See post 15G on the meaning of the word צדקה Tzedakah.
See post 15F on the meaning of the word אמונה Emunah.
Through Avraham’s Emunah he fulfilled his life’s mission in complete faithfulness to his duty. Avraham reached the zenith of his life’s mission through his Emunah. He entrusted himself to God completely and unconditionally; he sacrificed himself for a promised future, although he didn’t see its first blossom, and all human calculations ruled out this promised future every coming true. Through his faith he made his greatest contribution toward building this future.
Avraham’s would be commanded to observed 613 mitzvos but he was not. He task was Emunah – to base his life on God, to entrust himself totally to God’s guidance and education. This was a difficult task. Avraham had no previous experience of God’d miraculous providence to give him the confidence to go on. And yet he accomplished his task completely. By this he laid the foundation for the future that would now be revealed to him in the ברית בין הבתרים Covenant Between the Pieces.
Beraishis 15:6
pages 358-359
