Tied Together: A One-Year Journey Through the Bible | Day 2 | January 13, 2026
Introduction to the Books of the Law
The first five books of the Bible—Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy—form a foundational section known as the Books of the Law. All five were written by Moses, with the exception of the final verses of Deuteronomy, which document Moses' death and were likely written by Joshua. While scholars debate the exact dates, most believe Moses lived sometime between 1600 and 1200 BC, placing the writing of these books within that timeframe.
As you study the Old Testament, you'll encounter other names for this collection. The Hebrew term is Torah, meaning "teachings," and these books form the basis of all Jewish law and practice. In the Hebrew Bible (called the Tanakh), the Torah is the first of three sections. You may also hear the Greek term Pentateuch—"penta" meaning five and "teuch" coming from the word for scroll—simply referring to these five scrolls. Sometimes they're called the Books of Moses. Regardless of which term you encounter, they all refer to this same collection.
These five books contain an incredible amount of history: the creation of the world, humanity's fall into sin, the flood that covered the earth, the patriarchs (Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob), the exodus from Egypt, the journey toward the Promised Land, the giving of the Ten Commandments, detailed laws and festivals for the Jewish people, and explicit instructions for building the tabernacle.
Here's a brief overview of each book: Genesis details creation, the fall of man, and the establishment of many nations and tribes. Exodus is a beautiful account of God's redemption as He frees His chosen people from oppression and slavery. Leviticus, named for the Levite tribe who served as priests caring for the tabernacle, focuses on ceremonial law and how to worship and commune with God. Numbers tells the story of the Israelites' journey from Mount Sinai toward Canaan and includes a census of each tribe. Finally, Deuteronomy serves as a recap of the law given to the people before they enter the Promised Land.
But these books are more than ancient history—they set the stage for Jesus Christ to bring redemption.
The Books of the Law reveal God's nature: His love, grace, mercy, patience, and forgiveness. They also explain why we need a Savior. God is perfect and holy. We are broken and full of sin. God desires to be in our presence, but we are not holy enough on our own. If we could keep every law written in these books, we could be holy enough—but with our sin nature, that's impossible. Even one small sin separates us from God.
Think of it this way: imagine a perfect, clear, pure glass of water sitting on a counter. This water represents holiness. Now put one tiny drop of poison in it. Is the water still good? That single drop is enough to ruin the whole glass. That's what sin does to us. We may think we live good lives, but we aren't clean enough to come before our almighty Creator.
God gave us the law so we could recognize this truth and understand our desperate need for a Savior. He shows us that the only way to become clean is through blood sacrifice—but even that was temporary, because the moment the sacrifice ended and someone sinned again, they became unclean. God wanted His people to see that they needed an eternal sacrifice. He provides exactly that when Jesus Christ dies on the cross.
These five books describe the old covenant, and understanding that covenant helps you appreciate that you now live under a new one. Some readers see these books and think of God as strict and full of judgment, but that misses the deeper truth. Yes, our relationship with God was broken—but it was broken because of our sin, and He desperately wanted to restore it.
If you look closely, you'll discover that these books overflow with God's immense love. They speak of His promises of abundant blessings. They show us how God wants us to live while also revealing His incredible grace and mercy. And best of all, they prepare us for the ultimate fulfillment of His promises, which comes in Jesus Christ.
As you read these first five books, look for these amazing attributes of God. When you start to recognize how deeply He desires a relationship with you, you may find your heart opening to becoming closer and more intimate with Him.
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