Shalom,

Last week, we considered the opening words of Scripture: “In the beginning God.” We discovered that these words are more than an introduction to creation. They establish a principle that should govern every part of our lives. Everything must begin with God. Our decisions, relationships, plans, and even the way we approach each new day should begin with Him.

But there is another question we must consider. Is it possible to begin with God and then continue without Him?

How often have we made our plans, decided what we wanted to accomplish, and then asked Yehovah to bless what we had already determined to do? We may sincerely believe that we are trusting Him, yet we have already chosen the direction we intend to travel. Instead of asking Him to show us His path, we ask Him to accompany us on ours.

Proverbs 3:5–6 tells us, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.” Notice that the promise of divine direction is connected to acknowledging Him in all our ways. We cannot reserve certain areas of our lives for our own judgment and expect His direction in everything else.

The Hebrew word translated “acknowledge” comes from yada (יָדַע), meaning “to know.” This is far more personal than simply recognizing that God exists. It speaks of knowing Him and bringing our ways into a relationship with Him. We are not merely being instructed to mention God in our plans. We are being called to know Him in the very process of making them.

This brings us to the heart of teshuvah (תְּשׁוּבָה), returning to Yehovah. Sometimes repentance is not about turning away from an obvious act of sin. Sometimes it is recognizing that we have gradually taken control of something we once surrendered to Him. We may still pray, study Scripture, and worship, yet quietly depend upon our own understanding rather than His wisdom.

Consider Abraham. When Yehovah called him to leave his country and his father's house, Abraham did not receive a complete itinerary. He was told to go to a land that God would show him (Genesis 12:1). His responsibility was to obey the direction he had received and trust Yehovah for what came next. Faith did not require Abraham to understand the entire journey before taking the first step.

Perhaps this is where the Holy Spirit is speaking to us today. Is there a decision we have already made without seeking His direction? Is there a relationship we are trying to manage through our own strength? Is there something we are asking Him to bless when we have never actually asked whether it was His will?

These questions are not intended to produce condemnation. They are invitations to return. The beautiful thing about teshuvah is that when we recognize we have wandered from His direction, we can turn around. We do not have to continue traveling a road simply because we have already invested time and effort in it.

Here is our challenge for this week: Before making an important decision, stop and ask, “Yehovah, am I seeking Your direction, or am I asking You to approve mine?” Then spend time in His Word, listen prayerfully, and be willing to change direction when Scripture reveals that your present course is wrong.

Beginning with God is essential. Continuing with God is the evidence that we have truly entrusted our path to Him.

As we continue our weekly Torah readings, I encourage you to approach Scripture with this question: “What is Yehovah showing me about the way I am living, and what must I change in response?”

We would also love to have you participate in our developing weekly online Torah Parsha discussions, where we can study, ask questions, and grow together in our understanding of Scripture.

Visit lightofyeshuafellowship.org to learn more about our fellowship, request prayer, and explore our free Bible study resources. If these teachings are helping you grow, please consider sharing them with someone else who may need encouragement.

Shalom and blessings,

David Mattocks
Light of Yeshua Fellowship
lightofyeshuafellowship.org