The first five books of the Bible are known as the Torah. Often the Hebrew word is translated as “law”. While that is correct as one of its meanings, the word Torah has broader meaning. Genesis through Deuteronomy are often described as the Five Books of the Law. They do contain many rules that we would describe as law, but they also contain many things that clearly are not law as we think of it. Much of the material could best be described as narrative or story. There are examples of poetry in the five books. Parts of Deuteronomy read more like sermons than legal pronouncements. The first eleven chapters of Genesis seem to be stories illuminating theological ideas. The literature of the five is complex and challenging. If we understand the broader meaning of Torah, this all makes sense. Torah is probably best understood as “teaching” or “instruction”. “Law” is part of that teaching or instruction, but so are the stories. All this provides guidance as to what God expected of the people of Israel and it contains much that can instruct us, as well, in our walk of faith.