If God is essentially unknowable, then how do we know that He is a merciful God? Given the history of the 20th century, this belief is surely counter-intuitive. Is it based on “Trust” or “faith”? If so, what is the basis of the trust?
On the one hand, you’re correct — how could one ever know conclusively that God is, intrinsically, merciful (or, for that matter, that He is cruel)? But the same can be said for worldly events — Can a human being know enough of a given event’s vastly complex context to confidently deem it cruel (or kind)? So, to a degree, God is unknowable.
In fact, it could be that we’re not even expected to try to know Him. Rabbi S.R. Hirsch (19th Century thinker from Frankfurt, Germany) suggests that, from a Torah perspective, man’s mission on this earth is not to strive to see God, but to learn to see the world through God’s eyes. Let’s become Godly (compassionate, honest, disciplined etc.,) and leave the theology for others.
But your question “…what is the basis of the trust…â€? does deserve an answer. Whatever a Jew knows about his God is learned from the revealed Torah. The authenticity of that knowledge stands or falls on the authenticity of that revelation. It either happened or did not. But if there really was a revelation at Mount Sinai, then there’s a great deal of wisdom waiting to be received.
If you like, we could discuss the issue of verifying the revelation separately, or you could read a strongly presented case here.
In any case, I commend you for asking these questions and I hope that these words have been useful. If you think I can be of any help, please let me know.
With best regards,
Rabbi Boruch Clinton