What Is the Law, and Why Is Following It So Hard?

The Mosaic Law, given to Israel on Mount Sinai after they were delivered from Egypt around 1290 BCE, is a divine road map to live a life according to the will of Yahawah. It starts with the Ten Commandments and includes observing holy days as described in the Torah. But today, these laws are either ignored or superseded by customs that have strayed from their original purpose.

It’s hard to walk in obedience to the law. It takes self-discipline and a desire not to swim upstream with the rest of modern civilization. Most of us do not do this well because our culture encourages much of this reported independence, even at the expense of spiritual accountability. Such a way of thinking allows people to keep following systems, even when those systems clash with the laws of the Most High.

The confusion has been helped along by mainstream Christianity, which has said the law is not for us anymore. Messiahs and prophets misinterpreted by lazy historians or those seeking financial gain create more distance than closeness and make it nearly impossible for those who seek to emulate the messiah to figure out a way to live.

Why the Law Is Important

Law is not simply a collection of rules—it is a way of life. For the Hebrews, the Ten Commandments and the statutes of the Torah were meant to inform and govern every aspect of their daily lives. But today, many people either misunderstand those commandments or ignore them altogether out of fear or misinformation.

The prophet Isaiah expressed this problem well when he wrote:

“These people draw near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is based on merely human rules they have been taught” (Isaiah 29:13).

Sadly, many think that simply verbalizing faith is sufficient, even if their way of life does not align with Yahawah’s commandments. As a result, the emphasis placed on faith is diluted by a dismissal of the emphasis placed on obedience.

The Law Today: Legalistic Problems

Balancing Life and Faith

Distractions are everywhere in modern life, so it can be hard to follow the law. We often have work, family, personal activities, etc. that collectively can become quite overwhelming and hinder our faithfulness. Dietary laws, for instance, are difficult to observe in a global environment filled with processed and unlabeled foods. Dressing in modest attire and observing holy days can also stand at odds with today’s casual and fast-paced culture.

Misconceptions About the Law

Some think that the law was abolished after the Messiah’s sacrifice; that is false. Yahawashi Hamashiak did not cancel the law, he fulfilled it; he was showing us how to live the law. It is a misunderstanding that keeping the law nullifies His sacrifice. In truth, we do the law to have a relationship with Him; it is how we show our love to Yahawah.

Cultural Pressures

The structure of society does not lend itself to keeping Yahawah’s commandments. The Sabbath, originally a day of rest and worship, is in many traditions supplanted by Sunday observance, rooted in pagan traditions. This makes it clear that we have to return to the authentic teachings of the Torah.

How to Keep the Law in Contemporary Times

Preparing for the Sabbath

Keeping the Sabbath takes some advance planning. This could mean first setting boundaries that protect this sacred time, finishing work tasks in advance, preparing meals, et cetera. Rest and worship is a one-day form of life to our soul and brings honor to Yahawah.

Observing Holy Days

The feast days show us how to get closer to Yahawah. A little practical preparation—studying what each holy day is about, scheduling time in your daily life, even making your family part of it—can make these observances more meaningful.

Living with Intention

Maintaining the law in the modern world takes intent. This involves much more than simply deciding what we want to eat, what we want to wear, or what we want to do with our time. This isn’t just a matter of rules; it is, in fact, love of Yahawah. Doing these things demonstrates that we will go the distance for Him.

The Final Word: Seeking the Ancient Way

It is not easy to follow Yahawah’s laws and commandments in this day and age. Living for Yahawah pays off. These laws link us to the Creator and define us as His people. Obedience in a world of convenience and self-centeredness also needs faith, discipline, and love.

We show our allegiance to Yahawah by keeping the Sabbath and holy days and living in accordance with the commandments. It is not about regulations on this road but a relationship with the Creator and understanding why we are here on His world.

The law is not a curse; it is a commandment. It gives structure, calmness, and purpose to an untenable world. This is how we fulfill the words of Yahawah as we give our hearts back to Him, which is where we can find everything that we need.

May we be open to this walk from me to We with all of our heart, because the end of it is everlasting. Shalom.