{"id":4444,"date":"2021-06-14T08:27:53","date_gmt":"2021-06-14T13:27:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hebrew4christians.com\/training\/?p=4444"},"modified":"2021-06-19T05:00:30","modified_gmt":"2021-06-19T10:00:30","slug":"the-central-decree-of-torah","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hebrew4christians.com\/training\/the-central-decree-of-torah\/","title":{"rendered":"The Central Decree of Torah…"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"Our Torah portion this week (i.e., parashat Chukat<\/a>) begins with the words: zot chukat ha-Torah<\/em> (\u05d6\u05d0\u05ea \u05d7\u05e7\u05ea \u05d4\u05ea\u05d5\u05e8\u05d4), “this is the decree of Torah” (Num. 19:2). The language here is both striking and unique, suggesting that what follows, namely, the sacrifice of the parah adumah<\/em> or \u201cred heifer,\u201d is nothing less than “the seminal decree” of the entire Torah… However if we think about the meaning of the mysterious decree of the red heifer, we will realize that its ashes were used to create the “waters of separation” (i.e., mei niddah<\/em>: \u05de\u05b5\u05d9 \u05e0\u05b4\u05d3\u05bc\u05b8\u05d4) to cleanse people from contact with death (i.e., separation). To fulfill God’s vital decree, however, required sacrificial love, since the priest who offered this service would become defiled (separated) for the sake of the healing of others… The Hebrew word for love is ahavah<\/em> (\u05d0\u05b7\u05d4\u05b2\u05d1\u05b8\u05d4), from a root verb (\u05d9\u05b8\u05d4\u05b7\u05d1) that means \u201cto give.\u201d Love means giving of yourself to benefit another person (John 15:13). The central decree of Torah, then, beyond our ability to rationally understand, is that God’s love is so great that it is willing to become dust and ashes on our behalf so that we might find blessing and life.<\/p>\n

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Hebrew Lesson:<\/h2>\n

\"\"<\/p>\nhttps:\/\/hebrew4christians.com\/training\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/isa53-6-jjp-1.mp3<\/a><\/audio>\n

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