Understanding Judaism | Genesis 12:1-4
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The Lord had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you.
2 “I will make you into a great nation,
and I will bless you;
I will make your name great,
and you will be a blessing.[a]
3 I will bless those who bless you,
and whoever curses you I will curse;
and all peoples on earth
will be blessed through you.”[b]4 So Abram went, as the Lord had told him; and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he set out from Harran.
Genesis 12:1-4
Judaism is one of the most influential religions in history, laying the foundation for Christianity. To understand Judaism is not merely to study another faith—it is to trace the roots of God’s redemptive plan through history. This understanding equips Christians in two powerful ways: first, to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ effectively with God’s chosen nation, Israel; and second, to interpret the Bible more faithfully.
Many Christians struggle to understand the Old Testament because they do not grasp the unfolding story of Abraham and his descendants. Yet God’s covenant with Abraham is central to understanding Scripture and God’s enduring plan for humanity.
The Call of Abraham
Judaism began with a man named Abram (later called Abraham), who received a divine call to leave his homeland in “Ur of the Chaldees” and journey to the land of Canaan (Genesis 12:1–4). God’s promises to Abraham are foundational:
God raised up the nation of Israel as His chosen people forever.
He promised to bless and preserve them.
Through Israel, God would bless the entire world—ultimately through Jesus Christ.
Those who bless Israel will be blessed; those who curse them will be cursed.
As Bible teacher John MacArthur notes, this covenant—later reaffirmed with Isaac and Jacob—is an everlasting covenant. It includes a land, a nation, and divine blessing and protection. Even today, the Jewish people remain living proof of God’s faithfulness to His covenant promises.
Moses, the Law, and the Promised Land
God raised up Moses to deliver His people from slavery in Egypt. Through Moses, God revealed His Law—summarized in the Ten Commandments—to shape Israel into a holy nation.
After forty years in the wilderness, Joshua led the Israelites into the Promised Land. Under God’s direction, Israel established itself as a nation, ruled first by judges and later by kings. David, a man after God’s own heart, united the nation and established Jerusalem as its capital. His son Solomon built the magnificent first Temple around 950 BC, where Israel worshiped the living God.
But Israel’s disobedience led to judgment. Both the northern and southern kingdoms fell—first to the Assyrians and later to the Babylonians. The Jews were exiled from their land, yet God’s promises endured.
The Restoration and the Second Temple
After seventy years in Babylonian captivity, the Jews returned under Zerubbabel and rebuilt the Temple in 515 BC. However, the Holy of Holies remained empty—the Ark of the Covenant was gone. The Shekinah glory had departed. During this period, new patterns of worship emerged. Synagogues were established, and teachers known as rabbis became central to Jewish life.
Greek influence spread during the time of Alexander the Great, leading to the translation of the Old Testament into Greek—the Septuagint. Later, under Roman rule, Herod the Great rebuilt the Temple into one of the most stunning structures of the ancient world. Yet, as Jesus prophesied, it was destroyed in AD 70. Today, the Western Wall, or Wailing Wall, remains the most sacred site in Judaism.
Israel Regathered as a Nation
Despite centuries of dispersion, God preserved the Jewish people just as He promised. Prophets like Ezekiel, Isaiah, and Amos foretold that God would one day regather Israel to its land. In 1948, after nearly two thousand years, Israel miraculously became a nation once again. Against overwhelming odds, Israel survived repeated wars and regained control of Jerusalem in 1967—a powerful reminder of God’s sovereign hand in history.
What Judaism Believes
Through the centuries, Judaism has maintained several key beliefs:
Monotheism: God is one, not triune.
Man’s nature: Humanity is born pure, not with original sin.
Ethics over theology: Deeds matter more than creeds.
The Law: The Mosaic Law is central to moral and social life.
Repentance: Observed through annual holy days like Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.
Family and purity: Marriage, child-rearing, and family life are divine obligations.
Jewish Scriptures
The Torah, the first five books of Moses, is the foundation of Jewish faith. Alongside it are the Prophets (Nevi’im) and the Writings (Ketuvim), forming the T’nakh, the Hebrew Bible.
Two additional texts also guide Jewish life:
The Mishnah (AD 200): Oral laws and rabbinic teachings.
The Talmud (AD 500): Expansive commentaries, discussions, and legal rulings.
Together, these writings shape Jewish thought and daily practice.
Expressions of Judaism Today
Judaism today exists in four primary expressions:
Orthodox Judaism – Strictly observes the Law and traditional practices.
Reformed Judaism – The liberal branch emphasizing ethics over ritual.
Conservative Judaism – Balances tradition and modern interpretation.
Messianic Judaism – Jews who believe Jesus (Yeshua) is the Messiah while retaining Jewish identity and customs. Remarkably, more Jews have embraced Jesus as Messiah in the past 20 years than in the previous 20 centuries.
Where Christianity and Judaism Agree—and Disagree
We share common ground in our reverence for the Old Testament, belief in one God, and moral teachings of the Law. But we differ profoundly on several key doctrines:
Jesus Christ: Jews see Him as a teacher, not the Messiah. Christians affirm Him as the Son of God and Savior.
Original Sin: Judaism denies inherited sin; Christianity teaches that all are born sinful and need redemption.
Salvation: Judaism emphasizes good deeds and repentance; Christianity proclaims salvation by grace through faith in Christ alone.
Ultimately, Christians are called to pray for Israel’s peace, love the Jewish people, and share the Gospel of their promised Messiah with compassion and truth.
Discussion Questions
What did God promise Abraham in Genesis 12:1–4? Why do these promises matter?
What areas of doctrine do Judaism and Christianity hold in common?
What are the Torah, the Mishnah, and the Talmud? How do they compare to the Bible?
What are the four main groups within Judaism? What are some of their main characteristics?
Who was Jesus according to Judaism?
What does Judaism teach about the doctrine of original sin? Why is their view not biblical?
Why should you try to use the Old Testament to prove that Jesus is the promised Messiah?
Where would you go in the Old Testament to evangelize a Jew?
