EMUNAH - FAITH

Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness.

Genesis 15: 6 (NIV)

(1)

INTRODUCTION

Without faith, it is impossible to please God. The Hebrew word for faith is Emunah. Other meanings behind the word reveal that faith without works is dead. The Hebrew word speaks of a steadfast trust in God that He will perform what He has promised. Moving towards that promise is faith counted to us as righteousness, as it was the case with Abraham.

AND IT WAS COUNTED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS

But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

Hebrews 11: 6 (NIV)

Abraham was traveling through the desert. He was accompanied by His servants and His son Isaac, the promised son. The son he waited 13 years to receive. This walk was a walk of testing and faith. He was asked to sacrifice Isaac in an act of obedience. 

Abraham, a man of faith (emunah), remained trusting in God and showed his faithfulness through his willingness to perform the sacrifice. Though he waited 13 years to receive his son, he was instantly willing to give him up to the Creator, who gifted him with God was testing him and his willingness (emunah) was counted as righteousness. Abraham was full of emunah.

EMUNAH THAT IS ROOTED IN PERSISTENCE

Faith is what God is after. He is not after our money. He is not after our jobs. He is not after our relationships. He is after our trust. 

Abraham trusted God, and it was counted as righteousness, even in the face of a difficult decision. He showed us the true definition of the word emunah as did many great men before and after him. 

Emunah, often translated into English as faith, belief, has several meanings in Hebrew. It can mean faithfulness, fidelity, steadfastness, trust, and faith. (2)

The Greek understanding of faith and truth speaks of it being a static state of mind, an acceptance of a series of propositions as true, such as: 

• God exists.

• God communicates with individuals and makes promises to them.

• God has the power to keep promises made.

• God may be relied upon to keep promises. (3)

The Hebrew word emunah, on the other hand, speaks of a much deeper meaning. It speaks of believing in a future state of affairs expressed in the current trust that the promise will come to pass. It is more “belief in” than “belief that”. (4)

ETYMOLOGY

The word Emunah derives from the word aman, which means to confirm, support, or be faithful. It speaks of securely trusting and relying on God and His promise. (2)

FAITH DESPITE NOT SEEING

Faith is the substance of things hoped for, yet not seen. Faith despite not seeing the manifestation yet. Believing in a future promise coming to pass despite the current circumstances, stating the opposite. 

God is after our hearts. He wishes for all of us to believe that He is. And that He is faithful and just. He answers and He gives. He is not like men that He would lie. If He said, then it is already done and accomplished. If He gave a word, it will not return to Him void. It will not fall on the ground unfruitful. It will produce great fruit as meant to. 

In the end, Yeshua went willingly on that cross, knowing He would arise again. He knew He would arise again and be given the whole world. He believed and He received. 

CONCLUSION

Without faith, it is impossible to please God. The Hebrew definition of faith, emunah, speaks not of merely believing that certain statements of God are true. It speaks of trusting Him that He will do that which He has promised to us directly or through His written word. The Hebrew word emunah can mean faithfulness, fidelity, steadfastness, trust, and faith, and comes from the root aman, which means to confirm, support, or be faithful. 

APPLICATION

Take a walk down your memory lane. Are there promises given to you that have not yet manifested? Boldly declare them as fulfilled already every during this week.

SOURCES

1. Image created via canva.com.

2. Bible Hub. Emunah. Available at https://biblehub.com/hebrew/530.htm 

3. Dr. Menachem Kellner. Emunah: Biblical Faith. Available at https://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/emunah-biblical-faith/ 

4. John J. Parsons. Emunah. Hebrew for Christians. Available at https://hebrew4christians.com/Articles/Emunah/emunah.html