Preface
"Even if a log soaks a long time in water, it will never become a crocodile" (Wolof proverb) . . . nor does being religious make a person righteous. Religious rituals and good deeds may make people feel righteous and even appear righteous before men, but they do not make them righteous before God.
The Way of Righteousness is an English translation of "Yoonu Njub" --- a series of radio-programs originally written in the Wolof language for the Muslim people of Senegal, West Africa. Beginning with the Torah of Moses, these one hundred 15-minute lessons take the listener on a journey through the Scriptures of the prophets to view God's unchangeable purpose for mankind and to hear God's thrilling answer to the prophet Job's four-thousand-year-old question, "How can a man be righteous before God?" (Job 9:2)
The reason for making these lessons available in English is twofold: 1.) to facilitate translation into other languages for broadcast around the world; 2.) to promote reading by English-speaking Muslims and others who want to deepen their understanding of the stories and, especially, the message of God's prophets.
Muslims believe that God has revealed His will through four sacred books (Torah, Psalms, Gospel, Qur'an). Yet few Muslims ever have the opportunity to hear the Good News of God according to the Torah, the Psalms, and the Gospel Writings. These one-hundred concise lessons offer that opportunity.
Many are surprised to learn that the Qur'an commands Muslims to believe the Torah (Taurat), the Psalms (Zabur), and the Gospel (Injil)--all of which have been carefully preserved in the Hebrew and Greek Scriptures known as the Bible (Latin for the Book). The Qur'an says: "If you are in doubt concerning what we revealed to you, then question those who read the Scripture that was before you." (10:94) "We sent down the Torah in which there is guidance and light." (5:44) "We have revealed to you as we revealed to Noah and the prophets after him, and as we revealed to Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, and the tribes; to Jesus, Job, Jonah, Aaron, Solomon and David, to whom we gave the Psalms." (4:163) "We sent forth Jesus, the son of Mary, to follow in the footsteps of the prophets, confirming the Torah which was before him, and we gave him the Gospel with its guidance and light, confirmatory of the preceding Torah; a guidance and warning to those who fear God." (5:46) "Those who treat the Book, and the message we have sent through our apostles, as a lie, will know the truth hereafter: when, with chains and collars around their necks, they shall be dragged through scalding water and burned in the fire of hell." (40:71) "None can change the decrees of God." (6:34) "The Word of God shall never change--that is the supreme triumph." (10:64)
Despite such Qur'anic verses, many Muslims contend that the Torah, Psalms, and Gospel Writings contained in the Bible have been changed and, thus, are unreliable. But the facts declare otherwise. Preserved in museums around the world are thousands of ancient manuscripts which predate the Qur'an by hundreds of years. The Bible we hold in our hands today is translated from these manuscripts. The Bible is by far the best documented book of antiquity. While we deal with this subject briefly in lesson #90, we have deliberately chosen not to spend a lot of time on it. Why not? Because "the proof is in the pudding." Taste it! "The best defense is a good offense." God's Word, when studied chronologically as in this series, presents an awesome offense! His Word doesn't need to be defended. It needs to be read.
"For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account." (Hebrews 4:12,13)
The Wolof people of Senegal say, "Truth is a hot pepper" and "Whoever wants honey must brave the bees." Similarly, the penetrating power of God's Truth and everlasting sweetness of God's way of righteousness make going after it worth every possible risk--even ostracism, persecution, and physical death. The prophet Solomon wrote: "In the way of righteousness there is life; along that path is immortality." (Proverbs 12:28) Does this claim sound too good to be true? Friends, with God--nothing is "too good to be true." Allahu Akbar! God is great, and to all who submit to His way of righteousness, He promises to give freely that which religions of self-achievement can never provide: salvation from the penalty and power of sin, a credited-righteousness, assurance of sins forgiven, a cleansed conscience, a deep peace, an untouchable joy, a new nature, a personal relationship with God, and a home with Him in Paradise forever!
To all who read or hear these one hundred lessons--we commend you to God, the Compassionate, the Merciful, the Righteous--who extends this life-giving and life-transforming promise to all who will claim it:
"You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart." (Jeremiah 29:13)
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The Way of Righteousness Copyright © 1998
The Way of Righteousness is copyrighted only to maintain the integrity of the material. To reprint these lessons for distribution or to translate this series into other languages, please contact the author by e-mail at: TWOR@iname.com
The English Scripture translation used in this series is the New International Version, chosen for its simpler vocabulary. For personal study of the Scriptures, you may prefer a more literal translation such as the New King James Version. All Scripture portions are italicized. Square brackets [ ] indicate that which has been paraphrased in order to express the way the verse was translated in Wolof, or for explanatory purposes. The Scripture references in parentheses and information enclosed in squiggly brackets { } are not a part of the original radio program. This information is only for the reader.
Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House.