Focus: Restful Faith

Text: Isa.51:5

"My righteousness is near; my salvation is gone forth, and mine arms shall judge the people; the isles shall wait upon me, and on mine arm shall they trust."

There are several words in the Hebrew for faith, but the basic one is 'âman, and it is differently translated in the King James Version. The Hebrew word 'âman is a verb, not a noun, and so it is an action word. Aman implies doing something that is in agreement with what you believe. Believing in God means doing things and living in such a way that proves that you believe in God. 

You don't believe in God and then behave like a devil. Aman comes out in English as amen, and our Lord Jesus Christ reveals Himself to John as "the Amen." In other words, He is faith embodied or enfleshed. He is faith personified, and our faith is in Him. There is no amen without God. Christ is the 'Amen' - the finality of divine revelation, and in Him the promises of God are affirmed, confirmed, and realized. Faith is meant to rest in God and on His word.

Faith implies that God is eternally and absolutely dependable. In Num.11:12, 'âman is translated as "nursing father." A child is solely dependent on his parents for his care and for his needs. He looks up to and depends on them at all times. That's exactly what faith does; it relies totally on God for all it needs. 

Faith rests and relies absolutely on God and His word. God's word is final even as God Himself is able and reliable.

Faith kills anxiety and keeps fear out. Faith has no place for worry, doubts or unbelief.

Faith is mainly related to God and His word. Faith rests on the:

*Faithfulness of God

*Ability of God

*Infallibility and Immutability of God

*Truthfulness of God

*Holiness of God

Part of our text says that "the isles shall WAIT upon me, and on mine arm shall they TRUST." The word 'wait' is qâvâh in the Hebrew, while the word 'trust' is yâchal. They are words that describe different nuances of faith. The first speaks of threads twisted together into a very strong rope, which is the rope of hope. We expectantly wait on God. God is our hope, and faith is the rope by which we have tied or twisted ourselves together to God our hope.

The second word speaks of patient hope. Faith patiently holds on for what's coming. It longs and hopes for the future God has promised us. It clings to the promises of God and rests on His infallibility and immutability, which are indeed rooted in His integrity.

When Mary said, "Lord, let it be to me according to your word," she was simply and rightly resting on God's word. On the bedrock of God's word faith rests.

Child of God, lean on God! Stop fidgeting. Stop fretting. Stop killing yourself with worry and agitation. Be still and know that God is God. Stand firm on the solid and sure foundation of God's word. Rest in the Lord's arms - His arms of strength.

by Bishop Moses E. Peter