3146. 'And gave straw and fodder to the camels' means instruction in truths and goods. This is clear from the meaning of 'straw' as the truths present in the natural man, and from the meaning of 'fodder' as the goods there, dealt with above in 3114. Since these things are meant by 'straw and fodder' it therefore follows that 'giving straw and fodder' is giving instruction in truths and goods. The purpose of that freedom is this: Possessing the affection for truth and being stirred by that affection, a person may become instructed in such a way that truths are implanted deep within him - within the spiritual man or the soul - where they are joined to good, as may be seen from what has been shown regarding freedom in 2870-2893.

[2] This is the way in which faith - that is, truth which is the truth of faith made to take root; and unless it is coupled to good in the rational the truth of faith never receives any life, nor does any fruit develop from it. For everything called the fruit of faith is the fruit of that good which is the good of love and charity coming by way of truth which is the truth of faith. Unless spiritual warmth, which is the good of love, is actively present in spiritual light, which is the truth of faith, man would be like ground frozen stiff, as in wintertime, when nothing grows, let alone bears any fruit. For just as light devoid of warmth is totally unproductive, so is faith devoid of love.

17. These approximate or general explanations of the preceding words, not being presented in a continuous series, will appear disconnected; and this must be the case when each word or phrase is expounded separately, and the internal sense is immediately joined to the literal sense, which is diverse from it, and each is viewed by itself. But nevertheless, with angels, who are in the internal sense, this is not so. They do not see the sense of the letter, nor do they know anything about it; they see only the internal sense; and because they see this in the light of heaven, they see it in such a series and connection, and also in such abundance and thence in such wisdom, as cannot be expressed and described in human words. The ideas of angels, which are spiritual, also conjoin all things in a wonderful manner, and comprehend more than man can include or express in his ideas, which are natural, even as to a thousandth part thereof.