Genesis

בייה

Genesis 7 Sensitivity

Our Torah review is in the loving memory of Mr. Steven Reynolds, Mr. Billy Bond, Mr. Gary Lee Belk and Mr. Donald Wayne Belk. May their memory be for good.

In the previous confabulation regarding Adam, Cain, Abel, and Seth, I mentioned the tragic results of Adam’s 130-year separation from Eve. Our Earth was populated by Cain’s descendants, who became evil and began practicing idolatry. At that time, righteousness could not get a foothold on our Earth. Only Adam and Eve thoughtfully observed the Mitzvot of Ha Torah. Unfortunately, during that 130 years, Earth’s inhabitants were influenced and guided by the Yetzer Raw / the Evil Inclination. (Genesis 5.3) says, ‘And Adam lived a hundred and thirty years, and [in 130 F.C. he] fathered a son in his own likeness, after his image; and called his name Seth.‘ From this time forward, Adam and Eve produced righteous children for the next 800 years. (Genesis 5.6) informs us that Seth’s first child was born in 235 F.C. We arrive at this date by adding 130 years to 105 years. After 235 years, some of humanity begin practicing a lite form of idolatry. Until now, humankind sought direction from Adam, as noted in Jewish commentaries for Genesis 4.3 and 4.23). (Genesis 4.26) Informs us ‘אָז Awz – Then הוּחַל Hoo Chal – men began לִקְרֹא Lih Kih Roh – to call [idols] בְּשֵׁם Bih Shaym – in the Name HaShem.‘ The translation and understanding of (Genesis 4.26) are based on Hoo Chal – men began. Ha Torah informs us of when men began to worship idols. Rabbi Avrohom Davis, The Mesudah Chumash A New Linear Translation Bereishis (Hoboken New Jersey, KTVA Publishing House, Inc., 1991) p 54.

We must be sensitive to those caught up in idolatry. They begin with good intentions. They made objects they could relate to that reminded them of God’s Creation, and they attached God’s Name, ‘El,’ to these objects. At first, they were NOT vile, rebellious God-hating people. Yet, unfortunately, their indecency, wickedness, and corruption grew over five generations. That process sunk all with the breath of life on and above Earth. We move forward five generations to Chanoch, aka Enoch. Rabbi Meir Zlotowitz and Rabbi Nosson Scherman, The Artscroll Tanach Series – Bereishis Vol. I(a)(Brooklyn, New York: Mesorah Publications, Ltd. 3rd Impression, 1989), pp 164-165. Chanoch was the great-grandfather of Noah. He learned Ha Torah, forsook evil, and secluded himself for many years in prayer and learning God’s Ways. Then an Angel, a messenger from God, instructed him to return to society, rule over the people of the Earth, and teach them Ha Torah. Chanoch was a sensitive, compassionate leader with a gentle, loving message. Many people were hungry to learn about the Way of God, Derech HaShem. Chanoch taught their leaders and them. His mild temperament was highly effective. People returned to God in groves and remained faithful to the teachings of the Torah all the days of Chanoch’s life on Earth. Sefer HaYashar (Hoboken, NJ: KTAV Publishing House, Inc., 1993) p.12

This is an essential message for those desiring to lead others. Let’s encourage our candidates running for office to follow Chanoch’s method of mild temperament as well as ourselves. Many issues in our world need to be tackled by the right, righteous individuals with compassion and skilled temperament. Why?

Progressive evil is happening throughout our world, in every corner. There is so much murder, hate, and bigotry. Breakins and corrupt acts. Some of the movements that began with good intentions are now caught up in promoting prejudice, segregation, and hate. In Noah’s age, wickedness became so intent that righteous people would no longer marry or have children. The good people died off! Sefer HaYashar (Hoboken, NJ: KTAV Publishing House, Inc., 1993) p.16

Years before his ascension into Heaven, Chanoch had a son whom he gave the prophetic name Methuselah. That was 969 years before the flood. מְתוּשֶׁלַח Methuselah’s Name consists of two words. The first two Letters of מְתוּשֶׁלַח Methuselah. מת Mat or Met means death. The second word in מְתוּשֶׁלַח Methuselah’s name שלח Sheh Lah Ach means to send, to launch destruction. The Words Met and Sheh Lah are connected with the letter ו Vav, which means and. Together Met – Voo – Sheh Lah Ach means ‘After this child dies, destruction will be launched.’ That was a prophetic warning to the people of Earth.

Now, let’s return to Methuselah’s father, Chanoch. People gathered and watched and waited for God to cause Chanoch to ascend into the heavens. God took Chanoch up into the heavens before the eyes of thousands of people watching and learning Torah from Chanoch at the time of his ascension. Years, decades, and centuries passed. New generations of people gradually became corrupt. Attrition of the righteous began. Dear Relatives and Friends, The name Methuselah inform us of the coming destruction. Sefer HaYashar records that God Told Methuselah and Noach to proclaim to all the world: ‘Thus Says God. Repent of your evil ways, and He will change the decree He has made against you.’ Obediently, both of these men proclaimed this warning to all. They preached day after day, but people refused to take heed. Sefer HaYashar (Hoboken, NJ: KTAV Publishing House, Inc., 1993) p.16

(Genesis 7) says, ‘And the Lord Said to Noah, Come you and all your house into the ark; for you have I seen righteous before me in this generation… For in another seven days, I will cause it to rain upon the Earth forty days and forty nights, and every living substance I have made will be destroyed from off the face of the Earth.‘

And it came to pass, ‘after seven days,‘ that the flood waters were upon the Earth. What was the nature of these seven days? — Rav said: These were the days of mourning for Methuselah, thus teaching that lamenting for the righteous postpones retribution. (Sanhedrin 108b)

‘The Lord himself spent these seven days morning…’ Rabbi Moshe Weissman, The Midrash Says (Brooklyn, New York: Benei Yakov Publications 1980), p. 91

The Lord extended His time of grace seven more days while he mourned for Methuselah and the evil people on Earth. Rabbi Nosson Scherman, The Stone Edition Tanach (Mesorah Publications, Ltd., Brooklyn, N.Y. 1993), p. 351 Second Edition p33. – Rabbi Avrohom Davis, The Mesudah Chumash A New Linear Translation Bereishis (Hoboken New Jersey, KTVA Publishing House, Inc., 1991) p 73.

There are two areas that I would like to share about sensitivity. (Genesis 6.6) speaks of the Lord as being remorseful for creating humankind. God is sharing His close intimate feelings about fallen humanity. God did nothing wrong, yet He hurts and expresses feelings of sadness. (Genesis 7.4) says, ‘For in another seven days I will cause it to rain upon the earth forty days and forty nights, and every living substance that I have made will I destroy from off the face of the earth.‘ Methuselah dies and is buried. During these seven days, God and the Angels of Heaven mourned, wept, cried, and comforted one another. They mourned for the righteous Methuselah and the wicked on Earth. In addition, God Reversed the order of creation. For example, The sun rose at night, and The moon and the stars came out at dawn. Rabbi Meir Zlotowitz and Rabbi Nosson Scherman, The Artscroll Tanach Series – Bereishis Vol. I(a) (Brooklyn, New York: Mesorah Publications, Ltd. 3rd Impression, 1989), p 244.

(Psalms 145.14) says, ‘The Lord Upholds all who fall and Raises up all those who are bowed down.‘We have a promise, hope, and an opportunity to see our situation turn around with God’s Help. God patiently waited to the end for anyone who would repent, i.e., turn away from sin.

May we use the tools of Ha Torah to restore, heal, and bring peace to ourselves and others. We can succeed despite past sins and mistakes. We can lift ourselves and others up.

Good Sabbath.

Dr. Akiva Gamliel Belk

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