If you are a Christian, then it is likely you may have a difficult time understanding many things within the pages of the bible. The first is readily apparent, there are so many versions with so many translations that coalescing them all into one narrative is revealing (though these differences do not doom the bible, since there are virtually no concepts that contradict biblical soteriology). The second is much more complex because so many Christians believe that they have replaced Israel in G-d’s plan, but unless you are Jewish and a believer in Yeshua Hanatzriy, Melekh HaMashiach you are not a Messianic Jew. That is both a genetic and cultural phenomenon concerning salvation and of understanding how Eastern people think which is important to an understanding of scripture in context. Take marriage and remarriage for instance.
Christians, especially Western Christians live lives radically different from ancient Jews and have a difficult time fully understanding ancient biblical customs in the word. The Bible was written within a culture of a nomadic people who lived 1,900 to 3,400 years ago. For Western Christians, this may be a bridge too far, a cultural gap. This process becomes more complicated when one adds the unique character of the varied genres in which it was written; law, poetry, songs, wisdom literature, prophecy, personal letters, and apocalyptic literature. Finally, the fact remains that G-d still has a plan for His people. He initiated His plan for mankind through the Jews to the nations (goyim). Christians do not replace Israel in the bible.
“The Bible is not the book many American fundamentalists and political opportunists think it is, or more precisely, what they want it to be. Their lack of knowledge about the Bible is well established.”
“The Bible: So Misunderstood It’s a Sin,” Kurt Eichenwald, published in Newsweek in January 2015
Another misunderstanding is the contention that Yeshua contradicts G-d’s revealed word (in the Torah). The grave error here is that Yeshua is G-d, and is perfect for HE is G-d. He is the great I am (John 18:6) and said so with such power that men rushing to arrest Him fell to the ground upon hearing, “I AM he.” So it is apparent that Yeshua in pre-incarnate form as revealed in the Torah would not contradict His own word.
God is not human, that he should lie, not a human being, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill?
Numbers 23:19
Rav Shaul (Paul) wrote, “…it is not as though G-d’s word has failed,” and again “if we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself (2 Timothy 2:13). G-d can not lie, nor will He change His mind on matters of doctrine given in the Torah. But about people? Yes, He can and has repented of the evil they deserved when they repent of their personal evil (sin). (2 Kings 20 regarding Hezekiah)
When He “repented” or changed His mind after we have repented of sin He will do good for us for our own good. He does not judge or destroy unless we refuse to repent. For instance, the story of Nineveh in the book of Yonah whom G-d sent to warn Nineveh they were doomed unless they repented. He fully intended to destroy that nation, but the entire nation repented. Through their choice to accede to His will and repent, He showed mercy consistent with His character and holiness and forgave them putting off judgment for a time.
This leads to an interesting question: Does this same thing happen today?
When we repent G-d can and does, in warning us of sin, show mercy to withhold the judgment we rightly deserve. King David saw a beautiful woman bathing in full view of the parapet of her home. He desired her. He took her. He tried to hide what he had done after she said she was pregnant. He killed her husband and took her as his wife. Later, G-d (through His prophet) did NOT command David to divorce Bathsheba, though He required the life of the child conceived in adultery. They remained married and had Solomon who later became king of Israel and in whose line was born Yeshua Hanatzriy, Melekh HaMashiach, Immanuel. (The point is not that David had many wives for this was then culturally accepted, even as we consider it a sin today; but he remained married to Bathsheba.)
Some preachers preach that if you divorce and then remarry, to fully repent of adultery, you MUST divorce your spouse. Some go further preaching you must remarry your original spouse. The problems with this teaching are many and has profoundly impacted many people and destroyed marriages for it is a false teaching. This is very clearly spelled out in Deuteronomy.
…The former husband who sent her away shall not be able to return and take her to himself for a wife, after she has been defiled; because it is an abomination before the Lord thy God, and ye shall not defile the land, which the Lord thy God gives thee to inherit.
Deuteronomy 24:4
Those who teach your first marriage is the only holy marriage are in error. Consider that Israel disobeyed G-d and intermarried with unbelievers and when they repented they sent those first wives and their children away in divorce. Yes, I did say being a believer was not the same as being Jewish, but this sin of intermarriage was a sin nonetheless and Israel divorced their wives (Ezra 10). It is possible (given the debate surrounding this event) that it took months to give their wives a choice to convert – or to leave, but it remains that Israel divorced unbelieving pagan wives and sent them away.
From reading Ezra we are not told if this was a good or bad decision, just that it happened, and nowhere does the bible hold that the men of Israel who divorced pagan wives were condemned to remain unmarried. This would have been unthinkable given how important family, descendants, and inheritances were to Israel.
Are you divorced and remarried? Then stand. Obey G-d and live in His will with your present spouse.
Dr. Ramón Argila de Torres y Sandoval