Good Morning.

So the Lord spoke to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend. (Exodus 33:11)

One of the reasons that Judaism places so much stock in the first five books of the Bible — the Torah — is because of this statement in the Scripture. Prophets were moved upon by the Spirit of God and wrote what was revealed to them but none of them spoke to God “face to face.” So again, this is one of the reasons that the Torah is considered so sacred — it is essentially a dictation of God’s will directly to His servant. Having this close association to the origin of Scripture, it makes sense that Moses knew what was meant in and by the words God spoke. In other words, it might be that Moses saw clearly whereas we still see through a glass darkly.

Judaism not only considers every word of the Torah important but every letter as well (some even consider the spaces in between to be of importance). The belief is that, considering that God spoke to Moses in this most intimate of ways, there was a reason He said what He did, when He did and how He did. That these truths were first conveyed to man in the Hebrew language is considered to be extremely important as well. Rabbis and sages have spent centuries studying the different nuances and intricacies of the text and have even studied the mathematical patterns within the Hebrew text. Needless to say, our Jewish friends have a great respect for the Word of God that was revealed to Moses and  to the prophets.

As believers in Messiah we respect His Word as well, but let’s face it, we tend to emphasize the New Testament. And while it is important that we read and study the words of Messiah, Peter, Paul and James, it is also important to remember what Yeshua reaffirmed in His wilderness encounter with the Adversary: “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.” Everything God has spoken is beneficial to us and, like our daily bread, is necessary if we are to live a life that pleases Him. Therefore, we will conclude today’s devotion with these words on the matter straight from Paul who told Timothy: 

All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 3:16-17)

Blessings and Shalom,  

Bill 

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