Genesis

Is it just to eradicate very evil people? Yes, it is! Is it righteous to annihilate very wicked people? Yes, it is! Why is it good to completely remove them from this earth? (Genesis 6.5) Says, ‘And HaShem saw that malignant wickedness of the man [He created] was dominant in the land and that [almost] everything [man] imagined in his heart was evil all the day [long].’

In this week’s discussion, The Torah takes us to the edge of the abyss just before the cleansing flood, i.e., the worldwide flood in Noach’s age. The time leading up to the flood is a place few people understand. I rarely discuss people reaching the edge of the abyss because few people follow the path of evil down that far. However, the events surrounding the people of Noach’s age are extremely serious. It is here that the Torah discusses the steps leading to the abyss. There have been times in history since the flood that this kind of evil raised its ugly head. Most people have little to worry about because they follow the Torah’s Commandments and thus need not worry about extreme evil or viciousness. So now, unfortunately, in the past one hundred-plus years, this vicious, barbaric malignancy has again begun infecting our world again.

(Isaiah 5.20 – 24) Says, ‘Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes and prudent in their own sight! Woe to those who are mighty to drink wine, and men of strength to mix strong drink; Who justify the wicked for reward, and take away the righteousness of the righteous from him! Therefore, as the fire devours the stubble, and the flame consumes the chaff, so their root shall be as rottenness, and their blossom shall go up as dust; because they have cast away the Torah of HaShem of hosts, and despised the Word of the Holy One of Israel.’ That Vicious wickedness is happening right now in our age. Let’s review what happened in and around Noach’s age so we can better understand what is happening today. (Sefer HaYashar) Says, ‘And Noah went and took to himself a ‎wife called Naamah, daughter of Enoch, and she was at that time five hundred and eighty years old.‎’ Sefer HaYashar [Midrash] Edward B.M. Browne, New York, 1876 p13

In Noach’s age, man’s mental state was abysmal. Man had mentally reached the place where he could no longer distinguish right from wrong and good from evil. Man has come to the place where HaShem expresses וַיִּנָּחֶם Vah Yee Naw Chehm – regret for making the man on the earth. ‘And God hurt/grieved in [His] heart.’ (Genesis 6.7) Holy Scripture informs us that man has crossed into the abyss, i.e., the place where no one can return from. How do we know that no one can return to God after entering the abyss? (Genesis 6.7) Says, ‘HaShem said, ‘I will entirely BLOT OUT the man I created on the earth [from my Book of Eternal Living], from [off] the face of the ground, including Adam/man, beasts [including the serpent], creeping things, and bird[s] of the Heavens for I regret making them.’ How do parents feel about giving life to a vicious child that savagely murders other people? Looking back, they may feel enormous regret for their part in birthing and raising that wicked child.

(Genesis 6.4) Says, ‘ הַנְּפִלִים הָיוּ בָאָרֶץ בַּיָּמִים ‘ There were הַנְּפִלִים Hah Nih Fee Leem – ‘The fallen down’ Nephilim in the earth in those days.’ Why were they fallen down? (Genesis 6.2) Says, ‘They took woman from all that they chose/from all that they delighted in.’They kidnapped, i.e., stole grandmothers, mothers, and daughters for their sexual pleasure/delight. The fallen forcefully took them! It didn’t matter what anyone else thought. The fallen ignored any objections. The fallen took married women, i.e., any woman that they wanted. The fallen raped them. Remember, the world was destroyed because of ‘them‘. (Genesis 6.13).

(Genesis 6.11 -13) Says, ‘The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with חָמָס Chaw Maws – violence. And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted its way upon the earth. And God said to Noach, The end of all flesh has come before Me; for the earth is filled with חָמָס Chaw Maws – violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth.’ This violence, injustice, oppression, wrongdoing, cruelty, injury, destruction, and the hurting of others did not happen overnight. It was gradual. Then, like, out of nowhere, it was upon the world. Yet, there had been many warnings of חָמָס Chaw Maws.

Dear Ones, HaShem provides a lighthouse amidst the dark, vicious, unrelenting storms for those who observe The Torah. (Psalms 119.102 – 105) Says, ‘I have not departed from your judgments, for you have taught me. How sweet are your words to my taste! Sweeter than honey to my mouth! Through your precepts, I get understanding; therefore, I hate every false way. Your word [Torah] is a lamp to my feet, and a light to my path’

(Genesis 6.8) Informs us, ‘Noach found grace in the eyes of HaShem.’ How did Noach do this? (Genesis 6.9) Says, ‘Noach was a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noach walked with God.’

After reviewing this discussion, God Willing, we will study the Torah with greater joy and determination, seeing how greatly we benefit from righteous living. May we help ourselves and others. May we bring peace, kindness, love, and healing to our world. May this coming Sabbath and every Sabbath be a blessed Day.

Good Sabbath!

Dr. Akiva Gamliel Belk

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