One Torah For All

One Torah shall be to him that is home-born, and unto the stranger that sojourneth among you.
Exodus 12:49

Search for Truth

Yochanan (John) 5:39
“You search the scriptures, because you think that in them you have eternal life; and these are they which bear witness of Me.”

Many today are awakening to the reality that the status quo of modern day religion is not sufficient for their own spiritual well-being. Typically, this sets them upon a path in the search for what is true. In this search for what is true, what are also found are lies couched in bits of truth. Often, a person walking this path will go through a period of anger, anger at the system of religion and the lies propagated by the same. The degree of this anger seems to be contingent upon how deeply involved a person was in the system and how far into it they had accepted the religious dogma.

Coming out of this can be a very difficult time in a person’s life. Each person on this path goes through similar emotional trauma. It may be surprising to the reader, but Shaul seems to have gone through this, as well. His reaction to his enlightenment is instructive for us today.

Galatians 1:15-18
15 But when it was the good pleasure of Elohim, who separated me, even from my mother’s womb, and called me through His grace,
16 to reveal His Son in me, that I might preach Him among the Gentiles; straightway I conferred not with flesh and blood;
17 neither went I up to Jerusalem to them that were apostles before me; but I went away into Arabia; and again I returned unto Damascus.
18 Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to visit Kepha, and tarried with him fifteen days.

After Shaul was struck down on the road to Damascus and received his divine revelation, he separated himself from others for a period of three years. It seems that during this period he was searching for and seeking YHWH, trying to come to an understanding of what His truth is. I am confident that the emotional ups and downs he experienced are very similar to what many are experiencing today in their search for truth. The difference is in the great wisdom Shaul exhibited during this time as opposed to that which many are showing today.

The emotional ups and downs many experience today are shared with all those around them, upsetting them in ways that often do way more damage than can ever be healed in one lifetime. This is especially true when a person levels the finger of accusation at others accusing them of following lies and deceits, worshipping in pagan ways and gods, and basically making grandiose statements to the effect that the person being accused is completely lost and in need of salvation. This salvation supposedly is attained, of course, through the knowledge and understanding the accuser personally has been given.

Herein lies the wisdom by which Shaul lived. He separated himself and conferred with no man (flesh and blood) for three years. If only. If only more of the people to whom YHWH is revealing Himself would separate themselves from others for a period of three years before dealing with others. Notice, then, that at the end of that three years, Shaul went and conferred with Kepha, to make sure that what he had found in the Scriptures was accurate and true. What a difference such actions like this would make in our world today if only more did something similar to this! Truly, many fewer people would be upset and possibly damaged by emotional outbursts from those who are seeking His truth, but have not yet settled in upon the one true Foundation.

Typically, during this period of emotional ups and downs, a person is not very stable. This is true because what he had thought was true, he has discovered is not true. Or, at least a portion of it is much different than he had been led to believe. It is this instability which can cause damage to another person.

Ya'aqov (James) 1:8
a doubleminded man, unstable in all his ways.

Even after setting out upon the search for truth, if one is not careful, he can be carried about by every new teaching which appears. Many, in fact, get caught up in the latest fad of teaching, continually looking for the newest revelation available. It is those who never quite come to the truth, but continually seek something, not knowing exactly what it is they seek.

Ephesians 4:14
that we may be no longer children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, in craftiness, after the wiles of error;

It is the truly gifted people, that is, those gifted and empowered by the Spirit of YHWH, which He has given to the assembly of His people in order to keep this instability away from them. However, there seem to be more wannabe teachers and leaders than true ones at present, who are actually causing His sheep to be carried to and fro by every wind of doctrine. This seems to be true, at least from our perspective, because one thing is missing - perspective, a correct understanding of exactly what it is for they are supposed to be searching.

Yochanan (John)14:6
Yeshua says unto him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life: no one comes unto the Father, but by Me."

Yeshua taught His followers that He was the truth. However, it seems that many forget this simple, yet profound truth. What each person is to be searching for is Yeshua, in order that we might know Him. Instead, what one observes is many running after facts and knowledge, and forgetting about searching for Yeshua. The quest for knowledge becomes all-consuming. In essence, then, this quest becomes their god. It is idolatry.

One cannot forget that his search for knowledge must be the search for Yeshua. I search to know Him better. I want to understand His ways better in order to understand Him better. If what a person is doing is not to that end, then I submit to you, such a person is on the wrong path! Everything in one’s search for truth must be about our relationship to Him. If it is not, well then, what use is it?

Since Yeshua said He was the truth, then the search for truth must be the search for Him. If it is a search for something else, then is it truly a search for truth? Of course not! It may be a search for facts. It may be a search for knowledge. It may be a search for understanding. But if Yeshua is not the central, yea, the only goal in mind, then it is a search for shifting sand! Hence, why so many are unstable today!

Please do a reality check in your own personal life. Are you searching for Yeshua? If you are not, don’t you think you should be? Better yet, don’t just ask yourself this question; rather, ask Yeshua this question, Am I searching for You? Let Him answer it for you. Then make adjustments if necessary.

Yeshua loves you and He wants to be an integral part of your inner life. Seek Him!

Ivrim (Hebrews) 11:6
and without faith it is impossible to be well-pleasing unto Him; for he that comes to Elohim must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that seek Him.

In your search for truth, don’t forget Who you are looking for.

Shabbat Shalom
Zerubbabel ben Emunah
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