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"
Copies can be purchased for individual or
group study by
writing to me (Eddie Chumney) at: (chumney@hebroots.org)
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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