Is it true that Hebrew scripture is all about telling the history of the Hebrew people?
Is it true that Hebrew scripture is all about telling the history of the Hebrew people?
Is it true that Hebrew scripture is all about telling the history of the Hebrew people? If we were to be brutally honest, we would have to say that, had the Torah's narrative started with the Hebrew people's departure from their Egyptian bondage, we would agree that Torah was all about the nation of Israel. But the fact is that Torah's narrative starts thousands of years earlier than Israel's deliverance from Egypt.
Not only that, but since Torah's earlier narrative doesn't hesitate to include [and exalt without any regard for ethnic background] people from all kind of non-Hebrew background (Enoch, Noah, Melchizedek, Job, etc), we must therefore conclude that Hebrew Scripture is actually God's message not only to the nation of Israel, but also to all mankind-- it's message being that, regardless of his race or nationality, he who willingly fears and obeys the one true God [the God worshipped by Avraham], thereby becomes part of God's chosen people.
And from whence do we know that the seventy [original] nations [of the World] are also called to become Israel? We know it from Moses, who while addressing the Children of Israel said to them: “Shema Yisrael (Hear oh Israel! )... ” (Exodus 5: 1). In the former passage, the phrase “shema Yisrael” can validly be translated as “Shem-a Yisrael”, wich in ancient Hebrew means, “Name of (the) Seventy [nations of the world]? - Israel! ... ”.
What is the purpose of God's Law?
The ultimate purpose of the Divine Law revealed to Moses [at the top of Mount Sinai] is no other than to teach mankind that God expects us to pursue a life of virtue; that, by walking in the path of God's commandments [whose aim is love for God, as well as for our fellow creatures] we are actually “sowing” the good moral fruit that will guarantee that we get rewarded with a blessed and bountiful “harvest”. As is written:
“And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the Lord thy God, to observe and to do all his commandments which I command thee this day, that the Lord thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth: And all these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the Lord thy God”- Deuteronomy 28: 1-2, KJV.
Thus, it is no surprise that Scripture associates idolatry to the abandonment of God's Law. Why? Because, in the very moment that we embrace any idea [or theology] that lures us away from God's commandments, we are in fact embracing idolatry [going after a false god]; as we are turning away from the perfect will of the one true God, in order to follow instead after a vain thing. As is written:
“Behold, I set before you this day a blessing and a curse; A blessing, if ye obey the commandments of the Lord your God, which I command you this day: And A CURSE, IF YE WILL NOT OBEY THE COMMANDMENTS OF THE LORD YOUR GOD, but turn aside out of the way which I command you this day, TO GO AFTER OTHER GODS, WHICH YE HAVE NOT KNOWN”- Deuteronomy 11: 26-28.
Why do good people suffer?
Hebrew Scripture promises salvation for he who is meek and humble, regardless of his race and/or creed. As is written: “BUT THE MEEK SHALL INHERIT THE EARTH; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace”- Psalm 37: 11. Unfortunately, it often happens that only extreme suffering can successfully turn a man into a humble person, thereby restoring unto him the real humanity originally given to mankind by his Creator.
In fact, the more pleased God is with a man, the more He crushes him with suffering, for Scripture says, “THE LORD WAS GREATLY PLEASED WITH [HIM, HENCE] HE CRUSHED HIM BY DISEASE (Isaiah 53: 10). Now, you might think that this is so, even if the man did not accept his suffering with love. Therefore the verse goes on to say, “To see if he regarded himself as an offering for guilt” (ibid).
Thus, chastisements are good for the believer, and that’s why Scripture teaches that three great treasures (Torah, the Land of Canaan, and Life in the World to come) were bestowed upon Israel as a result of chastisements and suffering. And what is the proof for the Torah? The verse that goes on to say: “BLESSED IS THE MAN WHOM THOU CHASTENEST, O Lord, AND [THEREBY] TEACHEST HIM THY TORAH”- Psalm 94: 12.
And the proof for the land of Canaan? The verse that says: “As a man chasteneth his son, so THE LORD THY GOD CHASTENETH THEE... ”- Deut. 8: 5. And what comes immediately next? “For THE LORD THY GOD BRINGETH THEE INTO A GOOD LAND [THE LAND OF CANAAN]... ”- Deut. 8: 7.
And the proof for Life everlasting? The verse that goes on to say: “For the commandment is a lamp, and the Law is light; and REPROOFS OF INSTRUCTION ARE THE WAY OF LIFE [EVERLASTING]”- Proverbs 6: 23.
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