Light Unto the Nations
Question
The word “tuwr” as a verb meaning to seek, search, spy out, explore, make a reconnaissance, be excellent.
It is made from the holy Hebrew letters. Tav~Vav~Resh compose “tuwr”.
I find it intriguing that these same letters (Tav~Vav~Resh) are in the word “Torah” (Tav~Vav~Resh~Hei).
Torah is the mandate for all mankind whether “Yehudi” or “Gentile”.
It seems like the point is that we are to study Torah as if on a reconnaissance mission. This involves search and exploration, thereby elevating one’s ” spirit” to excellence.
Isn’t the real purpose of God’s chosen people to teach and “spiritually uplift” all people through the rith of the Torah, such that there is no ignorant soul who be eternally severed from God?
Shouldn’t all who are willing, receive?
Proverbs 24:23 says, These things also belong to the wise. It is not good to have respect of persons in judgment.
Irrespective of “freewill,” God’s will for men is knowledge and obedience to the Torah. This is the ” greater commission.”
Rabbi, don’t you agree?
Answers
Actually, the Torah is really a mandate only for the Jewish Nation. It is not for the non-Jews. The non-Jews have the Seven Noachide laws that every single non-Jewish person is obligated to live by. But, yes, the task of the Jewish People is to be a “light unto the nations” and to serve as God’s ambassadors in this world to teach in some way (by example?) a way of moral Monotheism and goodness is God’s will for the entire world.
Best wishes from the AskTheRabbi.org Team