Parashat Noah
Beresheet (Genesis) 6:9 – 11:32
Haftarah: Isaiah 54:1-55:5
‘"For this is like the days of Noah to Me, when I swore that the waters of Noah would not flood the earth again; so I have sworn that I will not be angry with you nor rebuke you. For the mountains may be removed and the hills may shake, but My grace will not be removed from you, nor will My covenant of peace be shaken," says the LORD who has compassion on you’
Isaiah 54:9-10
In these verses, God makes a very important connection between His covenant with Noah and His everlasting promise to the people of Israel. I find this especially encouraging because it reminds us of God's amazing grace, endless love, and faithfulness to keep His promises, even when we are unfaithful to Him.
In Genesis 6:5–8, we read that God was deeply grieved by the wickedness of humankind. Every intent of the thoughts of the human heart was continually evil, and God determined to wipe out humankind and the living creatures from the face of the earth. However, Noah found favor in the eyes of the LORD.
As we know, God instructed Noah to build an ark, through which He saved Noah, his immediate family, and the animals that He commanded Noah to bring aboard. After the Flood, we read the following:
And God remembered Noah and all the animals and all the livestock that were with him in the ark; and God caused a wind to pass over the earth, and the water subsided.
Genesis 8:1
Throughout the Word of God, we find the expression "God remembered" again and again. This expression is often connected to God displaying His grace, love, and faithfulness toward those whom He has chosen.
After the waters subsided and Noah came out of the ark, he built an altar to the LORD and offered sacrifices. In response, God declared:
Then the LORD smelled the soothing aroma, and the LORD said to Himself, 'I will never again curse the ground on account of man, for the intent of man's heart is evil from his youth; and I will never 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.'
Genesis 8:21-22
I find these verses very encouraging because they reveal something important about God's character. God acknowledged that the inclination of the human heart is evil from youth. In other words, He knew that humanity would continue to sin against Him. Yet, He promised that as long as the earth remains, the seasons, the harvest, and the cycle of day and night would continue.
God's promise was not based on humanity's righteousness or faithfulness, but on His own grace and faithfulness.
In Genesis 9, we read that God established a covenant with Noah, his descendants, and every living creature on the earth. He promised never again to destroy all flesh through a flood and gave a sign of this covenant, which we can still see today:
I have set My rainbow in the cloud, and it shall serve as a sign of a covenant between Me and the earth.
Genesis 9:13
The rainbow is an amazing sign of hope, reminding us of God's judgment, but also of His endless grace and faithfulness to keep His promises. Thousands of years have passed since God established this covenant, and His promise still stands.
Interestingly, at the end of this week's Torah reading, we meet Abram and his wife Sarai, who was barren (Genesis 11:29-30). While we will learn more about them in the coming weeks, we know that God would eventually establish another everlasting covenant, this time with Abraham and his descendants through Isaac and Jacob.
God promised Abraham descendants, a land, and blessings that would continue throughout the generations. This covenant with the people of Israel remains in effect until today, which brings us back to our Haftarah reading.
Isaiah 54 is one of the most touching portions of Scripture, where God describes His everlasting love for Israel, comparing Himself to Israel's husband. He speaks of the restoration of His people after a time of judgment, suffering, and exile.
“Shout for joy, infertile one, you who have not given birth to any child; break forth into joyful shouting and cry aloud, you who have not been in labor; for the sons of the desolate one will be more numerous than the sons of the married woman," says the LORD.
“Enlarge the place of your tent; stretch out the curtains of your dwellings, do not spare them; lengthen your ropes and strengthen your pegs. For you will spread out to the right and to the left, and your descendants will possess nations and will resettle the desolate cities."
Isaiah 54:1-3
When I read these verses, I think about the history of our people and everything we have endured throughout the generations. The Jewish people have experienced exile, persecution, and repeated attempts to destroy us. Yet, despite everything, we are still here, living in the land that God promised to our forefathers.
God continues His message to Israel by describing His relationship with His people:
"For your husband is your Maker, whose name is the LORD of armies; and your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel, who is called the God of all the earth."
"For a brief moment I abandoned you, but with great compassion I will gather you. In an outburst of anger I hid My face from you for a moment, but with everlasting favor I will have compassion on you," says the LORD your Redeemer.
Isaiah 54:5, 7-8
Throughout Scripture, we read about the many times Israel turned away from God and suffered the consequences of disobedience. God did not ignore the sins of His people, and His judgment was real. However, even when Israel was unfaithful to God, He remained faithful to His promises.
Sometimes I wonder how anyone can read God's clear promises throughout Scripture, especially here in Isaiah, and still believe that God is finished with Israel or that He has removed His everlasting grace from the Jewish people and given His covenant promises to someone else.
God Himself declares that even if the mountains are removed and the hills shake, His grace will not be removed from Israel, nor will His covenant of peace be shaken. These are His words, and I believe we need to take them seriously. Just as the rainbow is a sign of God's covenant never again to destroy the world through a flood, the nation of Israel is also a sign of God's covenant made with Abraham.
I always say that Israel is the greatest proof of God and His faithfulness to keep His promises!
When we consider everything that has happened to the Jewish people throughout history, we see that nations and empires have risen and fallen, and many have tried to destroy us. Yet, we are still here, living in the same land that God promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.This is no accident and it hasn’t happened by chance.
In Genesis 8:21-22, God promised that as long as the earth remains, the seasons and the natural order of His creation will continue. In Isaiah 54:10, He declares that even if the mountains are removed and the hills shake, His grace toward Israel will not be removed. Although circumstances may change, God's promises remain.
In closing, whenever you see the changing seasons, remember God's promise to Noah. Whenever you see a rainbow, remember His grace and faithfulness to keep His covenant. Whenever you look at Israel today, remember His everlasting love, compassion, and faithfulness to keep His promises!
Do not lose heart, because He sees you and remembers you. He is our great hope for today and tomorrow!
Shabbat Shalom,
Moran