A Journey of Faith: Reflections on Life's Path Through Scripture
This morning a dear friend sent me a text with the following expression:
"God I thank you for all that you have given me, all that you have taken away from me and all that you have left me. You gave me life, you took away my stone cold heart and you left a path for me to come home."
His message caused me to mediate on the concept of life as a journey through the lens of scripture. This metaphor permeates both the Tanakh (Hebrew scriptures) and the New Testament. Judeo-Christian scripture, the bible, speak to God's presence throughout every stage of our existence.
Scripture paints a beautiful, continuous picture of our soul’s journey: from our time on earth to life everlasting with God.
The Bible teaches that our souls are created by God and given purpose on this earth. Psalm 139:13-16 describes how God forms us in the womb and knows every day of our lives before one comes to be. Our earthly journey is not random; it is guided by God’s wisdom and instruction—His Torah, His Word, His Spirit.
The Beginning and End of Our Journey
Life is called a journey. Therefore, there is a beginning and an end - birth and death. But like any journey, our destination is determined by our choices, the paths we take.Genesis opens with "In the beginning, God created..." while Revelation concludes with Yeshua declaring, "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end." Between these bookends of Scripture lies the human journey, marked by God's faithful presence.
As Ecclesiastes 3:1-2 reminds us, "There is a time to be born and a time to die," directly acknowledging the boundaries of our earthly pilgrimage. Yet these boundaries don't confine us - they merely mark transitions in an eternal story.
God's Presence Along the Path
Comfort is found in knowing that God walks with us! The Bible repeatedly assures us of His constant presence:
"Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence?... If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle by the farthest sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast" (Psalm 139:7-10).
To Jacob, He promised, "I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go" (Genesis 28:15). To Moses, "My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest" (Exodus 33:14). And Yeshua himself assured us, "And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age" (Matthew 28:20).
The Shepherd's Guidance
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| Hebrew letter Lamed (30) |
Psalm 23 has become especially meaningful in my reflection. This psalm uses journey imagery to describe life with God as our Shepherd:
"The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters. He restores my soul; He leads me in paths of righteousness for His name's sake."
Lamed (ל) is derived from the root meaning "to learn" or "to teach." It's shape, which resembles a shepherd's staff, indicates guidance and direction in learning. The shepherd's staff is also associated with a journey.
Even in life's darkest valleys, the Shepherd remains: "Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me."
I've come to see Psalm 23 as a microcosm of our entire life journey - from the peaceful beginnings to challenging passages, culminating in the promise: "Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever."
Beyond Death: The Journey Continues
The hope that sustains me is that our journey doesn't end at death. The New Testament makes this abundantly clear:
"To live is Christ and to die is gain... I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far" (Philippians 1:21-23).
"We are confident... to be away from the body and at home with the Lord" (2 Corinthians 5:8).
Yeshua promised, "I go to prepare a place for you... I will come back and take you to be with me" (John 14:2-3).
This is the Hope - our hope - The Hope of Israel. Like Rahab's scarlet cord at Jericho, marking her household for salvation amid destruction, we too have a sign of rescue from death's power.
The Choices That Shape Our Path
Throughout Scripture, I see how our choices determine our destination. As Moses told Israel: "I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life" (Deuteronomy 30:19).
Yeshua spoke of two paths: "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it" (Matthew 7:13-14).
Conclusion: A Journey With Purpose
As I reflect on these passages, I'm reminded that life isn't meant to be a meaningless wandering. The scriptures speak of life being a purposeful journey with God as our guide.
The very word “Torah” comes from the Hebrew root meaning instruction or guidance, emphasizing that God’s teachings are meant to direct our steps, not just provide rules.
The mitzvot (commandments) are there to give us "life to the full" described as longer days and a more abundant life -- a purposeful life overflowing with spiritual richness.
Psalm 16:11 says “You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.”
Proverbs 3:1-2 teaches, “Do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your heart, for they will prolong your life many years and bring you peace and prosperity.”
From the beginning (Psalm 139) to the end (Revelation 22:13), He is there - directing, protecting, and ultimately welcoming us home.
The journey has its green pastures and dark valleys, its moments of clarity and confusion. Yet through it all, God's promise remains: "I will never leave you nor forsake you" (Deuteronomy 31:8).
This journey continues beyond death into eternity - not as a conclusion but as a transition to a greater reality where, as Revelation 21:4 promises, "He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain."
Life is a journey and Ecclesiastes 7:2 says “Death is the destiny of everyone; the living should take this to heart.”
This is my meditation, my hope, my assurance - that from beginning to end and beyond, the God who formed me walks with me, and will one day welcome me home.
I hope somehow these thoughts are meaningful to you.
Epilogue:
Whenever I do a meditation. I always refer to the Torah portion for the week, which is invariably relevant. This weeks Parshah is called "Chukat," means "Statute" and it is found in Numbers 19:1-22.1.
In this section, after forty years of journeying through the desert, the people of Israel arrive in the wilderness of Zin. Miriam dies, and the people thirst for water. G‑d tells Moses to speak to a rock and command it to give water. Moses gets angry at the rebellious Israelites and strikes the stone. Water issues forth, but Moses is told by G‑d that neither he nor Aaron will enter the Promised Land.
The Torah never fails. Adonia called me by my name.
