Avraham’s whole life had been lived by his faith. Through the name of God which he expressed above, declaring God as merciful even when acting with strict justice, he showed his complete faith in God.
אמונה is the essence of Judaism and it is not aptly translated as “faith.” Belief is an act of the mind and sometimes only an opinion. Every believer thinks his beliefs are true. (see more in the commentary) … Religion has thus become divorced from life and converted into a catechism of doctrines, a system of faith-slogans, required for admission to the hereafter.
More correctly, אמונה בשם means to rely upon God, in theory and in practice. To take strength from Him and to follow Him. (see commentary for proofs of this.)
One who declares Amen after a bracha not only declares the truth of the statement of the bracha but also dedicates himself to this truth as a guide for his conduct.
(See Collected Writings Vol. 1, pages 183-209 for a detailed essay on Judaism’s attitude toward belief, religion, theology and ritual.)
Avraham had just been shown the heaven and the stars as the vantage point to view God’s guidance of the Jewish people. God told Avraham, “so shall be your seed.” Israel’s creation and existence will depend directly on God, against all natural calculations. And Avraham had long been living with faith in God, translated into the way he lived his life. Just as his descendants will depend on God alone, so did Avraham precede them with this אמונה and illuminate the way for them.
Beraishis 15:6
pages 355-357
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