One Torah For All

One Torah shall be to him that is home-born, and unto the stranger that sojourneth among you.
Exodus 12:49

Crisis of Faith
The Human Condition Series

Matithyah 26:75
And Kepha remembered the word which Yeshua had said, “Before the cock crows, you shall deny Me three times.” And he went out, and wept bitterly.

It seems that every single person at some point in their life will face some kind of crisis of faith in which he will question his faith. Some will face this crisis several times in a lifetime. Still others will face it repeatedly and often. This much we can say with certainty, whatever the crisis, no matter how often one faces a crisis, it is designed and custom tailored by our loving heavenly Father for each individual to help their faith be stronger, to grow and mature.

1st Corinthians 10:13
There is no temptation which has overtaken you but such as is common to man; but Elohim is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted above what you are able to bear; but will with the temptation will provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.

One of those temptations which is common to man is a crisis of faith, in which, he shall be tempted to give up his faith. However, even before such a crisis of faith comes upon a person, our loving heavenly Father has already provided the way to make it through such a crisis and still have one’s faith intact.

Yochanan (John) 14:6
Yeshua says unto him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes unto the Father, but by me.”

Yeshua is the way to have victory in such a crisis of faith. One may well ask, “How can Yeshua be the answer when He is the question?” To help us discover the answer to this one needs to understand why a crisis of faith comes in the first place. Please prayerfully consider this next passage.

Ivrim (Hebrews) 12:2
Fixing our eyes on Yeshua the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of Elohim.

One of the main causes which brings about a crisis of faith is when one loses his focus. That is, one begins looking somewhere other than to Yeshua. Let us consider Kepha (Peter) and one of his crises of faith he experienced which is recorded for our instruction.

Matithyah (Matthew) 14:29-31
29 And He said, “Come.” And Kepha got out of the boat, and walked upon the waters to come to Yeshua.
30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried out, saying, “Master, save me.”
31 And immediately Yeshua stretched forth His hand, and took hold of him, and says unto him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?”

Had Kepha not looked at the turmoil around him, that is, the wind and the waves, he would never have sank into the water. Likewise, it is when we take our eyes off of Yeshua and look at all that which is around us, we too sink into the waters of doubt.

Marqos (Mark) 9:24
Straightway the father of the child cried out, and said, “I believe; You help my unbelief.”

Any honest question of faith can and will be sufficiently answered by the Almighty through His Spirit, our Teacher. However, if one looks to man to answer such doubts it is likely the doubt will only be strengthened rather than answered.

Yochanan (John) 16:13
“However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He shall guide you into all the truth; for He shall not speak from Himself; but whatsoever things He shall hear, these shall He speak; and He shall declare unto you the things that are to come.”

Even Yeshua experienced a crisis of faith as He hung dying upon the cross.

Marqos (Mark) 15:34
And at the ninth hour Yeshua cried with a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?” which is, being interpreted, “My El, my El, why have You forsaken Me?”

Some may disagree that this was indeed a crisis of faith. However, please consider this next passage as well.

Ivrim (Hebrews) 4:15
For we have not a high priest that cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but one that has been in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

At some point in His life, Yeshua faced a serious crisis of faith. This seems as likely as any that what is recorded here as He hung upon that cross was indeed such a crisis of faith. However, He did not give in to the temptation of give up His faith. Thus, He knows exactly how to help us in our moment of need. He knows how to strengthen us to be able to hold on to our faith.

Once this has happened, that is, one has faced his crisis of faith and has overcome it, then, at some point he can turn and help his brethren in their own crises of faith.

Shabbat Shalom
Zerubbabel ben Emunah
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