Condemning Noah? Part 1
There are only two people mentioned before the flood that walked with God. Enoch and Noah. Adam and Eve also did a bit of a walk but their walk was not very long for they hid themselves from their Creator after they ate of the famous tree in the Garden.
Genesis says that Noah was just and perfect and that he “walked” with God.
“These are the generations of Noah: Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God.” Genesis 6:9
“And the Lord said to Noah, Come thou and all thy house into the ark; for thee have I seen righteous before Me in this generation.” Genesis 7:1
Noah was the only righteous man in his generation, the only one worth saving. It is interesting that of the royal lineage from Seth onward, all had died by the time of the flood, even Methuselah died within a few months of the flood. But Noah and his immediate family was saved from the waters of the flood and was later commanded to be fruitful and multiply and reestablish the earth’s population. Genesis 9:1
Modern and even some Rabbinic commentaries condemn Noah for not pleading with God for the wicked, for obeying submissively, for being a yes-man. But on the other hand, they hold up Abraham as an example for he argued with God about the impending destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah.
But the question is this…The Bible does not say that Abraham walked with the Eternal, but rather that he was told to walk…
“And when Abram was ninety-nine years old, YHVH appeared to Abram, and said to him, I am the Almighty God; walk before Me, and be perfect.” Genesis 17:1
So I would argue that Noah had perfect obedience, trusted that the Eternal knew what He was doing, was tired of the rebellion and sin that abounded in the immoral acts of the people around him and thus, obeyed the voice of his Creator. Should we condemn him for trusting that God knew what He was doing, and say that Abraham was better and more righteous?
Does the Bible ever say anything disparaging of Noah, other than the episode when he planted a vineyard and got drunk?
Actually, later in the Tanakh, Noah is mentioned with Daniel and Job as stellar examples…
“Even if these three men–Noah, Daniel and Job–were in it (the Land of Israel), they could save only themselves by their righteousness, declares YHVH.” Eze 14:14
If Abraham was more righteous, then why is he not mentioned here? The life of Abraham is a series of tests and growth. He became righteous through these tests and was promised inheritance and that all who blessed him would be blessed, but he is not singled out as one of the most righteous. Abraham is an example and father of Israel, yet he became righteous through his experience with YHVH and this is the way we, his descendants, become righteous—as our father Abraham did.
Yet why put Noah, and even Job (who is also criticized in modern commentaries) in a bad light? This makes little sense, if we take the Bible as upholding the character of God and that man is fallible and not one to instruct the Creator on what he should do.
Let’s talk about Abraham’s attempted intervention for Sodom. Was it a sign of faith in God’s wisdom and justice that inspired him to argue with Him? Or was it somehow a lack of trust?
“Now YHVH had said, “Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do, since Abraham is to become a great and populous nation and all the nations of the earth are to bless themselves by him? For I have singled him out, that he may instruct his children and his posterity to keep the way of YHVH by doing what is just and right, in order that YHVH may bring about for Abraham what has been promised him.”
“Then YHVH said, “The outrage of Sodom and Gomorrah is so great, and their sin so grave! I will go down to see whether they have acted altogether according to the outcry that has reached Me; if not, I will take note.” The agents went on from there to Sodom, while Abraham remained standing before YHVH.
“Abraham came forward and said, “Will You sweep away the innocent along with the guilty? What if there should be fifty innocent within the city; will You then wipe out the place and not forgive it for the sake of the innocent fifty who are in it? Far be it from You to do such a thing, to bring death upon the innocent as well as the guilty, so that innocent and guilty fare alike. Far be it from You! Shall not the Judge of all the earth deal justly?” Genesis 18:17-25 Sefaria
What is the backdrop for Abraham’s questioning? Why would he doubt God’s wisdom at this time? Did Abraham not realize the extent of Sodom’s guilt? Did he not know about the immorality that surrounded his nephew, Lot? Perhaps. Or is it possible that the memory of the deluge still impacted people’s minds to a great extent? Obviously he had spoken to Noah, for their lives overlapped by 58 years. Was it a fear that YHVH would again destroy the world as had happened during the life of Noah?
There are a lot of things to consider. Not being there in person makes it difficult to judge the situation. From the story of the conversation with Abraham, it seems that his argument was neither condemned nor approved. The Eternal was willing to engage in debate with him which is something we can learn from– something that should give us confidence when we do not understand the ways of the Almighty. It should fill us with amazement that YHVH should stoop to consider the reasoning of humans and show us that His ways are right. It in no way shows that man can “educate” God. And this conversation with Abraham is relative nor comparable to the story of the flood.
Here are some quotes from some who present the argument that Noah was somehow insensitive to the world’s plight…
“Unlike Abraham in similar circumstances, Noah did not plead for his contemporaries when he was told God’s plan to destroy the world. When God informed Abraham that he was about to destroy the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah because of the evil of their inhabitants, Abraham would beg God to spare them, insisting that if as few as 10 good men could be found in Sodom, it was God’s duty to spare the city. “But as far as we can tell from the text, Noah ‘did not even consider smuggling a few of the doomed men and women in the Ark.’ This shows that humanity’s ethical ideal was undeveloped.” The Baltimore Sun
“Rashi, the great 11th century Jewish Torah commentator, offers two opinions. He writes: ‘There are among the sages who view Noah positively. Certainly, had he been living in a generation of just individuals, he would have been more just. While some view him negatively. Had he been living in the generation of Abraham, he would have been considered worthless.’” Aish
“IN HIS GENERATIONS — Some of our Rabbis explain it (this word) to his credit: he was righteous even in his generation; it follows that had he lived in a generation of righteous people he would have been even more righteous owing to the force of good example. Others, however, explain it to his discredit: in comparison with his own generation he was accounted righteous, but had he lived in the generation of Abraham he would have been accounted as of no importance. (cf. Sanhedrin 108a).”
From the Zohar:
“What did God answer Noah when he left the Ark and saw the world destroyed? He [Noah] began to cry before God and he said, “Master of the universe, You are called compassionate. You should have been compassionate for Your creation.” God responded and said, “You are a foolish shepherd. Now you say this?! Why did you not say this at the time I told you that I saw that you were righteous among your generation, or afterward when I said that I will bring a flood upon the people, or afterward when I said to build an ark? I constantly delayed and I said, ‘When is he [Noah] going to ask for compassion for the world?’ … And now that the world is destroyed, you open your mouth, to cry in front of me, and to ask for supplication?” [Zohar Hashmatot, Bereishit 254b]…Aish
So, as I said earlier, if the story of Noah and the flood remains with Noah later mentioned in Ezekiel 14 as one of the three representatives of righteousness, whom even considering their righteous merits could not save the nation, and if Abraham is not mentioned among them, then why try to guilt Noah of not having enough mercy to debate with YHVH about His decision to destroy the world? I believe we do not know enough of the evil that had overtaken the world at that time to make a character assassination of the just and perfect man who received the Almighty’s recommendation, and who was chosen to repopulate the earth!
Ariella
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