עברית
Parashat Beshalach
The Power of Faith and “Amen”: Lessons from the Splitting of the Sea
How fear of God, belief, and a single word, reveal the foundation of the Torah and unlock spiritual reward in this world and the next
- Amitai Chania
- | Updated
(Photo: shutterstock)A great miracle occurred and the Red Sea split in two. The people of Israel witnessed Egypt defeated on the shore: “And Israel saw the great hand that the Lord had inflicted upon Egypt, and the people feared the Lord, and they believed in the Lord and in Moshe His servant” (Shemot 14:31).
Fear and Faith: The Foundation of Everything
Rabbeinu Bachya focuses on two key words in this verse: “they feared” and “they believed.” He explains that fear of God and faith are the foundation of the entire Torah.
Quoting Rabbeinu Chananel, he teaches that faith is made up of four essential components:
Faith in God.
Faith in the prophets — that we are obligated to heed their words.
Faith in the World to Come — that there is a future world and reward prepared for the righteous.
Faith in the coming of redemption.
The Power of True Belief
A person who truly believes in these four principles is granted extraordinary rewards. As the Torah says about Avraham, the root of faith: “And he believed in the Lord, and He considered it righteousness” (Bereishit 15).
Such a person merits entry into the Garden of Eden, as it says: “Open the gates, that a righteous nation, keeper of faith, may enter” (Yeshayahu 26). He also merits eternal life, as it says: “The righteous shall live by his faith” (Chavakuk 2).
In contrast, one who lacks faith is described in harsh terms: “He does not believe that he will return from darkness… he is destined for the sword” (Iyov 15). Such a person does not merit redemption and does not attain true life.
Why Saying “Amen” Matters
Rabbeinu Bachya continues by explaining the deep connection between faith and the response “Amen.”
Since faith is the foundation of the entire Torah, the Sages established that we respond “Amen” to blessings. The word “Amen” is rooted in the concept of faith and affirmation, as it expresses acceptance and agreement with what has been said.
For this reason, the Sages taught: “Greater is the one who answers Amen than the one who recites the blessing.”
Through a simple word, a person affirms faith, and connects to one of the deepest foundations of spiritual life.
