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Studies Page
Faith Faith... what is faith? Who has it? What does it look like? Perhaps is better understood as a verb, or as an action. Faith, therefore, is observable. In the Book of Hebrews (Evrim), in the Chadasha (New Testament), it says...
11:1, Now faith is assurance of
things hoped for, proof of things not seen.
The word for faith is Emunah. It is similar to the word, Emeinoth, which means “believing.” Both come from the word, Omein (Amen), which we all say when we are closing our prayers. Sometimes, when we hear someone say, “You need to have more faith,” we feel like we should be able buy it at a grocery store or super market. And you wonder, "What are they talking about?" But Omein, the root form of Emunah (faith), means “I will go with you ... or I agree with you.” That is how you are closing your prayers. You are telling the Lord you will “walk as he walks.” And, going with, or walking with, the Lord is an action that is clearly observable by others...
11:2 For by this, the elders
obtained testimony ... (because their actions were observable.)
11:3 By faith (by Emunah), we understand that the universe has been framed by the word of God, and that what is seen has not been made out of things which are visible. Why? Because our obvious Emunah demonstrates that our lives are changing at his instruction. So we understand that the world has developed by Emunah ... to his desires. His instructions are not apparent to everyone, but our actions are observable ...
11:4 By faith, Hevel (Abel)
offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Kayin (Cain), through which
he had testimony given to him that he was righteous, God bearing witness
with respect to his gifts... and through it he, though being dead, is still
speaking.
That is what is produced by Emunah. Words that never expire. Actions that are still observable. Hevel’s agreement with God, though he soon after was murdered, still lives.
11:5 By faith, Chanokh (Enoch)
was taken away, so that he wouldn't see death, and he was not found, because
God translated him. For he has had testimony given to him that before his
translation he had been pleasing to God.
11:6 Without faith it is impossible to be pleasing to him, for he who comes to God must believe that he exists, and that he is a rewarder of those who seek him. By this we understand that Emunah (faith) is a labor that even God needs to see before he can give us what we need. God may want things for us, but Emunah is still a work that must be active. When God had finished forming the earth and heavens ... he stopped to discover this Emunah. For it says, "That in it he ceased all his labors, with which he was creating as Elohim, for... it's own labors."The last word, La-asoth, "for labors" ... those labors are Emunah (faithfulness). Verses 7 through 40 outline a history of faithful actions by people of Emunah. None of those things happened by getting something from a grocery or hardware store. These things happened through the slow process of faithful souls laboring with Emunah. But isn’t there anything in a super market that will demonstrate Emunah? Can’t I buy a shirt? No. Emunah is tying tzitzith (tassels) on a cornered garment because Torah tells you to do it. Isn’t there something at a grocery store that demonstrates Emunah? Can I buy a lamb? Partly, but Emunah would also be not buying something. Not buying pork or shrimp, because Torah tells you to not eat those things. Emunah (faith) is Laboring in agreement with God’s instructions, and laboring with the belief you will be rewarded because of it. So Emunah is needed, and it is not simply belief. Then Emunah is too hard to do. I can’t live with such restraints to my lifestyle. The truth is that people are murdered, as Hevel (Abel) was murdered, because of Emunah. Faith is not something you psych yourself up to have ... its power is in a slow and constant walk with God.
12:1 Therefore let us also,
seeing we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, lay aside every
weight and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with
patience the race that is set before us,
12:2 looking to Yeshua, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured (death by) the cross, despising (refusing its) shame, and has (by it) sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. From reading the Khadasha (New Testament), I understand that having Emunah (faith) is to know that you are never alone. And when you do your works with Emunah, God is always watching ... in order to reward your actions. This is what it means ... “He neither slumbers, nor sleeps, as he watches Yisroel (Israel).” Our labors ... not our beliefs ... are Emunah.
Baruch Hashem.
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Shalom