The Hebrew word often translated as belief or faith is emunah and is better translated as faithfulness. True emunah is evidenced by action. The word Emunah is linked to the word UMAN or an artisan or craftsman. No matter what vision, passion or images lay in the mind and heart of that craftsman, it can very easily remain dormant. (1) A masterpiece in the mind of an artist will never be appreciated by the world until it has been completed and displayed on a canvass. So too a child of God can never be a light to the nations until there are acts to be witnessed. It is impossible for the world to witness the belief that remains in one’s head.
In Genesis 15:6, speaking of Abraham we read; “And he believed in the Lord, and He accounted it to him for righteousness.” “What exactly did Avraham do? What were the events that brought about this noticeably short, but dramatic, declaration? The impossible test with Isaac at Mount Moriah had not yet occurred. He had not yet been told to send off his son Yishmael, born to Hagar, into the wilderness. Avraham had not even been commanded to enact the ritual of circumcision at the age of ninety-nine.
Still, we are told that Avraham he'emeen (believed) in Hashem. We are told this, though, after some other verses. G-d tells Avraham to go out and count the stars “And He took him outside, and He said, 'Please look heavenward and count the stars, if you are able to count them.' And then He said to him, 'So will be your seed.'"(Genesis 15:5). In the midst of that commandment Hashem says, “if you are able to count them,” declaring essentially to Avraham that it is an impossible task. Then the verse says:" And then He said to him. (ibid)” Yet G-d was already in the midst of talking to Avraham. Why do we need to know " then He said”?
Clearly there was a pause between the words “If you are able to count them “and the words “and then He said." The question to ask is what did Avraham do during that pause? Clearly, he went out and started counting the stars just as G-d had asked him to do. At that point G-d declares "So will be your seed.". He is telling him that it is that characteristic of “faithfulness- EMUNAH” that will exemplify his children. They will endeavor to do even the impossible because that is what their beloved G-d asked them to do, they will endeavor to be faithful at all costs.”
That is the point! (2) Endeavoring to do the impossible simply to please our Father in heaven is the mark of a true disciple. Looking for loopholes is quite the opposite. “Keep on posing problems, and you will escape the necessity of obedience” (3) What is the problem at hand? I often hear the statement among Christians that the “law” is impossible to keep, that’s why we needed a savior. This has become a convenient excuse not to even try to follow our heavenly Father’s instructions for His children - the universal code of conduct we know as the Torah. Admittedly, attempting to keep the Torah in the 21st century comes fraught with many challenges. But because our beloved Heavenly Father asked us to do it is all the reason we need to try. It is our love response to Him. Keeping the Torah - Impossible? Maybe. Is it worth trying? Absolutely!
Shalom- Gary Cristofaro
(1) UNDERSTANDING EMUNAH; FAITH/BELIEF THE SHORASHIM BIBLICAL STUDY By Moshe Kempinski
(2) UNDERSTANDING EMUNAH; FAITH/BELIEF THE SHORASHIM BIBLICAL STUDY By Moshe Kempinski
(3) The Cost of Discipleship (pg. 73) Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Shalom! 😄