What is to Walk with Elohim?
In the Scripture, there are two righteous men about whom it was said that they walked with Elohim: Chanoch (Enoch) in Gen_5:24 and Noach in Gen_6:9. However, when it was said that they walked with Elohim, how does it translate to us? What is to walk with Elohim? This will be the subject of our study.
Albert Einstein said that if you cannot explain something simply, you do not understand it very well.
King James’ version of the Bible reads the Letter to the Hebrews, as follows,
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good report. (Heb 11:1-2 KJV)
However, in our study “What is to Walk with Elohim?”, we will use an old Hebrew text, HaEgeret El HaEv’rim, The Letter to the Hebrews, according to the Muster Hebrew text, as translated by James Scott Trimm, Institute for Nazarene Jewish Studies, pages 36-41.
Behold, faith is the principle of things hoped for and the appearance of the illuminated things that are not seen, which by works the ancients found a testimony. (Heb 11:1-2 HRV)
Evidently, the which in verse 2 is “faith” in verse 1. In other words, what Shaul (Paul) is teaching is that the “work of faith” (see also the same expression in 1Th_1:3 and 2Th_1:11) is a principle thing the ancients hoped for and by it they found evidence for their devotion. However, what exactly is faith Shaul is speaking of? What is to walk with Elohim and have faith in Him?
Therefore, to better understand the apostle’s teaching, the reader is asked to visualize him/herself in a situation like this. Imagine you are in complete darkness; so thick darkness that you can even feel it. Then, you hear the voice of YHVH saying to you,
“Walk!”
“But, Lord, you say, I see nothing in this darkness! How can I walk?
“Walk! Believe Me!”, says YHVH.
You start walking timidly, not sure where your next step will fall into. As you are walking, you hear His voice again.
“Turn to the right!”
“But, Lord, I am scared. I don’t even know where I’m going to.”
“I know”, says YHVH, “Have faith in Me!”
You are obeying Him and keep on walking. As you are walking, you hear His voice again.
“Now, walk faster!”
“But, Lord …!?”
“Do you have faith in Me?”
“Yes, my Lord, I do, but … I am scared. I can’t see”.
“If you do have faith in Me, walk faster! Trust Me!”
As you are walking faster, you start hearing a noise of turbulent waters, which makes you even more worried since you do not even know where the noise is coming from. But, you keep on walking.
“Now, run!”, commands YHVH. And you are running.
And you are running faster and faster, as He keeps on directing you. You do not know where you are running for. Neither do you know why. You do not even know whether you can get up, if you fall, but you keep on running. You keep on following His directions.
From this simple example, we see that to walk with Elohim is to follow YHVH’s directions, to do what He has told us to do.
By a work of the faith, we understand that things which are seen were made of things which are not seen. (Heb 11:3) By a work of the faith, Abel offered a better sacrifice than Kayin, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous. (Heb 11:4) By a work of the faith, Enoch had the evidence, that he pleased YHVH, because without faith it is impossible to please Him. (Heb 11:5-6) By a work of the faith, Noach, made the ark. (Heb 11:7)
By a work of the faith, Avraham obeyed and not knowing where he was going, left his land to sojourn in a strange land. (Heb 11:8-10) By a work of the faith, Sarah conceived and delivered Yitschak, because she was faithful to whom who had promised. (Heb 11:11)
These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but embraced them. (Heb 11:13)
By a work of the faith Avraham, offered up Yitschak (Heb 11:17-18), accounting that Elohim was able to raise him up. (Heb 11:19) By a work of the faith, Yitschak blessed Ya’akov. (Heb 11:20) By a work of the faith, Ya’akov adopted the sons of Yoseph. (Heb 11:21) By a work of the faith Yoseph, commanded his brothers concerning his bones. (Heb 11:22)
By a work of the faith, Mosheh was hidden three months. (Heb 11:23) By a work of the faith, Mosheh, refused to be called of Pharaoh and suffered affliction with his people. (Heb 11:24-25) And by a work of the faith, he left Egypt, not fearing the wrath of Pharaoh. (Heb 11:27) And through faith he kept the Passover. (Heb 11:28) By a work of the faith, Israel passed through the Red Sea. (Heb 11:29)
By a work of the faith, the walls of Yericho fell down. (Heb 11:30) By a work of the faith, Rahav did not perish with them that did not believe. (Heb 11:31) And Gedeon, Barak, Samson, Yephthae, David, and Samuel, and all the prophets, who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness and obtained promises. (Heb 11:32-33)
This is faith. This is the faith Apostle Shaul teaches, because, as we walked with Elohim in the darkness, we walked by faith having followed His directions, not by sight (2Co 5:7), having hoped for things that are not seen, which by obedience we found a testimony (Heb 11:1-2).
Because not the hearers of the Instruction (that is Torah) are just before YHVH, but the doers of the Torah will be justified, as the apostle has said in Rom 2:13. Read more concerning how Paul has been extremely misunderstood in the article “Misunderstanding Paul“.
And indeed, if you walk in His statutes and guard His commands, and will do them, then we will receive the promise and fruits of our labor (see Lev 26:3).
And as Yeshua the Messiah has given us parables of the good and bad servants, we do YHVH’s commands, because this is what a good servant is expected to do.
Blessed is that servant whom his master, having come, shall find so doing. Truly, I say to you that he shall set him over all his possessions. (Mat 24:46-47)
In conclusion, Einstein also said, “If there’s a will, there is a way”. And indeed, if there is a will to obey the Highest, there must be a way to follow His Instruction (Torah) how to walk with Elohim, too. Because, His way is not heavy, nor is it hard.
With that being said, we see that faith is not a thought or mental experience. Faith is not even to believe that something or someone exists.
Faith is something we do; we do, as we walk with Elohim.
And what is this that we need to do? For more understanding of faith, refer to the article “What is Faith in the Hebraic mindset?“
Navah
May we merit seeing the coming of our Mashiach speedily in our days.