(Inspired by and based mostly on Rav Rosenfeld's shiur on Gemara Makos)
Although fulfilling all 613 mitzvot is ultimately for our eternal benefit, our sages realized the enormity and (near) impossibility of completing this daunting task. To encourage us to focus on essential and attainable goals, several abridgments were offered - e.g. King David in chapter 15 of Tehilim was the first who encapsulated the mitzvot into 11 fundamental principles - with the final word on the subject coming from the prophet Havakuk who got it down to one; Emunah - Tsadik Be'emunoso Yichyeh (A righteous person will live by his faith).
Why specifically was Havakuk the one to say this? Who was Havakuk? How can everything be contained in this?
Havakuk was the boy born to the previously-barren hostess of Elisha Hanavi who implored Heaven to bless her in appreciation for her extreme kindness. When the child suddenly died at a young age, it was his mother's adamant faith in the Tzadik that was the catalyst through which Elisha Hanavi was able to bing the boy back to life.
BTW - This child had to "die" and come back, since he was born with a female/gevurah (Havakuk is gematriya Gevurah) soul that had to be replaced with a male/kindness soul in order for him to lead a productive life (remember this for later).
Since it was Emunah that ultimately gave him life, it was appropriate for Havakuk to bring this teaching of the importance of Emunah to the world.
How could the whole Torah be contained in Emunah?
We know Hashem gave us the Torah, but we also say, Torah Tzivah Lanu Moshe. The word Torah is gematriya 611, which is the number of mitzvot we learnt from Moshe Rabenu. The first 2 (of the 10 commandments), Anochi and Lo Yihiyeh Lecha - which is THE epitome of Emunah - were said to us directly by Hashem, (or more accurately to quote chazal, M'pi haGevurah) and have equal weight and significance to the rest of the Torah (proof of this is beyond the scope of this sicha). These 2 mitzvot were miraculously transmitted to us in one simultaneous statement. This was the source for Havakuk consolidating the entire Torah into one all-encompassing mitzvah
Let's tie this in to our Parsha
While Avraham Avenu is classically known as being the symbol of kindness, he most assuredly was the world's first and foremost proponent of Emunah. In fact, when Hashem officially changed his name to Avraham, the posuk says, "ki Av Hamon Goyim..." = Father of a multitude of nations, How was he going to impact so many people? By instilling belief in Hashem. Av Hamon אב המון are the letters באמונה
This blessing by Hashem preceded the story leading up to the birth of Yitzchak Avenu (the perennial symbol of Gevurah) who was most certainly destined to be the main recipient and next standard bearer of Emunah. He spent 37 years gleaning Emunah from his father
Chazal teach us that Yitzchak Avenu also was born with a female/gevurah soul (see I told you to remember this), that needed to be exchanged for a male/kindness one. This was one of the reasons for the Akeida, where we learned that at the moment Avraham Avenu's raised sword was about to slaughter Yitzchak, in anticipation of his imminent death, Yitzchak's old soul left and was replaced with his rightful male soul.
Therefore It was only due to Yitzchak Avenu's unquestioning faith in the Tzadik of his generation, Avraham, that enabled him to indeed live the life he was destined to lead.
Tzadik B'emunaso Yichyeh can be interpreted both actively and reflectively; i.e. a Tzadik will live via his faith and one who believes in the Tzadik will live.
May we merit having solid faith in Hashem and his Tzadikim and thereby truly and fully live in this world and the next.
Apologies for being so long...Good Shabbos
P.S. - This lesson was taught to us by Rav Zvi Aryeh Rosenfeld צדיק באמונתו יחיה
P.P.S - One final thought as to possibly why davka these 2 individuals were first born with female souls. It might be attributed to the fact that it was specifically their mother's dominant desire to have children that could have influenced their initial gender
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