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Despite the fact that Torah plainly describes Noach as אִישׁ צַדִּיק / ish tzaddik: "a righteous man," "blameless in his generation" (תָּמִים הָיָה בְּדרתָיו), and a man who "walked with God" (אֶת־הָאֱלהִים הִתְהַלֶּךְ־נחַ), Jewish tradition takes a somewhat ambiguous view of him, especially when he's compared to Abraham, the father of the Jewish people... In the Midrash Tanchuma (מדרש תנחומא), for example, it is said that Noach was righteous in his generation -- though he would not be so regarded in other generations. In other words, Noah was "relatively righteous" compared to the world at large, at least according to sages like Rashi, Maimonides, etc. However such an assessment is surely unfair, lashon ha'ra, and even chillul HaShem. After all, is not Noah perhaps one of the greatest examples of a person of faith given in the Torah? He was a descendant of the godly line of Seth who lived in a world filled with rampant and unbridled wickedness (Gen. 6:5), and yet he found grace in the eyes of the LORD (מָצָא חֵן בְּעֵינֵי יְהוָה) because of his faith as he walked with God (Gen. 6:8-9). Indeed the very first time the word "grace" (חֵן) appears in the Torah concerns Noah: "Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD" -- a phrase later ascribed to Moses himself (Exod. 33:12,17).
Hebrew Lesson:
Genesis 6:8 Hebrew reading (click):
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Moreover the New Testament affirms Noah's greatness as a tzaddik: "By faith Noah, when he was warned about things not yet seen, with reverent regard constructed an ark for the deliverance of his family. Through faith he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith" (Heb. 11:7). Noah was a "preacher of righteousness" (δικαιοσύνης κήρυκα) who faithfully completed the incredible task of constructing an enormous ark (תֵּבָה) to deliver life from God's judgment (2 Pet. 2:5).
Hebrew Lesson:
Genesis 6:9b Hebrew reading (click):
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Now an "ark" is not a ship that has a rudder but a box-shaped vessel simply designed to rise above the deluge of the flood (מַבּוּל) to be carried by God's providence. Spiritually understood, then, an "ark" represents a vessel completely surrendered to God's care, and the "Torah of the Ark" (תּוֹרַת הַתֵּבָה) teaches that we must cast ourselves upon the waters of the Father's great mercy (אֲבִי הָרַחֲמִים) and completely trust that He will guide our passage through the storms of this life (1 Pet. 5:7). Noah trusted in the unseen love and care of his Heavenly Father, despite circumstances that were utterly dreadful... Like all the other tzaddikim, Noah "walked by faith, not by sight" (2 Cor. 5:7) while looking forward to a "new heavens and earth" (2 Pet. 3:11-15). Yes, father Abraham was a marvelous tzaddik who was greatly tested when he offered his beloved son of promise, trusting in the LORD's heart and good will to rectify all things, but we should not underestimate the greatness of Noah's faith, as he labored for over 100 years building the ark without any physical evidence that a cataclysm would come. Moreover, it would do well for the rabbis to celebrate Noah's example and to remember that Abraham himself owes his life to Noah's obedience of faith, since Abraham is a direct descendant from Noah through his son Shem (Gen. 11:10-32).
The story of Noah reminds us that the great Day of the Lord (יוֹם־יְהוָה הַגָּדוֹל) will surely come (2 Pet. 3:10) and indeed is drawing near (Zeph. 1:14). Yeshua himself forewarned that the spiritual condition of the world would be one of anarchy and moral chaos wherein the wickedness of humanity would be great, and that "every design of the thoughts of people's minds would be full of evil continually" (Gen. 6:5). As in the days of Noah, in the midst of worldwide corruption, our Messiah will return in final judgment (Matt. 24:37-38; Luke 17:26-27). Maranatha - Even so, come Yeshua Adoneinu...
Hebrew Lesson:
Zephaniah 1:14a Hebrew reading (click):
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