Just a Little

Faith: Things for which we hope, as if we already have them; things revealed that are unseen.

We who have BIBLICAL faith truly do trust that there are things coming to us in our future; and, we ‘see’ things that happened in the past that are absolute to us. In fact, the word ’emunah’, אמונה, in Hebrew, comes from the root אמן, ‘aman’, which means ‘firmly established’. It is where we get the English word “amen”, from אמין, which can be translated ‘let it be established’. When we say “amein”, we are ‘affirming’ our hope that what was said was absolute, that we ‘see’ the absolute truth of what was spoken. Others mock us when we say ‘amein’ as if it were some base, religious droning.

I wrote a song some time back about faith, called ‘just a little faith’; it was at a time when my own was being challenged, more so than usual. I think real biblical faith is always being ‘challenged’ by this world; mine is. NOT in the sense of whether or not I believe what the gospel is. I don’t think I will ever NOT believe that God exists, and that Yeshua is His Son, whom God sent into the world to save me. But, the hopes that I have, whether they will be met, that challenge persists: especially in regard to loved ones and friends who I know are not in a relationship with their Creator. My heart aches; and I must continue, every day, to put my HOPE in God, even though He’s not given me that for which I ask, in regard to many things. “Just a Little Faith”, when I wrote it, was my heart encouraging itself, much like King David did when he penned the words: “Bless יהוה , O my soul, and all that is within me, bless His Holy Name. Bless יהוה , O my soul, and do not forget His many benefits.”

That little song hearkened back to the woman about whom we read in our portion this week. She had bled for twelve years, and then she heard about Yeshua going around and healing people, and she told HERSELF, “If I could just touch His cloak, I WILL LIVE.” As I thought about it this week, I remembered a time when I had the worst sore throat anyone had ever seen; huge pockets of pus all over the back of my throat, great pain, such that I could not eat. I got down on my knees and prayed for relief, and I thought of that woman, and I told Him, ‘whatever I have to do to ‘touch’ you, I want to do it.’ And I began to sing, “O God, you are my God, and I will ever praise you. I will seek you in the morning, and learn to walk in your ways….” As I sang, those sores literally dried up on the spot, I didn’t feel a thing, I only heard them drying up in my throat. That was thirty years ago this summer. I will never forget it. My witness is my then fiancé, my wife today. She had just seen those sores. The next day she saw me, they were gone.

I wish that every prayer was answered immediately like that. But, if “emunah” is ‘firm’, then it may be a bit like laying concrete: it takes time for it to set, and dry, and become ‘firm’. We are ‘being’ built up; we are not finished products when we come to faith. Our faith has to go through challenges, and we should thank God that He is doing that. HE is the master builder, and knows just what needs to happen to our faith to make it firm.

Our hope, the thing we have heard of, not seen and yet hope for, is the Resurrection. What has been shown us by revelation is that Yeshua was raised from the dead, and calls us to repent, to ‘turn around’, turn away from the ways of this world and walk in God’s way, which Yeshua demonstrated perfectly. He died for our sakes, taking our punishment into His body, to rescue us from our own sins. God raised Him from the dead, and He is now standing at God’s right hand, awaiting the moment He is instructed to come get us. Those are revealed FACTS. That part of my faith is ‘firmly established’; it is the hope of things not yet done for which I pray, every day.

I am asking Abba that every one who reads this have their ‘hopes’ buoyed, and be reminded that it is because of HIS GREAT COMPASSION, and not our merit nor our lack thereof, that He does EVERYTHING for us, good or ‘bad.’

²⁴For we live in hope; but hope that is seen is not hope: for if we see it, why should we yet hope?  ²⁵But if we hope for that which we do not see, then do we wait for it in patience. ²⁶Likewise, HaRu’akh also helps our weaknesses; for we do not know what is right and proper for us to pray for; but HaRu’akh prays for us with that earnestness which cannot be described.  ²⁷And he who searches the hearts knows what is the mind of HaRu’akh, for HaRu’akh prays for the K’doshim according to the will of Elohim.  ²⁸And we know that those who love Elohim are helped by Him in everything, for goodness to those who, from the beginning, are destined to be called. [Rom 8]