In my latest book, A Journey Through Torah, I have explained the events of the ancient world, as transcribed by scribes then and later. This was not an attempt to emulate history writers, as a way of exploring what happened during these times. This was not a deep, theological exercise, to show how God works in our lives. Rather, A Journey Through Torah, attempts to ‘merely’ outline what transpired in the first years of our earth, and its human population, as described by its author, God, and to draw to the reader’s consciousness how these events make sense to us today.
Learning in the ancient world was a great deal different than it is in our modern. Then, teaching occurred through story telling. Parents and their children would gather, with the parents telling stories and their children listening and asking questions. For most of humanity’s longevity, this has been the major way in which children were taught. And, it worked. We do have a lot to learn from our ancestors.
The mode of story telling is the essence of Sefer B’resheit, the Book of Genesis. The teachings in the Book are often hidden within the stories and, therefore, may be difficult to ‘see’ and understand. This may be especially so for those who do not have thorough knowledge of the Book. This then leads to why this blog.
Rather than explore the book, A Journey Through Torah, these blogs will explore the deeper learning points which emerge from its pages. As you may understand, and I assume that most if not all of you do, one person’s understanding may not be reflected in others’. Thus, I assume you will have questions, concerns, comments and even challenges to what I write in these pages. I urge you to share these with me. Once you begin reading my blogs, we will have a relationship started. I want that relationship to be open and transparent. Thus, I swear upon my love for Yahveh, our Great and Holy God, that every comment, question and challenge will be read. Even though not all may be answered in the blog, I will attempt to respond to each writer. I ask you to leave your contact information, e-mail, FaceBook page, or Twitter handle, etc. and I will reply.
I do hope you enjoy reading these blogs and that they stimulate your interest in delving deeper into Torah.
May the God of Avraham, Isaac and Jacob bless you richly,
Hello brother. After I read your thoughts on ‘very good’, I remembered that Paul wrote that God had subjected creation in hope.
This was why it was ‘very good’..Everything was created for His purpose.
Salvation: to draw us to Himself by its evidence; to bring us into a relationship with Him and to give us faith for our eternal life with Him in an unimaginable new creation not subject to bondage.
Hello brother. After I read your thoughts on ‘very good’, I remembered that Paul wrote that God had subjected creation in hope.
This was why it was ‘very good’..Everything was created for His purpose.
Salvation: to draw us to Himself by its evidence; to bring us into a relationship with Him and to give us faith for our eternal life with Him in an unimaginable new creation not subject to bondage.
Paulo Martins