Understanding the TORAH: The Foundation of the Story the Bible Tells!

As we continue our 2026 ‘Year of the Bible’ reading journey this week, it is important to understand the foundational importance of the Torah (Tor  ruh), the first five books of the Hebrew Bible, and what Christians call the opening books of the ‘Old Testament’.

For some Christians, the word ‘Torah’ may sound distant or unfamiliar—something belonging to Judaism or the “Old Testament era.”  Yet the Torah, (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy), forms the very foundation of the Christian story! Without it, the life and mission of Jesus would be impossible to fully understand. The Torah is more than just a record of the past; it marks the beginning of God’s plan to redeem the world! These are also the very same books of the Hebrew Bible that Jesus himself studied and learned during his childhood in Nazareth.

What “Torah” Means

The Hebrew word Torah is often translated as “law,” but that word can be misleading. Torah is better understood as instruction, guidance, or even God’s teaching for life. It includes laws (as we understand the term law today), but also stories, poetry, genealogies, blessings, and warnings! The Torah is about God shaping a people, revealing His character, and laying the groundwork for His redemptive plan! (NOTE: We who are participating in the YOTB 2026 reading program will spend most of the first 9 weeks reading the Torah.)

The Five Books at a Glance

Genesis: Beginnings and Blessing

Genesis introduces us to the God who creates with purpose and calls humanity into relationship. It tells the story of Abraham and Sarah, whose family becomes the channel of God’s blessing to all nations. Christians often read Genesis as the first chapter of a story that ultimately leads to Jesus, the promised descendant through whom all families of the earth would be blessed.

Exodus: Rescue and Covenant

Exodus is the story of liberation—God hearing the cries of His people and bringing them out of slavery in Egypt. But Exodus is not only about escape; it is about relationships. At Mount Sinai, God forms a covenant with Israel, giving them the Ten Commandments and calling them to be a “kingdom of priests” who reflect His character to the world. This covenant language echoes throughout the New Testament, especially in Jesus’ teaching on the kingdom of God.

Leviticus: Holiness and Worship

Leviticus is the most feared and misunderstood book of the entire Bible! It can feel very foreign to modern readers, but its purpose is deeply pastoral. It teaches Israel how to live in close relationship to a holy God—how to worship, how to treat one another, and how to care for the vulnerable. Its sacrificial system prepares the way for Christians to understand Jesus’ self-giving love, described in the New Testament as the “once-for-all and all-time sacrifice.”

Numbers: Wilderness and Faithfulness

Numbers follows Israel through the desert wilderness, a place of testing, complaining, rebellion, and—surprisingly—grace! God remains faithful even when His people are not. The wilderness becomes a spiritual classroom, teaching lessons that Jesus later echoes during His own forty days in the desert wilderness that borders the Dead Sea.

Deuteronomy: Renewal and Choice

Deuteronomy is Moses’ farewell to the troops – a final review of the 40 years spent in the wilderness to a new generation just before they cross the Jordan river into the land God promised them – a farewell to the Israelites before he dies. It retells the story, renews the covenant, and urges the people to choose life by loving God wholeheartedly. Jesus quotes Deuteronomy more than any other book during His ministry, especially when resisting temptation. For Christians, Deuteronomy highlights the heart of biblical faith: love expressed through obedience.

Why the Torah Matters for Christians Today

The Torah shows God as Creator, Redeemer, Lawgiver, and Shepherd. The God Jesus calls “Father” is the same God who walked with Abraham and delivered Israel from Egypt.

It frames the story Jesus completes

Jesus does not appear out of nowhere. He steps into a story already in motion—a story the Torah begins. Understanding the Torah helps a Christian grasp Jesus’ mission, His teachings, and His fulfillment of God’s promises. What Jesus stated as the two greatest commandments – ‘love God with everything you have’ and ‘love your neighbor as yourself’ are found in Deuteronomy and Leviticus, respectively.

It shapes Christian ethics

Many of the Torah’s themes—justice, mercy, care for the poor, the dignity of human life—run straight into the teachings of Jesus and the apostles. The Torah’s vision of a holy community still challenges the church today.

It deepens our appreciation of Scripture as a whole

The Bible is not a collection of disconnected books. The Bible tells a coherent story – “A unified story that leads to Jesus” - to quote the ‘Bible Project’ mantra! The Torah is the opening chapter, and everything that follows—prophets, psalms, gospels, letters—builds on its foundation!

Final Encouragement

We Christians do not need to become experts in ancient Hebrew culture to appreciate the Torah. But approaching these books with curiosity and humility opens a window into God’s heart and His long and patient work of redemption! The Torah also invites us to see ourselves in the story: a people called, rescued, shaped, and sent into the world to reflect God’s love.

In many ways, reading the Torah is a return to the roots of our own faith. It reminds us of where the story begins—and why the Gospel, the ‘Good News’ of Jesus, is even better than we realized! 

Written for Knollwood Community Church as part of the 2026 Year of the Bible initiative.