We are in a new Torah series titled The Covenant of God – Repentance Series –
It’s no secret the religious landscape in America “has” and “is” in the process of going through a major change due to the shift in the face of theologies being developed for the purpose of harmonizing biblical faith with modern culture. For example, fewer and fewer Americans are self-identifying as Christians, where more and more are identifying as the religiously unaffiliated. Many are walking away from the faith they grew up with, the faith of their parents, and are going through a major shift in their core beliefs in order to “fit in.” This I believe is the result of growing up with little to no teaching on how the scientific and sociological events of the world interact with the age-old Scriptures found in the Torah, the Prophets, the Writings (תנך) and the NT. This led to the feeling that the Scriptures are unconvincing, uninspiring and irrelevant for today. This may be in part why certain theologies have been developed stating that the Tanach is not relative today as opposed to the NT. Or even the lack of the movement of the power of God in the life of a believer leading to the theology of dispensationalism. Men tend to look more critically at the Scriptures developing theologies to harmonize God’s word with their beliefs, as opposed to being more critical about one’s own beliefs and life to bring their minds unto the obedience of the faith (Acts 6:7-7:1). These modern changing times require us to dig deeper into the Scriptures, for the purpose of understanding what the Lord has for us. His Word is applicable for our lives even in these post modern times. Note in this weeks Torah portion, Parashat Lech Lecha, the significance of Abram being called out from his people and his family, to go to a new land, and to learn about the One True God, these things would have turned any man’s theology upside down, especially that which Abram knew, polytheism. In Parashat Lech Lecha, (Bereshit / Genesis 12:1-17:27) the Lord God calls Abram to leave his land, to leave his father’s house, and to leave his people (וַיֹּאמֶר יְהוָֹה אֶל-אַבְרָם לֶךְ-לְךָ מֵאַרְצְךָ וּמִמּוֹלַדְתְּךָ וּמִבֵּית אָבִיךָ אֶל-הָאָרֶץ אֲשֶׁר אַרְאֶךּ) and go to a new land and become a nation of people, and to learn a new religion. These events are very significant and God’s opening words to Abram provide for us a future expectation of His word being applicable (obligatory) for all peoples! God’s Word being obligatory for all peoples is something not everyone is willing to accept, but this is the future expectation that has been laid out by all of Scripture (i.e. Isaiah 2).
While studying the Bible, it is important to take a multidisciplinary approach by considering the history, the culture, the people, and the languages in order to help us understand the Scriptures and how to apply God's Word to our lives. MATSATI.COM Teaching Ministry examines the Hebrew Scriptures (Masoretic Text), the Aramaic (Targumim), and the Greek (Septuagint), coupled with studies in the rabbinic literature (Talmud Bavli, Mishnah, Midrashim, with the classical commentators: Rashi, Sforno, Rambam, etc). Our goal is to immerse ourselves in the language, the history, the culture, and the people who lived in the time of Moshe, the Prophets, and the Messiah, in order to deepen our understanding of Scripture, increase our faith, and grow in our relationship with the Lord!
I hope you enjoy this short study.
Take care and God bless!
Website Location: