We may question the use of the word emunah, “faith”, regarding belief in Hashem. Is it not one of the most basic axioms that a world such as ours could not have come into existence and continue to endure without a supreme Creator and Ruler? This is especially obvious when one notes the intricacies of human development. It is not even remotely possible for man to have appeared on earth without any form of Divine intervention.
The Rambam cites the above pasuk as the proof text for the knowledge that there is a supreme Creator who is the very first and last. This Creator is the only source of all creation, and He constantly guides this world. Faith is a term which indicates agnosticism or ambiguity. There should be nothing unclear about the existence of Hashem! We should, therefore, not need faith in order to accept Hashem’s supremacy over the universe. There is, however, an area of knowledge which is beyond a human being’s limited comprehension. At this point one accedes to “emunah” – faith. Man can comprehend and master only that which his mind can grasp. He cannot even begin to understand Hashem’s attributes and actions. Faith is the cornerstone of man’s acceptance of these actions, even when they are acknowledged to be beyond his comprehension.
