A couple of things. When you speak the first time about the blasphemer and no distinctives between holy and profane, it sounds like a description of the time we live in. Nothing sacred, nothing off limits. The more alike everything is treated, the more the Torah looks like nothing but rules.
God’s appointed times. I have spent my entire adult life in the black church. Our annual meeting is called the Convocation. In the district we lived in the Midwest (a long time ago) that meeting was something people were excited about going to. Nothing spectacular, or complicated. It just never felt like an obligation. Our smaller regional meetings were like that, too. It’s a very happy memory.
And finally, the way you write about the Torah portions has totally changed reading the Torah for me in ways it is difficult to express. I am so grateful.
That is such a good question! So I would respond with the fact that in the ancient world, things weren’t always written down right away. Teaching was often passed on orally first, especially something as central as Torah. So what we have is God revealing His instruction through Moses, and then that revelation being preserved, taught, and eventually written into the form we currently have.
When we say ‘Moses wrote the Torah,’ we’re really saying it comes through him. He’s the one God chose to receive and give that revelation to Israel. Even if there were other people involved in preserving or compiling it, that doesn’t take anything away from Moses. It actually shows how seriously the people of Israel took guarding what God gave through him. Think about Paul's letters. They were often written by scribes as Paul dictated or instructed. But they were still Paul's words.
A couple of things. When you speak the first time about the blasphemer and no distinctives between holy and profane, it sounds like a description of the time we live in. Nothing sacred, nothing off limits. The more alike everything is treated, the more the Torah looks like nothing but rules.
God’s appointed times. I have spent my entire adult life in the black church. Our annual meeting is called the Convocation. In the district we lived in the Midwest (a long time ago) that meeting was something people were excited about going to. Nothing spectacular, or complicated. It just never felt like an obligation. Our smaller regional meetings were like that, too. It’s a very happy memory.
And finally, the way you write about the Torah portions has totally changed reading the Torah for me in ways it is difficult to express. I am so grateful.
These teachings stir my heart. ❤️
Oh thank you so much!! That makes my heart so happy!
Do you cry as you write these?!? Because I sure cry reading them 😭😭😭🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻
More often than not!
May I please ask a question? When someone says Moses is not author of the Pentateuch, how do you respond? Thanks!
That is such a good question! So I would respond with the fact that in the ancient world, things weren’t always written down right away. Teaching was often passed on orally first, especially something as central as Torah. So what we have is God revealing His instruction through Moses, and then that revelation being preserved, taught, and eventually written into the form we currently have.
When we say ‘Moses wrote the Torah,’ we’re really saying it comes through him. He’s the one God chose to receive and give that revelation to Israel. Even if there were other people involved in preserving or compiling it, that doesn’t take anything away from Moses. It actually shows how seriously the people of Israel took guarding what God gave through him. Think about Paul's letters. They were often written by scribes as Paul dictated or instructed. But they were still Paul's words.
That is the best explanation I’ve ever heard! I (and probably most of my contemporaries) think with the literalness of our time.