Regarding Regrets

O God, You Who are the truth, make me one with You in love everlasting. I am often wearied by the many things I hear and read, but in You is all that I long for. Let the learned be still, let all creatures be silent before You; You alone speak to me.  – The Doctrine of Truth, The Imitation of Christ. Thomas A Kempis

Every time the scripture is read Jews believe they relive the Revelation at Mount Sinai, when their ancestors were silenced in awe at the foot of the trembling mountain, when they heard the thunder of God’s voice.

It is so when we read God’s word, we seek to come closer to the source and hear Him speak. We then desire and say, “Draw me, and we will run after You” (SOS 1:4).

Divine Origin

The beautiful thing about scripture is that every word and every letter comes from Divine origin.  What is the Divine origin?  God.

Looking at the very first word of scripture we get a sound bite of God’s provision and purpose for His pinnacle of Creation – people.

For the Sake of Torah and Israel

The first word b’reishit, in the beginning, Genesis 1:1 is really two words.  Rashi, a revered rabbinical scholar (1040-1145 AD) stated, the two words, Bar & Reishit (rasheet), means “for the sake of Torah/Israel.”  Bar means “son” and Reishit means “I will put” (Gen. 3:15).  Jewish scholars say that the “son” refers to Israel.  Rashi added the idea “for the sake of Torah.”  Torah referring specifically to the 5 books of Moses, generally referring to all of scripture, or the Word (of God).

A Son I Will Put

Simply, you can interpret b’reishit to mean “A Son (Bar) I will put (Rasheet).”  Therefore, from the very beginning we have a reference to God’s Son, an Anointed One that God will place, or appoint, or put.  The Apostle John said it this way, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” (John 1:1).

Jesus is the Torah/Word that was made flesh and dwelt among us (John 1:14).  This gives great comfort to the fact that from the very beginning we learn of the Anointed One, the Messiah, the Lord Jesus.

Facing Forward

Let’s take it one step beyond.  The first letter of the first word is the Hebrew letter “bet” or “b”). The ancient sages suggest that, just as the letter bet is enclosed on three sides but open to the front (Hebrew is read from the right to the left), urges us to live our lives facing forward rather than looking backward.

Bet is the second letter of the Hebrew alphabet. The second letter emphasizes that even if we cannot begin at the very beginning, or undo, or revisit what is past, we are to move forward looking to hope, looking to God.

Are we to forget the past?  Of course not.  Remember the blessings of God, “I will remember the works of the Lord; Surely I will remember Your wonders of old.  I will also meditate on all Your work, and talk of Your deeds” (Psa. 77:11, 12).

Regarding Regrets

However, regarding regrets, should of, would of, could of, we should look forward to God, and not worry what might have been, “Do not remember the former things, Nor consider the things of old.  Behold, I will do a new thing, Now it shall spring forth; Shall you not know it?  I will even make a road in the wilderness and rivers in the desert” (Isa. 43:18, 19).

Here God says He will make a way for you to move forward in the wilderness you may be experiencing and give you water, and sustain you, in the dry barren desert that has overwhelmed you.

The first letter and the first word of the first book of scripture reminds us of hope and assurance of the future as we move forward looking to God.

Shalom and Blessings,

Until He comes, we are

Together Under His Wings,

Dr. Jeff

Time is short, Life is precious, and Jesus is coming soon!

“Fear thou not; for I am with thee, be not dismayed; for I am thy God, I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.” (Isaiah 41:10)