Emunah of the servant brings geulah

במדרש עבד משכיל ימשול כו'.

In the Midrash: "A wise servant will rule…" (Mishlei 17:2).

The Sefas Emes opens with the Midrash's verse about the discerning servant who ultimately gains mastery.

והוא לחזק ידינו בגלות שכמעט נסתר מאתנו דרך הבנים ומ"מ אם נעבוד אותו ית' באמת בגלות ובאמונה.

And this comes to strengthen our hands in galus, where the "way of sons" is almost hidden from us — yet nevertheless, if we serve Him, may He be blessed, in truth and in emunah while in galus.

In exile we have largely lost the open, intimate "way of sons" before Hashem. The pasuk encourages us: even so, by serving Him sincerely and with faith from within the galus.

נזכה לצאת מארור לברוך כדאיתא בעבד אברהם.

We will merit to go out "from cursed to blessed," as is found regarding the servant of Avraham (Eliezer).

Like Eliezer — who was descended from the cursed Canaan yet rose to be called "baruch" (blessed) — faithful avodah lifts us from a cursed state to a blessed one.

ועוד ימשול בבן כתיב.

Furthermore, it is written, "he will rule among (or over) sons."

The pasuk adds that this discerning servant will even take a ruling place among the sons themselves.

כי עתיד הגאולה להיות על ידי דורות השפלים בבחי' עבד דוקא והוא ע"י אמונה כמ"ש בא חבקוק והעמידן על א' וצדיק באמונתו יחי'.

For the future geulah is destined to come specifically through the lowly generations, in the aspect of "servant" — and this is through emunah, as it is said: "Chavakuk came and stood them all upon one [principle]: 'and the tzaddik shall live by his emunah'" (Makkos 24a; Chavakuk 2:4).

The final redemption will come precisely through the humble later generations, who serve as "servants" rather than open "sons." Their strength is emunah — the single foundation upon which Chavakuk rested all the mitzvos: the tzaddik lives by his faith.

כי ישראל מאמינים בני מאמינים כי באמת הוא דבר פלא.

For Bnei Yisrael are "believers, the children of believers," for in truth it is a wondrous thing.

The very capacity of the Jewish people to keep believing is itself a marvel — emunah is woven into their nature, inherited from their forebears.

התחזקות אמונת בני ישראל בגלות.

The strengthening of the emunah of Bnei Yisrael in galus.

That Bnei Yisrael's faith should grow stronger precisely amid the darkness of exile is the wonder being praised.

והיא מנטיעות אבותינו כמ"ש בני מאמינים ובזה יהי' הגאולה בב"א:

And it stems from the plantings of our forefathers, as it says "the children of believers," and through this the geulah will come, speedily in our days, amen.

This enduring faith was implanted in us by the Avos. Drawing on that inheritance, Bnei Yisrael's emunah in galus is what will ultimately bring the redemption.

Summary: In galus the open "way of sons" is hidden, and we serve Hashem instead in the lowly aspect of "servant." Yet the "wise servant" rises from cursed to blessed and even rules among sons — for the future geulah will come specifically through the humble later generations, by the power of emunah. Bnei Yisrael are believers, children of believers; this faith, planted by the Avos and strengthened in exile, is what will bring the redemption.