It says the people "saw" Y-H-V-H, and that they had "faith" in Y-H-V-H. It could have simply said that they saw and had faith in Y-H-V-H.
Some translate the word "EMUNAH," as 'trust.' Others translate it as 'faith.' In fact, in Hebrew, the word for trust is actually 'BITACHON.' The main word for 'faith,' as indicated in this verse is "EMUNAH." While the meanings of the two words do have some commonality, they are still two distinctly different matters.
When faced with a problem, one has faith that somehow, no matter the odds or laws of probability, the problem will be overcome. When someone has complete trust in something, it is based on the fact that the expected outcome is within realistic realm of expectation. The word that is used here is "EMUNAH - FAITH."
Now it is imperative for us to understand the order of the verse. If you "SEE" something you obviously do not have to have blind faith in relationship to it. So why does it say that the people first "saw" Y-H-V-H and then they had "faith" in Y-H-V-H?
The answer is that there are two levels of Y-H-V-H. This expression of the Creator reflects Mercy. In Exodus 34:6, we find that the name Y-H-V-H is mentioned twice. The first time it indicates mercy shown to people before they have sinned. The second time it refers to mercy shown to a person after he/she has sinned and atoned for that sin.
That distinction does not apply in Exodus 14:31. Here it reflects a deeper aspect of two levels of Y-H-V-H. The lower level is 'seeing' Y-H-V-H. The higher level is the ability to have indisputable faith in Y-H-V-H. The lower level brings about the existence of worlds and realms. The higher level forms the will and thought of the Creator, without the need to create anything.
Both levels are reflected in the names and shapes of the letters. The letter 'yood,' which looks like a dot, reflects the first point in the creative process. For the lower level, it takes all the information and compresses it into a simple dot form. For the higher level, the dot conceals the origin as it forms a new energy.
Next comes the letter 'hey.' The 'hey' expands the dot, drawing it out and downward, which gives it developing expression, reflecting the creative progression. In the lower level it happens in order to create something else. In the higher level it is to develop the will and thought of the Creator. In both cases the letter 'hey' has a detached dot in the opposite corner from the expansion. The reason for this is because this is the definition for the inner and outer expressions of the Y-H-V-H.
The third letter, the 'vov,' looks like a dot with a line that extends downward. This reflects the life force from the dot being drawn to give life to a new subject. The fourth letter is 'hey.' This reflects the expansion of the life force that can now be absorbed by the recipient. Thus while the first two levels, the 'yood' and the 'hey' reflect the internal aspects of the name, the last two letters, the 'vov' and the 'hey' reflect the external aspects of the name.
It is with these four letters that we express the idea of how creation happened and continues to happen. It is though the flow represented in the four letters that we can ultimately feel an identity that defines things as being separate entities from the Source of Life.
(Psalms 148:5) "PRAISE THE NAME OF Y-H-V-H, FOR HE MADE THE CONNECTION AND THEY WERE BROUGHT FORTH - CREATED." The idea of creation through a Life Force that is contracting is the level of the first Y-H-V-H in Exodus 34:6. The second Y-H-V-H of the verse is about the will and thought that precedes that desire. It is the will of the Creator to have a lower level of Y-H-V-H. In the terminology of the Zohar and Eitz Chaim; "WHEN IT ENTERED HIS SIMPLE WILL TO FORM AND BRING FORTH WORLDS."
In Kabbalah terminology the higher level is known as "KESSER ELYON,"-'SUPERNAL CROWN' in the order of the chain of events that extend life force to various frequencies. It is also called "ALMO DEISKASIYO - CONCEALED WORLD," since it does not become revealed like the lower worlds or frequencies. The lower name Y-H-V-H is the Divinity that creates worlds, while the higher name of Y-H-V-H is the will frequency, and is not seen nor is it revealed.
When Pharoah said (in Exodus 5:2) "WHO IS Y-H-V-H THAT I SHOULD LISTEN TO HIS VOICE?" he was referring to the higher concealed level and not the lower revealed level.
(Exodus 14:31) "AND ISRAEL SAW THE GREAT HAND THAT Y-H-V-H DID IN EGYPT." The Hebrew letter that indicates the word "IN," also means "through." At the time of the Redemption the Israelites came to recognize the higher frequency of Y-H-V-H. They realized that they can awaken that level and bring it forth through the limitations and trials and limitations that we have in life. This is reflected in the name "MITZRAYIM - EGYPT." The word "mitzar," means 'boundary,' or 'enclosure,' whether physical, emotional, mental or spiritual.
The higher level of Y-H-V-H cannot be comprehended by the human mind. It is called "darkness," and is higher than "light" that people speak of. In creation, the level of darkness came first, before the light.
That which the Torah says not to do, called mitzvas lo-tsaseh, gives us a higher connection with the Source of Life than those things that we are told TO do, mitzvas asseh. In other words we have a connection with the Source of Life more so through our INaction than through our Action. Our actions here cause the creation of a corresponding energy and connection on a spiritual level.
The seeing of the BIG HAND-YAD HAGDOLAH refers to the splitting of the sea. There is a discussion about exactly how the land became dry. Kabbalah explains that the sea itself became dry. Sea refers to the hidden realm, the higher level of Y-H-V-H. Dry land refers to the revealed realm, the lower level of Y-H-V-H. In other words the hidden realm became revealed.
When the Israelites saw that the sea was moved aside to reveal everything under it, they then believed that it was possible to reveal that which is concealed by the higher level of Y-H-V-H. Even though they did not see what was happening in the spiritual realm, they knew that the splitting of the sea was a reflection of it. They also understood that such an occurrence could happen again in the future. This is why the verse first says "they saw," and then "they believed."
At this time in our existence we have to make many choices. We can choose to believe that whatever humanity wants us to see as the truth is the truth. Or we can understand from the Torah that we are blessed with the gift of revealing the hidden miracles that can free us from the societal pressures to cave into lies and deception. Once we decide to see and proclaim the truth in the name of Y-H-V-H we will be able to use this time of darkness to bring new light and truth to the world.
