A Journey Through Torah: An Introduction to God's Life Instructions for His Children

By Michael G. Wodlinger and Glenn Sikorski

Is this your first time reading the Bible, or have you not read the five books of Moses before? Perhaps you are looking for some clearer understanding of what is being taught? If your answer to any of these questions is yes, then this is your book. A Journey Through Torah has been written specifically for you! And yes, even if you are well-read in the scriptures, these stories are sure to add valuable insight for your understanding.

As you read through these pages, you will be introduced to the ancient process of teaching—storytelling. Hi, my name is Michael Wodlinger, and I have been a teacher of stories for more than fifty years. Along with the renowned illustrator Glenn Sikorski, we have created a clear explanation of the many stories recounted in Genesis, the first of the five books of Moses. We pray you will enjoy.

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: May 23, 2019
• ISBN: 9781973663317

Michael G. Wodlinger

Michael has an extremely strong desire to understand how God works in man’s mind and heart. His latest works focus on understanding God’s instructions to His children, as outlined in the first 5 books of the Bible. Michael comes to this task with a Masters of Theological Study, a Masters of Education and a PhD in Educational Administration. He has led a group of Messianic believers in Winnipeg, Manitoba and Quebec Canada.

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Copyright © 2019 Michael G. Wodlinger.

Contact Heart for Messiah – [e-mail];

844-996-0051 for more information

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

This book is a work of non-fiction. Unless otherwise noted, the author and the publisher make no explicit guarantees as to the accuracy of the information contained in this book and in some cases, names of people and places have been altered to protect their privacy.

WestBow Press

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Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

Taken from the Complete Jewish Bible by David H. Stern. Copyright © 1998. All rights reserved. Used by permission of Messianic Jewish Publishers, 6120 Day Long Lane, Clarksville, MD 21029. www.messianicjewish.net.

ISBN: 978-1-9736-6332-4 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-9736-6331-7 (e)

WestBow Press rev. date: 5/22/2019

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

This first volume of the 5-volume set of Journey Through Torah has been three years in its preparation. The inspiration for its crafting remains still with Adonai Elohim Tzivaot, the Lord God of Hosts, for whom we have the utmost gratitude and Love. There have been many of our friends and colleagues involved in the reading and editing of this volume; although there are too many to include here, we extend our heart-felt thanks. Hopefully, the remaining volumes will not take as long to bring into fruition.

Baruch Hashem Adonai Yeshua, Moshichainu.

Blessed is the Name of the Lord Jesus, our Messiah.

CONTENTS

Acknowledgements

Preface

Introduction

How is Genesis Structured?

Parashah 1: B’resheit (In the Beginning) Chapters 1:1–6:8

Creation

The Fall of Humankind

Cain and Abel

The Flood - Punishment

Parashah 2: Noach (Noah) Chapters 6:9–11:32

The Flood - Redemption

The Tower of Babel

Parashah 3: Lekh L’kha (Get yourself out) Chapters 12:1–17:27

The Story of Avram

The Abrahamic Covenant

The Rescue of Lot

The Birth of Ishmael

Parashah 4: Vayera (He appeared) Chapters 18:1–22:24

The Birth of Isaac

The Binding of Isaac (Akeidah Yitzchak)

Parashah 5: Hayyei-Sarah (Sarah’s life) Chapters 23:1–25:18

The Wells of Philistia

Avraham’s Ethics

A Wife for Isaac

Parashah 6 Tol’dot (History) Chapters 25:19–28:9

The Birth of Esau and Ya’akov

Parashah 7: Vayetze (He went out) Chapters 28:10 to 32:3

Ya’akov’s Lesson of Betrayal

Parashah 8: Vayishlach (He sent) Chapters 32:4 to 36:43

Ya’akov Confronts Esau

Dinah’s Shame – Ya’akov’s Shame

Parashah 9: Vayeshev (He continued living) Chapters 37:1 to 40:23

Yosef (Joseph) and Egypt

Yosef meets his Brothers’ Wrath

Tamar, the Great-Grandmother of Adonai Yeshua

Yosef in Prison

Parashah 10: Mikketz (at the end) Chapters 41:1 to 44:17

Yosef Interprets Pharaoh’s Dream

Parashah 11: Vayigash (He approached) Chapters 44:18 to 47:27

Ya’akov’s Family comes to Egypt

Yosef Reveals Himself to His Brothers

Parashah 12: Vayechi (He lived) Chapters 47:28 to 50:26

Ya’akov Blesses His Sons

Yosef and His Brothers are Reconciled

Conclusion

Maps of Genesis

Location of the Tower of Babel

Abram’s Journey from Ur

Sodom and Gomorrah

Abram Rescues Lot

Abraham Sacrifices Isaac

Eliezer’s Journey to find a Wife for Isaac

Ya’akov’s Journeys

Yosef’s Journey to Egypt

Ya’akov’s Journey to Goshen

PREFACE

Welcome to A Journey Through Torah. If you have opened the pages of this manuscript to receive an in-depth description of Torah¹, akin to the Talmud², with its myriad of discussions, arguments and contradictions, then you have opened the wrong book. This book is exactly as the sub-title implies – A Journey Through Torah. It has been designed for someone who has not fully read the first five books of Moses, known as The Torah. Rather, if they have read the Bible at all, they often perceive these five books as belonging to the Old Testament and, therefore, irrelevant, out-moded and of little current use. The following comments are fairly typical of most Christians and their views of Torah and its contents: "We are to keep the 10 Commandments. However, keeping the Sabbath (as God established it from Friday evening to Saturday evening) is also in the 10 Commandments yet isn’t kept. Christianity claims that this was changed by God; Bible believers’ often view perceive the age of the church has rendered the law inoperative; New Covenant Theology claims that all Old Covenant laws have been fulfilled by Christ, nailed to the Cross and are thus cancelled or abrogated, and so on.

Then why this book? Well, I might ask you why you are reading it now? Are you curious? Have you been challenged by a family member or friend to find something out about Torah? Is this a religious class assignment? Whatever the reason for your opening the pages of this book, I guarantee you will not find long, drawn-out discussions of theology, which might tax your brain cells. On the contrary, this book attempts to explain the Torah, the five books of Moses, in a simple yet clearly accurate way, so as you do read Torah, it will have deeper meaning for you. Or, at least, that is its intent.

Like every good book, assuming Torah is a very good book, which, being authored by God is a certainty, Torah has a preface and an introduction. Unlike other books, good or not, the preface and the introduction are part of the body of Torah and are essential to its understanding. So, let’s begin there.

When books first began to be published, authors needed to attract their readers by providing a reason for their reading what was written. Many saw the preface as an explanation of the book’s contents, a defence, if you will, for the book having been written, while others viewed the preface as an apologetic. No, not the ‘I’m sorry’ form of apology but the literary form, in which the author provides a personal explanation for her/his having taken paper to pen to your eye and, hopefully, heart. Since God is God, the preface of Torah is to be found in the first three chapters of Genesis, the first ‘Book’ of Torah. It is here the Creator of the universe describes how He created, well, the universe and, especially, the earth. As is the style in Torah, God’s preface is the story of creation of the world and the love and care He took in its creation. This also tells us a good deal about God, His power, His vastness and His desires. Reading the preface of Torah is a little like reading a short love story about the Potter and His Creation. But, then, the introduction to Torah, provides us with a reason for reading further into the five Books. As you read further into this brief exploration of Torah, written just for you, you may see how we human beings have a habit of often spoiling the blessings given to us. Now the tension begins