A BOOK OF ROOTS

 

I have gravitated towards the Old Testament during my entire Church membership and for one reason. It has so many roots: the root of our existence, the root of the Abrahamic covenant, the root of the identity of the House of Israel, the root of the generations of Christ.

I love beginnings and roots are beginnings. I love to see how things started and I love seeing people rise to great heights: Abraham, the father of the faithful with whom God made the greatest covenant ever for the benefit of the children of men; the mighty Jacob who became Israel; Moses, who rose to be the great lawgiver of God’s favoured people; the Plan of Salvation which propelled the Son of God to become the God of Creation and Redeemer of mankind. I love beginnings and I love evolvement.

The Old Testament begins with the root of Creation but to me it begins with its author, Moses, who wrote the first five books of the Old Testament and to whom was revealed the why and how we came to be here…..the most important part which was lost and which the population at large wonders about still.

God knew that this would happen so he promised Moses that He would ‘raise up another’ like him to restore His words which were taken away (Moses 1:40-41). Enter beloved Joseph who received this vital information through revelation whilst translating the Bible in June 1830 to February 1831.

Both these men prove one thing – God chooses His most valiant children for key positions on earth as they can be trusted to accomplish their assignments, because “the works, and the designs, and the purposes of God cannot be frustrated, neither can they come to naught (D&C 3:1)

God knew in the very beginning that Moses would have the fortitude to turn his back on the luxuries and glories of the Egyptian court, accept the role of a shepherd for forty years and then be called to lead 2 million people out of Egyptian bondage and slavery.

Imagine being an 80 year old shepherd, removed from a complicated life in Egypt and enjoying the ease of pastoral life until one day you happen to come across a burning bush and are asked to take the shoes off your feet and show reverence to the maker of the Universe (Exodus 3:4-5)

That sacred experience was the beginning of the tutoring of Moses to whom God revealed himself and showed him the roots of man’s identity who is in the similitude of God’s Only Begotten, the Saviour of all mankind (Moses 1:6). And then the greatest root of all, God’s purpose of creation of this earth and of all the living on it: “For behold, this is my work and my glory to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man.” (Moses 1:39) 

- CATHRYNE ALLEN

(Art: Moses by Greg Sargent)