The Emunah of YHVH
The Helper of our forefathers are You alone, forever, Shield and Savior for them and for their children after them in every generation. Shacharis/Weekday Morning Service/ Siddur
Every generation – This passage from the morning prayers in the Siddur is a reflection on the visible hand of HaShem in the Exodus. That seminal event demonstrates “God’s eternal supervision of Israel and mastery over its destiny.”[1] We who have been grafted into His Kingdom share the same historical perspective. But far too often our past religious orientation and cultural bias causes us to overlook this solidarity and we forget what the Exodus means to us. We read this prayer and we think of this history as though it is Jewish, and therefore about the Jews. But it is our history and our connection too. We who were born Gentiles will not become Jews by being adopted into the Kingdom, but we will become citizens and we will have a common heritage. We crossed the Sea of Reeds with His people. We left Egypt. We traveled in the wilderness and we arrived at the Promised Land. We know Him as Deliverer and Savior and Sovereign. We were there, just like every generation that proceeded from Sinai.
Why does this matter? Why isn’t it just “history” for us? Because the connection, the very personal connection, establishes our place in His grace, our role among His children and His eternal mastery over our lives. It is this connection to the exodus that reminds us we are not alone. Not only are we connected to the God of Israel and His people, we are privileged to be under His eternal care. We do not stand apart from His election of a people of His choice, wondering if we can ever fully measure up. We are in the midst, just as Rahab and Ruth were in the midst. We belong. This is our story, our God. It matters because there will be times when we don’t see His hand, when we question His care. There will be times when it seems as if the whole world is falling apart and we along with it. And in those times, we have this: YHVH rescued His people out of Egypt. He demonstrated His power and majesty. He chose a nation and designated it His own. And we are part of His choice. When chaos appears as a marauding army, we know that our God did not fail, does not fail and will not fail. We have proof. Just look at what He has already done.
Recognizing the emunah of YHVH, His faithfulness, depends on connection. We don’t need personal miracles to know He is the One True God. Personal miracles may never take place for us. We don’t need them because we know the story of our ancestors. We know where we came from. We saw His power and glory. And it is enough. It is enough for us to believe that He is faithful.
Come. Let’s stand at Sinai together and feel the earth tremble.
Topical Index: emunah, faithfulness, Exodus, Siddur, Israel
[1] The Complete Artscroll Siddur, p. 101, footnote.
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I can’t believe this is the topic for today. I have been having this coversation with friends. We hear we are part of Israel, grafted in. How are we grafted in? Is it a spiritual thing that happens and when? Was it at my salvation prayer in the church? My exit of the church? When I started observing Shabbat? When did I become part of thecommon wealth of Israel? How are we attached to them? Ruth and Rahab have been the two I have pondered. They were not part of Israel until those people became their people. We all believe that their God is our God. Do their people need to become our people as well?
Cheryl
Cheryl, in my opinion you were grafted in before the foundation of the world, but it only became apparent to you when you made a concious decision to accept Israel as your heritage and realize that you are grafted into God’s chosen family.
I tend to think of this as that we, YHVH’s children, were always intended to be a “spectacle to men and to angels”. The prophets were extreme examples of this, as they were given roles to play that exemplified a larger reality. The Children of Israel, I believe, were also handed a typology to play out that was larger than themselves; which is to say, a fair amount of what they were given may not even have been strictly for them, and certainly not exclusively for them. We can look at Israel today and gain some things that they NEVER got. That does not mean that they were not the chosen ones. That just means that they did their job.
I think that this also plays into the role this planet plays in the understanding of evil. It has begun to become rather obvious to me that certain elements of what we are having to deal with may be completely incomprehensible to us because they might not be about us, per se, but we are having to play out some things that were intended to show aspects of God’s will that are only going to be comprehensible to intelligences that may not on this planet. They may even be things that we are only going to be able to see clearly in the next world, looking back. We are told that there are aspects of salvation that angels desire to “look into”, and, as the most beloved Commander of heaven was sacrificed for us, all heaven became vested in the outcome. We are all tied now, in ways large and small, and I am quite sure it is going to take an eternity to sort it all out!
My Answer is “Yes!”
History is His Story.
~ But you* are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you* may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light ~
Friend, “Whosoever will” may come. Ahh, yes. But -who are the “whosoever wills” (if you will..) The Scriptures speak again.. (and again..) and again..
~ Come unto Me.. (who?) – “All who labor and all who bear heavy burdens.” “All who are weary of it all” – All who need… “rest.” (Matthew 11.28) Do I “qualify?” Absolutely- Positively. This (miraculously?) describes me to a tee! Therefore..
It is because this is tHis invitation “Come!” What is necessary for me or any man to do?
He says “come,” — (therefore) I must go! This sinner (me) needs a Savior! (Him). Is this good news? He is (are you* listening?) A personal Savior!
Come, ye sinners, poor and needy,
Weak and wounded, sick and sore;
Jesus ready stands to save you,
Full of pity, love and power.
~ When Jesus heard this, he told them, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor–sick people do. I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.” ~ (Friend, I “qualify!”)
(Therefore..)
I will arise and go to Jesus,
He will embrace me in His arms;
In the arms of my dear Savior,
O there are ten thousand charms.
Come, ye thirsty, come, and welcome,
God’s free bounty glorify;
True belief and true repentance,
Every grace that brings you nigh.
~ Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said to him, “Trust in our LORD Yeshua The Messiah, and (?) — you shall live, you and your household.” (Acts 16.30)
Come, ye weary, heavy laden,
Lost and ruined by the fall;
If you tarry till you’re better,
You will never come at all.
(Just as I am, without one plea
but that Thy blood was shed for me!)
View Him prostrate in the garden;
On the ground your Maker lies.
On the bloody Tree behold Him;
Sinner, will this not suffice?
Lo! the incarnate God ascended,
Pleads the merit of His blood:
Venture on Him, venture wholly,
Let no other trust intrude.
Let not conscience make you linger,
Not of fitness fondly dream;
All the fitness He requireth
Is to feel your need of Him.
His invitation? “Come.” A Gift has been offered.
My response?
He has my “yes!”
~ Do you* want to be healed? (John 5.6) What a strange question to ask a man who has been paralyzed his entire life. Mr., (please) “Just say — Yes!”
We are all part of the Commonwealth of Israel, GAL. 3-29 says so ,Paul says we are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood after the order of MElCHIZEDEK.
How I needed this word.
I am struck by a word and a process that God admonishes us to go back to, over and over. While church-world has become deeply invested in high-brow words and thoughts like propitiation, atonement, justification, regeneration, sanctification, dispensationalism and many many more weighty words, God seems to want us to focus on a word less erudite. The word is remember. A simple word and thought, yet so easy to forget. God knows that and that is why He brings it up so much.
Abraham Heschel: “To believe is to remember.”
Hello Skip and Others,
Reading your reflection reminded me of an email exchange I had some time ago with a woman who wrote for another Hebraic web site that has been around for some time. First name only, Jennifer encouraged me to read the stories in the Tanakh as stories about my Biblical family, family of faith. Stories took on life for me with that recommendation. Then, grafted in was new to me, and the fact that Bible authors had Hebrew names was a new piece of info that took a while to become acustomed. I was in my mid forties at the time. I recall reading about “emunah” at the Ancient Hebrew Research Center site as an idea of being supported and that faith was not a cold noun but a warm verb and wow!
David R
Dear Ones,
We have been discussing the exodus with others also so this post is timely Skip. Also note that Lot was taken by the hand and led out of Sodom and Gomorrah. That gives me so much comfort and I hope all receive comfort from re-reading about Lot also.
Some people where we live want to start the regathering. I think that is our Heavenly Father’s department and he will do it when it is appropriate. I can only continue the best I can having a relationship with our Heavenly Father ever listening to His Words and remembering all that He has done.