The Hebrew word for faith is "emunah", which can be translated as "fidelity." However, it is not fidelity to tradition or commands, but an inner direction. From this conception the word is derived that I have already used for faith here, and that is "adherence". A man who has faith clings to God in his heart. He looks at things the way Gad does and walks in His ways. It is not just a belief in something (though also) and it is not just a belief in eternal life according to Romans 10:9 (though also). But in the broadest sense of the word, it is a permanent inner setting - an attachment to God.

We say that God is faithful, and so does the Scripture. But faithful to whom or what? If we have not gone through the Jacob-like struggle of faith, it will (from our point of view) seem to us that sometimes He is not - since He does not play according to our sheet music. However, if we understand the meaning of God's faithfulness, we will find that God is faithful to His character.