(Malachi 1:2) In this week's parashah, Rashi (1:1) writes, "Hashem counted [Yaakov's descendants] in their lifetime, and He counted them again after their deaths, להודיע, to make known חבתן המקום לפני that they are beloved before Hashem..."
The Sfas Emes (ב"תרל) asks about the word להודיע, "to make known to whom?" He answers that the Jewish nation itself needs to know that Hashem loves them. Hashem says, "Do you see that I'm counting you again and again? I do so, so that you should know how much I love you."
The Sfas Emes (ג"תרס וארא) explains, "Just as we are obligated to believe in Hakadosh Baruch Hu, even if we don't always understand His ways, so too, we must believe in Bnei Yisrael, even when they appear black. As it states (Shir HaShirim 1:5) שחורה ונאוה אני , 'I am black, but I am beautiful.'"
Similarly, Reb Tzaddok HaKohen (Tzikdas HaTzaddik 154) writes, "Just as one must believe in Hashem, so must one believe in himself. This means he must believe that Hashem is interested in him (עמו עסק ה"להקב שיש). He must believe that his neshamah comes from the source of life, Hashem yisbarch, and Hashem yisbarach derives pleasure when he performs His will, as it states עבדו ובמשה 'בה ויאמינו, 'And they believed in Hashem and in Moshe, His servant.'" Moshe represents all Yidden.
