Holy (Leviticus 19:2).
b) G-d is Love (I John 4:7-8).
c) G-d is Gracious, Righteous, Merciful (Psalm 116:5).
d) G-d is Light (I John 1:5).
2. Teaches and reveals sin (Romans 3:20, Galatians 3:10, James 2:10, I John 3:4).
3. Teaches and reveals man's need to have a Messiah (Mashiach) (Romans 10:4). "End" in Greek means "Goal/Target."
4. Teaches and reveals the G-d of Israel's redemptive plan through the Messiah (Mashiach) (Psalm 40:6-7, Hebrews 10:5-7, Luke 24:36, 44).
5. Teaches and reveals that man is saved/redeemed/delivered by the grace/mercy (chesed) of the G-d of Israel by faith (emunah) and not by the deeds of the law (Romans 3:20, 24, 28, Galatians 2:16, Ephesians 2:8-9).
6. Teaches and reveals the difference between the life of the Spirit (the Torah written upon a heart of flesh) and the life of the flesh/evil inclination (the Torah written upon a heart of stone) (Romans 8:1-3, 5-9).
7. Teaches us how to grow from spiritual babies to
spiritual maturity (Genesis 17:1, Psalm 19:7-8, Psalm
119:1-2, Ephesians 4:11-15, Hebrews 5:12-14).
TORAH MEANS A FOUNDATION
As mentioned earlier in this chapter, Torah comes from the Hebrew word, "Yarah" which means "to lay a foundation." The prophets (Nevi'im) and writings (Ketuvim) build upon that foundation. Spiritually, the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus is the LIVING TORAH and the G-d of Israel's FIRM FOUNDATION to all that believe upon Him. In Isaiah (Yeshayahu) 28:16 it is written:
"Therefore thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation; he that believeth shall not make haste."
The firm foundation and chief cornerstone of the G-d of Israel's Kingdom is the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus. He is the living Torah. This foundation is built upon by the prophets (Nevi'im) and apostles. In Ephesians 2:19-20 it is written:
"Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but
fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God;
And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets,
Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone."
WHAT METHOD DID G-D USE TO COMMUNICATE HIS TORAH
The G-d of Israel gave us the understanding of the ways of His Kingdom in the form of spiritual pictures, blueprints or shadows. In other words, the literal or natural world (peshat) was given to communicate the spiritual world (sod). Therefore, the G-d of Israel spoke His Torah to His people through different mechanisms including:
1. Parables (Psalm 78:1-4, Mark 4:10-13)
2. Deep or dark sayings/mysteries (sod) (Proverbs 1:1-6, 1 Corinthians 2:6-10, 14)
3. Spiritual blueprints/shadows (Ezekiel 43:10-12, Colossians 2:16-17)
The Torah of the G-d of Israel was given in the form of parables, deep sayings and spiritual blueprints, so that His Word would be fulfilled concerning the righteous (tzaddikim) and the wicked. Those who would obey (shema) the greatest commandment (Deuteronomy [Devarim] 6:4-9, Mark 12:28-31) in Spirit and in truth (John [Yochanan] 4:24) would know and understand the ways of the G-d of Israel. However, the wicked would consider the things of the G-d of Israel as foolishness (I Corinthians 2:14).
THE FOUR LEVELS OF UNDERSTANDING TORAH/G-D'S WORD
1. Peshat - Literal
2. Ramez - One scripture tied to another scripture
3. Derash - Derived interpretation of scripture through exegesis and spiritual applications
4. Sod - Deeper spiritual meaning (dark sayings, mysteries)
of the scripture not seen at its surface meaning
HOW DO WE GROW IN THE KNOWLEDGE (TORAH) OF G-D?
The G-d of Israel supernaturally begins to reveal Himself and the principles of His Kingdom whenever we obey (shema) the greatest commandment to love the G-d of Israel with all our heart, mind, soul and strength. (Deuteronomy [Devarim] 6:4-5, Mark 12:28-31) By obeying the greatest commandment, the Holy Spirit (Ruach HaKodesh) will lead us so that we can grow into spiritual maturity (tamim). This spiritual growth is designed by the G-d of Israel to be in a step by step fashion, building upon the foundation of the Torah. In Isaiah (Yeshayahu) 28:9-10, it is written:
"Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts. For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little."
It is the desire of the G-d of Israel that after we are saved/redeemed/delivered by His grace/mercy (chesed) through faith (emunah) that we grow in the knowledge (da'at) and understanding (binah) of the ways of His Kingdom "line upon line" and "precept upon precept." In doing so, the G-d of Israel desires that we grow from spiritual babies to spiritual maturity (tamim). In Hebrews 5:12-14 it is written:
"For when for the time ye ought to be teachers [rabbis], ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk and not of strong meat. For every one that useth milk is unskillful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil."
WHAT IS THE NEW COVENANT?
Most members from the house of Israel (Christianity) associate the Old Testament (the Biblical name is TeNaKh - Torah, Prophets [Nevi'im], and Writings [Ketuvim - Luke 24:44]) with the Torah, but they do not associate the New Testament (Brit Hadashah) with the Torah. At the same time, most members from the house of Israel (Christianity) fail to realize that the BIBLE tells us that the New Testament (Brit Hadashah) is TORAH based !!
THE NEW COVENANT IS TORAH BASED
The New Covenant (Brit Hadashah) is Torah based. In Jeremiah (Yermiyahu) 31:31, 33, it is written:
"Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will make a NEW COVENANT with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah ... THIS SHALL BE THE COVENANT that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the Lord, I will put my law [TORAH] in their inward parts, and WRITE IT IN THEIR HEARTS; and will be their God, and they shall be my people."
The book of Hebrews confirms that the Holy Spirit (Ruach HaKodesh) is a witness that the New Covenant (Brit Hadashah) is the TORAH written upon our hearts. In Hebrews 10:15-16 it is written:
"Whereof the HOLY GHOST [SPIRIT] also IS A WITNESS to us: for after that he had said before, This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws [TORAH] into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them."
G-D DID NOT DO AWAY WITH THE LAW
Why was the New Covenant (Brit Hadashah) necessary? Did the G-d of Israel find fault with His Torah? NO !! The G-d of Israel could not find fault with His Torah because He is the giver of the Torah. Therefore, if the G-d of Israel found fault with His Torah, He would have to find fault with Himself. So, what did the G-d of Israel need to change when He ushered in the New Covenant (Brit Hadashah)? The G-d of Israel didn't want to change His Torah because His Torah is a Tree of Life (etz chayim) and the Torah is eternal. However, the G-d of Israel desired to change the HEARTS of His people. We can understand this truth in Hebrews 8:7-8 as it is written:
"For if that first [covenant] had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second. For finding fault with THEM, he saith, Behold the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel AND with the house of Judah..."
Therefore, the G-d of Israel did not find fault with the Torah
that HE gave at mount Sinai. However, He did find fault with the
HEARTS of the people who received His Torah!
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE OLDER AND NEWER COVENANT?
Because most members from the house of Israel (Christianity) believe that the G-d of Israel did away with His Torah after the death and resurrection of the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus, they do not understand the difference between the older and newer covenant (Brit Hadashah). Most members from the house of Israel (Christianity) believe that the G-d of Israel found fault with the TORAH given at mount Sinai and for this reason the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus needed to come at His first coming as the suffering Messiah (Mashiach) known as Messiah ben Joseph (Yosef).
However, as stated earlier, since the G-d of Israel was the giver of the Torah at mount Sinai, if the G-d of Israel found fault with the Torah then He would have to find fault with Himself. By understanding that BOTH the older covenant and the newer covenant (Brit Hadashah) is Torah based, we can understand that the G-d of Israel found fault with the RECEIVERS of the Torah and the HEARTS of the children of Israel. So, if both the older covenant and the newer covenant (Brit Hadashah) is Torah based, what is the difference between the two covenants?
a). The Older Covenant = Torah written upon a heart of stone
b). The Newer Covenant = Torah written upon a heart of flesh
The problem with the First Covenant was the HEARTS of the PEOPLE
who RECEIVED the Torah, NOT THE TORAH!
THE OLDER COVENANT WAS THE TORAH WRITTEN UPON A HEART OF STONE
When the G-d of Israel gives His Torah/Word, the target/destination of His Torah/Word is the human heart. The older covenant was written on a heart (tablets) of stone. Therefore, the G-d of Israel desired to bring forth a newer (renewed) covenant (Brit Hadashah) so that His Torah could be written upon a heart of flesh. We can understand this truth in Ezekiel (Yechezekel) 36:26-27 as it is written:
"A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put
within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your
flesh, and I will give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my
spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye
shall keep my judgments, and do them."
WHAT IS A STONY HEART?
The Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus explained to us the characteristics of a stony heart in the parable known as the parable of the sower. In Mark 4:3-6 it is written:
"Hearken; Behold, there went out a sower to sow: And it came to pass, as he sowed, some fell by the way side, and the fowls of the air came and devoured it up. And some fell on stony ground, where it had not much earth; and immediately it sprang up, because it had no depth of earth: But when the sun was up, it was scorched; and because it had no root, it withered away."
In Mark 4:14-17, the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus explains the parable and the meaning of the stony ground (heart) as it is written:
"The sower soweth the word [Torah]. And these are they by the way side, where the word is sown; but when they have heard, Satan cometh immediately, and taketh away the word [Torah] that was sown in their hearts. And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word [Torah], immediately receive it with gladness; And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word's [Torah] sake, immediately they are offended."
Therefore, what are the characteristics of a stony heart according to the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus?
1. Hears the Word
2. Receives the Word with gladness
3. No root/endures for a time
4. When affliction and persecution arises for the
Torah/Word's sake they are offended and turn away
THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL RECEIVED THE TORAH UPON A STONY HEART
When the G-d of Israel gave His Torah to the children of Israel through Moses (Moshe) at mount Sinai, they heard the Torah/Word and received it with gladness (Mark 4:16). In Exodus (Shemot) 24:3 it is written:
"And Moses came and told the people all the words of the Lord,
and all the judgments: and all the people answered with one
voice, and said, All the words which the Lord hath said will we
do."
The joy and gladness of the hearts of the children of Israel to receive and obey the Word/Torah of the G-d of Israel is seen in a greater dimension by understanding the Hebrew meaning of the phrase, "All the words which the Lord has said will we do." In Hebrew the phrase reads, "Na'aseh v'Nishmah," which means, "We agree to do even before we have heard/listened !!"
The heart of the children of Israel was so eager to please the G-d of Israel that when the G-d of Israel said "Will you ..." the people said, YES! even before they heard/knew what the G-d of Israel was going to request of them. This should be the ATTITUDE of every member from the house of Israel (Christianity) and the house of Judah (Judaism)!! What the children of Israel lacked was the POWER of the indwelling Holy Spirit (Ruach HaKodesh) to fulfill their initial conviction to love and serve the G-d of Israel with all their heart, mind, soul and strength.
In Mark 4:17, the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus taught that a stony heart becomes offended by affliction and persecution. This is exactly what happened to the children of Israel in the wilderness. Time after time they were tempted in the wilderness and became offended by their trials and tribulations and desired to return to Egypt (Mitzrayim).
When the twelve spies were sent to explore the land of Canaan, ten spies came back with an evil report that the children of Israel were not able to take the land of Canaan even though the G-d of Israel promised Abraham (Avraham) that He would give the descendents of Abraham (Avraham) the land of Canaan as their eternal inheritance. Therefore, the ten spies and those who believed their evil report became offended at the promise of the G-d of Israel to Abraham (Avraham) and desired to return to Egypt (Mitzrayim). In Numbers (Bamidbar) 14:1-4 it is written:
"And all the congregation lifted up their voice, and cried; and the people wept that night. And all the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron: and the whole congregation said unto them, Would God that we had died in the land of Egypt! Or would God we had died in this wilderness! And wherefore hath the Lord brought us unto this land, to fall by the sword, that our wives and our children should be a prey? were it not better for us to return into Egypt? And they said one to another, Let us make a captain, and let us return into Egypt."
This is the characteristic of a stony heart. The children of Israel received the Torah of the G-d of Israel with gladness (Exodus [Shemot] 24:3), however, when they encountered the trials and tribulations of the wilderness and they viewed with their natural eyes the giants in the land of Canaan, they became offended by the promise of the G-d of Israel to Abraham (Avraham) and desired to return to Egypt (Mitzrayim).
A stony heart rejects the Torah/Word of the G-d of Israel. In Zechariah (Zecharyah) 7:11-12 it is written:
"But they refused to hearken, and pulled away the shoulder, and stopped their ears, that they should not hear. Yea, they made their hearts as an adamant stone lest they should hear the law [TORAH], and the WORDS which the Lord of hosts hath sent in his spirit by the former prophets: therefore came a great wrath from the Lord of hosts."
The Ten Commandments were written on tablets (hearts) of stone
(Exodus [Shemot] 24:12, 31:18, Deuteronomy [Devarim] 4:13-14,
5:22, 9:10-11).
A HEART OF STONE CANNOT OVERCOME THE FLESH (SIN NATURE/EVIL INCLINATION)
A stony heart exemplifies the characteristics of our sin nature (evil inclination) inherited from Adam and rejects the TORAH/Word of the G-d of Israel. The newer (renewed) covenant (Brit Hadashah) was needed because in the older covenant the heart of stone could not overcome the sin nature of the flesh (evil inclination). The problem in the older covenant was not the Torah because the Torah is the tree of life! (etz chayim) Therefore, what the G-d of Israel wanted to do away with was a HEART OF STONE and NOT THE TORAH. The G-d of Israel desired to replace the Torah written upon a heart of stone with the Torah written upon a heart of flesh. The G-d of Israel wanted to do this by putting His Holy Spirit (Ruach HaKodesh) within us so that we would have HIS POWER to live our lives and follow our good inclinations rather than our evil inclinations. In doing this, the G-d of Israel desired to change the HEARTS of His people not His Torah because His Torah is eternal!
(End of Part 2 of 3)
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