NOTES for Gen 15:6

And yet: what is righteousness? The observance of the Torah, the commandments given by God? Yes, of course. It is in particular like this that would have answered any Jewish believer; any descendant of Abraham to the question asked by us. But how then Abraham himself?

What does his righteousness consist of, the righteousness of a man who lived before the Torah and the commandments were revealed by God to His people? The author of the Pentateuch answers us: his righteousness consisted of the fact that he believed in God, trusted Him and followed Him. It is here, as seen, the base of any righteousness.

The observance of Torah, the fulfillment of commandments is only consequence; on the base of righteousness, as seen, are faithfulness and trust in God. And it is probably no coincidence. In fact, even the righteous men of the Old Testament, having lived long time before Paul, understood that the fallen man has no strength to go through the way of righteousness.

Only God Himself can lead the righteous on this way, and lead exactly by taking him by the hand, lead in spite of all failures and falls. And in order to go like that, trust is particularly very necessary, an absolute and unconditional trust. Otherwise, man will never have with God those relationships, which will make possible for him the way of righteousness.