What is the Bible? (Law)

In this episode of "The Heartbeat of Faith Podcast," hosted by Dr. Andrew Farley, we embark on a journey to explore the essence of the Bible and its multifaceted nature. The Bible, often seen as a rulebook or a historical account, is far more profound. It's a living and active narrative, intricately woven by forty different authors inspired by the Spirit of God. The Bible tells one grand story spanning thousands of years, with the central character being Jesus. Today, we delve into the first section of this incredible narrative, known as the Law.

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Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy uncover the intricate relationship between Israel and God. Laws are given, along with promises of blessings, echoing the partnership God had with Adam and Eve and pointing towards the cooperation we have in Christ Jesus. Despite Israel's shortcomings, the promises in Genesis emphasize the core of faith. It all boils down to trust in God's plan for redemption, restoration, and renewal. As we continue this series, we invite you to reflect on the transformative truths and thematic brilliance contained within these ancient texts.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:01):
Let us pray with my whole heart. I have sought you.
Don't let me wander from your commandments. I have hidden
your word in my heart that I might not sin
against you. Blessed are you, Yahweh. Teach me your statutes,
Psalm chapter one, nineteen, verses ten through twelve. O Lord,

(00:25):
my heart delights in your word. You have given me
such precious guidance and instruction, teaching me to trust you
as the way, the truth, and the life. My new
heart longs to obey your spirit and meditate on his
counsel all the days of my life. I set my
mind on your word and your ways, because you are

(00:48):
my joy and my delight. In Jesus, nay I pray Amen,
Thank you for praying with me to day. Now discover
the profound intricate of scripture through pray dot COM's podcast
The Heartbeat of Faith with doctor Andrew Farley.

Speaker 2 (01:12):
The word Israel means to struggle with God, and that's
the essence of what we see in the Old Testament. Yes,
the books of the Old Testament showcase humanity's struggle with God.
Of course, God ultimately showcases his grace through Jesus. But
God gave the law to showcase humanity's sinfulness and inability

(01:36):
to keep us.

Speaker 3 (01:42):
If you obey my commands and keep my promises, you
will be my treasured possession among all people groups.

Speaker 2 (01:50):
Hi, I'm doctor Andrew Farley, and it's my joy to
welcome you to another episode of the Heartbeat of Faith podcast.
We've been on a long journey searching through Biblical stories
for transformative truth. The Book of Hebrews tells us the
Word of God is living and active and sharper than

(02:14):
any two edged sword. Anytime we genuinely interact with the Bible,
we realize that it is indeed making sharp and important
distinctions for us. It's more than just a book of
rules or a history book. It's actively pointing us to
Jesus and revealing God's design for what it means to

(02:38):
be human. Today, we begin to ask the simple question,
what is the Bible. It's a simple question without a
simple answer. The Bible is multifaceted with many layers, yet
it communicates one grand story. The Bible is made up

(02:58):
of sixty six books with forty different authors. Inspired by
the spirit of God. These kings, peasants, priests, and fishermen
wrote one cohesive story spanning thousands of years to ultimately
showcase one person, Jesus Christ. The Bible wasn't written by accident,

(03:21):
inspired by God's spirit. The Bible was written to shift
our gaze upward, to remind us of the reason we're here,
to connect with our maker. The modern Bible can be
organized into six categories, law, history, poetry, prophecy, the Gospels,

(03:43):
and the Letters. Today we look at the first section,
the Law, otherwise known as the Torah. The Law comprises Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers,
and Deuteronomy. When you hear the term Law of Moses,
that's what it's being referenced. Now, when we hear the

(04:03):
word law, we may be tempted to only think of
the Ten Commandments. On Mount Sinai.

Speaker 3 (04:14):
There God spoke with great power and authority. With lightning
surrounding the mountain and the earth shaking, God poured forth
his commandments.

Speaker 2 (04:25):
The Law is not just a set of ten commandments
or rules that governed Israel. The book of the Law
or the Torah, starts in Genesis and extends through Deuteronomy,
and it includes every regulation given to Israel. About six
hundred and thirteen commands in all plus. In these first

(04:48):
books of the Bible, we learn where humanity went wrong
and we begin to see God's redemptive plan for the world.
Genesis recount the lives of many, from Adam and Eve
to Joseph and his brothers. It contains the stories of
ancient humans struggling to understand God and follow his ways

(05:13):
and discover their destinies. God devotes himself to the descendants
of Abraham and promises to make them a great nation.

Speaker 3 (05:27):
As Israel was traveling, he heard a familiar voice, Jacob. Jacob,
God spoke gently. Here I am, he replied, adoring the
sweet comfort of hearing the Lord's voice. I am the
God of your father. Do not be afraid to go
down to Egypt, he said, for Israel was old and

(05:50):
the journey was tumultuous for someone his age. For there
is where I will make you a great nation. I
will go down with you. And his people made a
sacrifice to God and traveled to the land Goshen, on
the outskirts of Egypt.

Speaker 2 (06:08):
Exodus picks up a few hundred years after God's people
come to Egypt. At this point, they're vast in number,
but enslaved. They aren't a nation yet, But Exodus shows
us that, with God's guidance, this unruly mob of slaves
can be made into an extraordinary nation.

Speaker 3 (06:34):
Tell the people of Israel that I have bore them
on eagle's wings to save them from the Egyptians. If
you obey my commands and keep my promises, you will
be my treasured possession among all people groups. For all
the earth is mine, and you shall be my holy nation.

Speaker 2 (06:52):
The people of Israel struggle to live in the purpose
God has set out for them. They rebel, complain, and
at times even long to return to slavery. God is
patient with them and reminds them that they aren't just slaves,
they are His chosen people, set apart for a divine purpose.

(07:15):
The word is real means to struggle with God, and
that's the essence of what we see in the Old Testament. Yes,
the books of the Old Testament showcase humanity's struggle with God.
Of course, God ultimately showcases his grace through Jesus Christ.
But God gave the Law to showcase humanity's sinfulness and

(07:40):
inability to keep it.

Speaker 3 (07:46):
Hear me, sweet children of Israel, Blessings and curses stand
before you every day. There will be a choice to
choose between life and death, hope and hopelessness, good and evil.
If you listen closely to the voice of God and
obey his commands, he will restore your souls. He will

(08:07):
circumcise your heart as he did your bodies. Love the Lord,
your God with all your soul, and you will prosper.
Your enemies will be cursed, and all you do will succeed,
for God will take delight in you as he did
your forefathers. Keep his commands close to your hearts.

Speaker 2 (08:30):
Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy highlight the relationship between Israel
and God. There are laws given to them and promises
of blessing that come with those laws. Ultimately, Israel falls
short of keeping God's law in so many ways, and

(08:50):
Israel's failure reminds us today that everything boils down to
faith in God. Yes, true obedience is an obedience of faith.
It's not about trying but trusting. It's not about achieving
but receiving. It's not about what we do for God,

(09:12):
but about what He's done for us. It's not about law,
it's about grace. This was always God's plan to redeem
and restore us. So as you read the Old Testament,
do so with your New Testament. Glasses on. A lot
has changed since the giving of the Law. Here on

(09:36):
this side of the Cross, on this side of the Resurrection,
we can look back and learn from the struggles of Israel.
But even more we can give thanks to God that
we are dead to the law, free from the law,
not under the law, and that Christ is the end
of the law for all of us who believe. Yes,

(09:59):
the whole Bible is the inspired word of God, from
Genesis to Revelation. But there's a surprise ending that Jesus
brought us through his finished work. As a result, we
have something better today than Israel ever experienced. Our once
for all forgiveness, our freedom from the law, our new

(10:22):
identity in Christ, and our union with Jesus empower us
to do life in a whole new way. Thank you
for listening to the Heartbeat of Faith podcast. If you
enjoyed today's episode, please leave us a review and let
us know how this series has impacted your life. Remember

(10:44):
to download Theprey dot com app, and for more encouragement
in God's grace, visit Andrewfarley dot org. That's Andrewfarley dot org,