Genesis

בייה

How To Face Storms

Dear Ones, Our study teaches us how to face life’s horrific storms successfully. Those on the Ark lived through the fearest physical, mental Spiritual storm of all time. Can we imagine what it was like being tossed to and fro by the worst storm ever? Perhaps we can learn from them how to face storms. There are all types of storms that have the potential to worry and frighten us. When we are in the midst violent, turbulent, tumultuous, horrific storms, they may cause us to feel isolated, alone, helpless, and desperate. Yet, that does not share the entire story. The Ark did not have a wheelhouse, a helmsman, a helm, or a rudder. The Ark was designed for the inhabitants to be entirely dependent upon God. Only God could guide and protect the inhabitants of the Ark.

Who can we trust and place complete confidence in? How do we raise ourselves up and out of the storm’s upheaval? Ha Torah provides good, solid, tried, and tested answers for difficult times. The lesson here is that when we face traumatic, frightening situations entirely out of our control, only God can Guide and Protect us. What can be done? Let’s consider the experiences of the people who survived that traumatic annihilation. What was it like for them? Let’s try to imagine their Spiritual, emotional, and physical ups and downs. Did they cry, weep, scream, or feel loneliness? Were they angry, frightened, overcome, hopeless, isolated, and depressed? Did they assign guilt, condemnation, accusations, or point fingers? Were they feeling relaxed, peaceful, confident, secure, protected, thankful, and safe? Let’s attempt to imagine the human and Spiritual sides of the survivors before, during, and after that tragic time of judgment and destruction. They experienced God on many levels that we may not entirely understand.

(Genesis 6.9-10) says, ‘These are the generations of Noah; Noah was a just man, [he was righteous and lawful] and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God [i.e., Noah walked in fear of God]. 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 224

The wife Noah chose was Na’amah, daughter of Chanoch/Enoch. She was 580 years old. Sefer HaYashar (Hoboken, NJ: KTAV Publishing House, Inc., 1993) p.17 (Genesis 6.10) says, ‘And Noah fathered three sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth.‘ Noah chooses the three daughters of Eliakim, son of Methuselah. Sefer HaYashar (Hoboken, NJ: KTAV Publishing House, Inc., 1993) p.18 – The people of the Ark were descendants from the righteous line of Seth, Adam and Eve’s third son.

(Bereisheit Rabbah 23:3) Rabbi Abba bar Kahana said: ‘Na’amah was Noah’s wife. Why was she called Na’amah? Because all of her deeds were pleasant.’ (Siftei Chachamim, Genesis 4:22:2) says, ‘and she behaved modestly.’

Dear Ones, when the world as we know it changes. We can be prepared by considering/studying Noah, his loved ones, and the animals isolated on the Ark for more than a year during the storm, the torrential downpour, and the upheavals when water covered the earth.

After a short time, conditions began to improve. Flood waters began to dissipate daily. The highest mountain peaks appeared. The Ark lodges between several high mountain peaks settling in rock and mud. The time of transition from the Ark of safety to earth was nearing. They would have to bridge the past, the present, and the future. The earth’s atmosphere, climate, sky, ground, mountains, trees, foliage, and oceans were no longer the same. Those on the Ark of safety prepared for reintroduction to a cleansed mother earth and began replenishing.

God is NOT forgetful. God is always aware. (Genesis 8.1) says, ‘God Remembered Noah, and every living thing, and all the cattle with him.‘ The Torah is not suggesting God Forgot about Noah and those on Ark. In fact, it’s the exact opposite. Holy Scripture points to specific instances where The Lord God Remembered. Here are a few ways we know The Lord God Remembered. One purpose for mentioning the seven pairs of pure animals and pure birds was to help us notice that the Lord God Remembered. (Genesis 7.2) says, ‘Of every clean beast, you shall take to you seven pairs, the male and his female; and of beasts that are not clean, one pair, the male and his female. Of birds also of the air by seven pairs, the male and the female; to keep seed alive upon the face of all the earth.’ Taking the seven pairs of clean/kosher animals onto the Ark expresses God’s Intention that He is always Remembering. The kosher animals and birds were for burnt offerings after the storm when those on the Ark could return to earth. (Genesis 8.20) says, ‘And Noah built an altar to The Lord; and took of every clean beast, and every clean bird, and offered burnt offerings on the altar.’

One of Noah’s first acts after the flood in 1657 From Creation was to return to the place of Adam and Eve’s Creation. Noah remembers Adam and Eve were created from the dust of the ground around The Holy Altar where The Holy Temple would reside. It was in this particular location Noah constructed an Altar for Holy Sacrifice. Genesis 8.20 tella us that is the first blood sacrifice offered in The Torah. Cain and Abel offered a tribute. Abel offered cream, cheese, and spun wool from the first and the best of his flocks. Cain offered spoiled flaxseed from his fields. Abel’s offering was accepted, and Cains’s offering was rejected.

Noah understood the purpose of bringing seven pairs of pure animals and birds aboard The Ark even though The Torah did not explain it. The sets of seven animal pairs were a sign the inhabitants would exit the Ark after the earth was thoroughly cleansed.

(Genesis 6.16) says, ‘[A polished stone, A reflective stone of splendor,] A window shall you make in the Ark, and to a cubit shall you finish it above; and the door of the ark shall you set in its side; with lower, second, and third stories shall you make it.’

Noah understood the purpose of bringing seven pairs of pure animals and birds aboard The Ark even though The Torah did not explain their purpose. The sets of seven animal pairs were a sign the inhabitants would exit the Ark after the earth was thoroughly cleansed. This is an example of Noah walking with God, i.e., Noah walking in fear of God].

Remember, Noah was perfect in his generation. Noah was a Noachide Priest. Noah was the High Priest for his descendants and the descendants of Japheth and Ham.

The Lord is Pleased with Noah’s offering and makes the following declaration.

(Genesis 8.20 – 22) says, ‘And Noah built an altar to The Lord; and took of every clean beast, and every clean bird, and offered burnt offerings on the altar. The Lord Smelled the pleasing odor, and The Lord Said in His heart, ‘I will not again curse the ground any more for man’s sake; for the imagination of man’s heart is evil from his youth; nor will I again destroy every living thing, as I have done. ‘While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.‘

Later after Noah’s emasculation, his son, Shem, was appointed High Priest to Abraham’s tribe. His name was Melchizedek, king of Shalom. (Genesis 14.18). Abraham descended from Shem. We observe the blessing is associated with Shem. The Curse is attached to Ham. Japheth is between the two.

(Genesis 9.26 – 27) says, ‘And Noah said, Blessed, be The Lord God of Shem, and Canaan shall be his slave. God Shall Enlarge Japheth, and he shall live in the tents of Shem, and Canaan shall be his slave.‘

Holy Scripture does not teach that humankind is born into sin!! Sin is a choice! Holy Scripture says, ‘the imagination of man’s heart is evil from his youth.’ If one were born into sin, there would be no choice.

Throughout our examination of Genesis eight, we see specific instances where The Lord God was with Noah and those on the Ark. The Lord God is with us as He was with Noah. Blessed be the name of The Lord. May our prayers, and acts of lovingkindness transform Justice into Mercy. Blessed be the Holy Name.

May our Lord bless each of us with a beautiful, pleasant, joyful Sabbath Observance.

Dr. Akiva Gamliel Belk

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