Noach Genesis 6: 9 - 11: 3

Corruption of the Earth When men began to multiply upon the earth and daughters were born to them the "sons of God" took wives from them and produced the "mighty men" as their offspring (Genesis 6:1-4) Verse 5 goes on, "Then Yahweh saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth"

It is understood that the offspring from this union of the sons of God and the daughters of men was the root cause of such great wickedness in the earth and the reason why Yahweh had to condemn it to destruction. Jude speaks of the “angels who did not keep their proper abode” (Jude 6), perhaps referring to and giving us an inspired interpretation of Gen 6. This view was understood by most of the Jewish sages and was held by Josephus, Philo, and the writer of Enoch. The term “sons of God” is used only of angels and not men in the old covenant.

Yahweh looked upon the earth and saw that the wickedness of man is great, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. The earth was corrupt and filled with violence, for all flesh had corrupted its way. Genesis 6: 5, 11-12

According to Rashi, the word “corrupted” has to do with idolatry and sexual sins. In 1 Corinthians 6:18 it is written: “Flee fornication. Every other sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who is committing fornication sins against his own body.”(MRC) In 1 Corinthians 10:14 it is written: “Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.”(MRC)

That the earth was "corrupt" (shakkat) carries the idea of something in utter ruin. The sin in the earth in Yahweh's sight, made it abhorrent to Him. The degradation of human morality is suggested by the phraseology "all flesh had corrupted their way" and that Noach was "perfect in his generations". It would seem that Noach alone was of a pure genetic stream from Adam and that the rest had become corrupted by demonic interbreeding or genetic manipulation and their sinful lifestyle. vv.9, 12

Noach's Righteousness "These are the records of the generations of Noach. Noach was a righteous [or just - tsaddiq] man, blameless [perfect -tamim] in his time (generation); Noach walked with God.” (Genesis 6:9). These two Hebrew words tsaddiq or “righteous one,” and tami or “blameless” and their derivatives are used liberally throughout the Tanakh to further describe the requirements for communion with the Holy One of Israel. A holy and righteous God requires these attributes in the people whom He uses: "Then Yahweh said to Noach, "Enter the ark, you and all your household; for you alone I have seen to be righteous [tsaddiq] before Me in this time” (Genesis 7:1). The Lexicon of Brown-Driver Briggs gives the definition of 'tzaddik' as "lawful, righteous", and the Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament says "This root basically connotes conformity to an ethical or moral standard" See Hebrews 11: 6-7

Noach was a "righteous or just man, blameless or perfect in his generation". Noach was not sinlessly perfect, but he was righteous in that he followed God's ways. Noach lived a repentant life, he followed the commandments of God and he had a personal relationship with his creator. Many people use their environment as an excuse for their bad conduct. They blame their bad attitudes on the influences of the people around them and their inability to honour the Shabbat on peer pressure or obligations. However Parasha Noach is telling us that our obedience to God and His Torah does not depend on our location or circumstances. Our obedience to God depends upon our choices!

Neither culture, habits of the nation, the surrounding people, environment or our own family can be held responsible for a person’s way of life. Each individual has a responsibility to live righteously and wholeheartedly before Yahweh.

“Noach walked with God” – The Hebrew verb 'walked' “hithalech” – is in the “hitpalel” form, which means that it is something you cause yourself to do. “walked himself, caused himself to walk” – which comes from the same root as halachah. The word halachah is a noun that means “a walk”. That means, therefore, that Noach himself was the reason that he walked with God. It was not an easy thing, he had to stand alone against the rest of his generation. He made an effort to do it, and he succeeded. That teaches us that walking with God requires personal discipline. Noach made an effort everyday to walk with his heavenly Father in relation to His righteous attributes. By this we can learn that Noach was interested in living out, in a practical way, the commands that the Eternal had revealed to Adam and that applied to all people. Yahweh's laws have always existed, it was not something new at the giving of the Torah to His people at Mount Sinai. There is one straight way for man, which was established when man was created. Noach walked in this way, and therefore he was called tzadik and tammim, righteous and wholehearted.

Adam lived in an ideal environment, yet he chose to be disobedient to Yahweh, whereas Noach's lived in the midst of a spiritual desert. He had to labour for what he wanted, he was ridiculed for his beliefs, he had pressure from those he lived amongst and he had to endure a corrupt and degenerate society, yet Noach chose to obey God.

The root of all evil lies in man's heart. God looked upon the hearts of mankind in Noach's generation and every heart he saw was turned to evil. People are not wicked because of what they do, people are wicked because their hearts are turned to evil intent.

Noach found grace with God, because "...all that God commanded him, so did he." Noach's heart was submitted to the Almighty to obey him and follow His instructions - he didn’t use his own reasoning and do things his way.

Noach believed God, he had faith in Him and he followed His commandments and lived according to His precepts, as a result he knew God's voice. Noach spent time with God, prayed to Him and talked with Him, he meditated upon Him and out of this relationship, Noach could hear God speaking to him. Noach was ultimately delivered because of his faithfulness to abide by a standard of righteousness, and the same will be true of those who face the end-time judgments before Yeshua's return.

Yahweh always works through His righteous remnant. Thus we see that from among Noach's three sons only one was chosen; Shem and through Shem the line flows to Avraham(Abraham), through Avraham to Yehuda (Judah), through Yehuda to David, through David to Mashiach Yeshua. Yeshua chose His twelve talmidim (disciples) and through these twelve Yahweh, through divine selection has raised up His righteous remnant. This process is called Bechira in Hebrew, this is divine selection.

The Tower of Babel Genesis 10-11:9 Here is the list of generations recorded and the lines of descent within their nations that filled the earth after the flood. In Genesis 11 we see the extent of evil upon the earth once again. Yahweh in keeping His word not to flood the earth again, causes great confusion by changing their language so the nations could not function in a single unit again. The language they spoke was just ‘babel’ (Hebrew - confusion) to those listening. Babylon means, as called by the people of the area, "the gate of god".

Nimrod was the founder of Babel as well as Erech, Accad and Calneh in Mesopotamia and this was the beginning of his kingdom. "He was a mighty hunter before Yahweh" Genesis 10: 8-10 He acquired dominion by terror and by conquest and led the people into rebellion against Yahweh. He was a "mighty hunter" (a spiritual hunter) of men's souls against Yahweh. He established himself as a 'messiah' and commenced the counterfeit religious system which has had its outworking down through the ages in the false "Babylonian" worship of which Revelation 17-19:2 speaks. He was the original Antichrist figure that counterfeits the true Messiah (Christ). The false trinity and the Madonna and child have their origin here. Nimrod of Hamitic lineage was dark-skinned, and all the figures of this deity were depicted as dark-skinned in Canaan and in Egypt where he later established his dominion. Note Abraham's later concern about his wife when coming into these areas.

Salvation and Deliverance The covenant established with Noach still abides, (as does every covenant Yahweh makes with man) and every time we see the rainbow we are reminded that Yahweh keeps His covenant with mankind. The covenant made with Noach was made with all mankind but a greater covenant exists for those who have peace with Him through Yeshua the Messiah.

Isaiah prophesies to those in covenant relationship with Yahweh "For a mere moment I have forsaken you, but with great mercies I will gather you "In an outburst of anger I hid My face from you for a moment, but with everlasting lovingkindness I will have compassion on you," says Yahweh your Redeemer "For this is like the days of Noach to Me, when I swore that the waters of Noach would not flood the earth again; so I have sworn that I will not be angry with you nor will I rebuke you. "For the mountains may be removed and the hills may shake, but My lovingkindness will not be removed from you, and My covenant of peace will not be removed," says Yahweh who has compassion on you" Isaiah 54:7-10

Out of the ashes of a degenerate world sprouted the seed of Noach and out of the judgement to come, a righteous seed will come forth that will establish His kingdom on earth and we will have a new heavens and a new earth wherein dwells righteousness.

The flood of Noach is used by Yeshua and Peter regarding the judgement of the end days. Yeshua the Messiah tells us that the days prior to His return will be like the days of Noach. Understanding the story of Noach is imperative to properly understanding His words. The sinful people were not expecting the judgment that was to befall them at the time of Noach. They were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, and then Noach entered the Ark and the Flood took them all away by violence. Matthew 24:37-42 - also Luke 17:26-30

As Yeshua's return approaches, God is telling us that the earth will experience a society much like the one Noach lived in. Noach lived in a time of violence, no one was safe and that is the key word in our society today. Our national acceptance of immorality has degenerated us into an amoral society where everything goes. We also have genetic manipulation of plants, animals and human life - the type of thing that brought judgement in Noach's day.

Peter said, “In the last days scoffers will come, walking according to their own lusts, and saying, "Where is the promise of His coming? Ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were since the beginning of creation."

For this they willingly forget that by the Word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water. By which the world that then existed perished, being flooded with water. But the heavens and earth which are now are preserved by the same word, are reserved for the fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.

But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with Yahweh one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. Yahweh is not slack concerning his promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. But the day of Yahweh will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise; and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works therein will be burnt up.

Therefore seeing all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the day of God. Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells." 2 Peter 3:3-17