Israel Institute of Biblical Studies
Did you know that the words “faith” and “faithful” are different? To “have faith” is to trust God. Faith is a spiritual feeling that resides in your heart. To “be faithful” is to harness this spirit to act for good in the world. Do you know who the Bible points to as a model of faithfulness?
Moses the Faithful Lawgiver
According to the Book of Hebrews, “Moses was faithful in all God’s house as a servant, to testify to the things that would be spoken later” (Heb. 3:5). What does it mean that Moses was faithful? Moses didn’t just lead the Israelites, delivering them from slavery. He faithfully authored the Torah (the first five books of the Bible), accurately writing the Hebrew words revealed to him by the Lord on Mount Sinai.
The Underpinnings of the House
The accuracy of the Hebrew in the Torah is a sign of Moses’ fidelity. These words are not just ancient stories in an ancient language. They “testify to the things that would be spoken later” –providing prophecies which point to the Messiah. The Old Testament is the rock-solid foundation upon which “God’s house,” the grand edifice of the New Testament sits. You cannot fully appreciate the ministry of Jesus without understanding the Hebrew Scriptures.
Appreciate the beauty of “God’s house”
We are told that like Moses before him, “Christ was faithful over God’s house” (Heb. 3:6). Like Moses, Jesus was supremely concerned with fidelity to the Word of God and devoted to authenticity.
The biblical Book of Psalms is full of deeply expressive language that offers us solace in times of trouble. Perhaps no verse better captures the central idea of the Psalms than, “Be still and know that I am God (Psalms 46:10).” These words, however, are only partially understood in their translation. In order to fully understand them, you need to read them in their original Hebrew…
Having Faith，what does it mean in Hebrew？
Faith, in One Word
Of all the uplifting verses in the Book of Psalms, perhaps none better expresses a true life of faith than, “Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations; I will be exalted in the earth!” (Psalms 46:10). The most fascinating words here are “be still” because they are the core of trust. Although the translation “be still” is acceptable, it does not reveal the true meaning.
Hebrew Reveals the True Meaning
In the original Hebrew of this psalm, the word is harpu, from the verb RFH רפה meaning “to let go, to release”. A more literal translation of harpu would be “cause yourselves to let go”. The implication here is significant. Rather than merely being passive, we should actively let go in order to know that God is in control.
Let Go of Translations
This is precisely the same idea expressed by Moses moments before the children of Israel entered the divided waters of the Red Sea, “The Lord will fight for you, and you only have to be silent (Exodus 14:14).” Be Still and Have Faith!!
