Parashat Noach 5765/2004
EJD
The weekly reading for the week of 1 Heshvan, 5765 - October 16, 2004 Parashah: Noach Genesis 6:9 to 11:32; Haftarah: the regular Haftarah reading of Isaiah 42:1 to 43:5 is replaced by the Rosh Chodesh reading of Isaiah 66:1-24; Maftir: Numbers 28:9-15; Mei Kituvim: Daniel 4:1-37; Brit Chadashah: John 6:1-71
The Bagel: The power of repentance (Teshuvah). It is powerful because G-d is behind it. The selection of readings for this week entails several features of repentance or the lack it.
Torah:
Genesis 6:9 to 11:32. In the Parashat Noach, are two major examples of what happens when there is no repentance. The consequences are powerful in the negative direction. The Great Flood of Noach is a prime example of the judgment power for the lack of repentance. The whole world was involved. The rebellion of humanity worldwide brought down the foundations of the earth. 70% of the earth's geological depositions (deposits in the layers of the earth) are Sedimentary, which means "water layed." That is to say, the layers were put there by the action of moving water, a perfect description for the actions of a worldwide flood.
There was ample time for the people to repent. Noach preached for 120 years and built a three-dimensional object lesson all for the purpose of encouraging the people to repent. There was room on the Ark for more, but so few responded. The effect of this hardened heart in the people brought disaster for every living thing. Perhaps, there was a great tyranny against the animals by those unrepentant sinners. The power of the unrepentant heart produced losses. The friendly relations between the lower-life forms (birds, fish, and animals) turned into a fear-based relationship after the flood. The animal kingdom became the wild-animal kingdom because of the damage done in the world of Flood sinners: "The fear and dread of you will fall upon all the beasts of the earth and all the birds of the air, upon every creature that moves along the ground, and upon all the fish of the sea" (Genesis 9:2 NIV).
The second major example of the consequence for unrepentant actions is in the account of the tower of Babel. The mandate from the original creation to spread through out the whole earth was rejected. Nimrod led the people to use their uni-language capability to unite the people under one tower so as to usurp the authority of G-d. The Tower was Nimrod's space program. He was determined to ascend into the realm of G-d. The potential for this seemed real, at least that is what Adonay's comment was to the rest of the heavenly court: "And the LORD said, "Behold, they are one people, and they have all one language, and this is only the beginning of what they will do. And nothing that they propose to do will now be impossible for them" (Genesis 11:6 ESV). Who knows where that could have gone if G-d hadn't intervened.
Haftarah:
Isaiah 66:1-24. In the Haftarah reading, G-d tells of the features of a repentant heart: "....this is the one to whom I will look: he who is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at my word" (Isaiah 66:2 ESV). There is an old Jewish proverb: "He who saves one life is as if he had saved the whole world." The power of repentance is of such a positive nature that the turning of one individual is as though the whole world had turned. Yeshua's version of this is different: "Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents" (Luke 15:10 ESV).
In the regular Haftarah reading is an invitation to repent and receive the benefits of turning to G-d: "Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price" (Isaiah 55:1 ESV). An even greater power of repentance is shown in the promise of Israel's future redemption. It presumes the national repentance of the whole nation:
For the LORD has called you like a wife deserted and grieved in spirit, like a wife of youth when she is cast off, says your God. For a brief moment I deserted you, but with great compassion I will gather you. In overflowing anger for a moment I hid my face from you, but with everlasting love I will have compassion on you," says the LORD, your Redeemer. "This is like the days of Noah to me: as I swore that the waters of Noah should no more go over the earth, so I have sworn that I will not be angry with you, and will not rebuke you. For the mountains may depart and the hills be removed, but my steadfast love shall not depart from you, and my covenant of peace shall not be removed," says the LORD, who has compassion on you (Isaiah 54:6-10 ESV). The power of the Day of Redemption will be so strong that the sufferings of the past millenia will seem like a brief moment in comparison. This will be a sort of reverse of the Great Flood, instead of universal destruction it will be universal Chesed (loving kindness from G-d).
Mei Kituvim:
Daniel 4:1-37. In the reading of the Kituvim, is a remarkable example of the power of repentance. It is the reverse of the Tower of Babel story. Nimrod was the unrepentant leader. Nebuchadnezzar was the repentant leader. His experience of the power of G-d's hand of humbling was so effective that he was able to repent and saw his kingdom restored. Pride had leveled him down to the level of a wild beast. He became irrational and lost everything. There was a vision by Daniel given previously where G-d revealed to Daniel the ultimate condition of Nebuchadnezzar's heart: "....you are the head of gold" (Daniel 2:28). Nebuchadnezzar remarked about his experience: At the end of the days I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my reason returned to me, and I blessed the Most High, and praised and honored him who lives forever, for his dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom endures from generation to generation; all the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing, and he does according to his will among the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay his hand or say to him, "What have you done?" At the same time my reason returned to me, and for the glory of my kingdom, my majesty and splendor returned to me. My counselors and my lords sought me, and I was established in my kingdom, and still more greatness was added to me. Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, for all his works are right and his ways are just; and those who walk in pride he is able to humble (Daniel 4:34-37 ESV). The power of repentance made all the difference.
Brit Chadashah:
John 6:1-71. When we get to the Brit Chadashah, we see a feature of repentance that is very powerful. It is the ability to persevere in adversity. Yeshua faced incredible opposition both humanly and spiritually. The power of repentance is seen in his Talmidim (disciples). They had a true heart of repentance. They had turned to Yeshua and followed Him. But His teachings were so intense that many other disciples defected and no longer followed after Him: After this (His time of intensive teaching) many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him. So Jesus said to the Twelve, "Do you want to go away as well?" Simon Peter answered him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God" (John 6:66-69 ESV). The power of repentance is in the ability of G-d to transform the human heart. A new life comes by the its power. Repentance is the throwing of switch. The action itself doesn't produce the power, but the electrical system behind the switch does. Repentance switches the switch and says "off" to sin and "on" to G-d. The powerful effect of this form of repentance on the world is enormous. It encourages others to do likewise. If it were not resisted the whole world would be saved.
Cream Cheese:Faith in Yeshua that saves one life....has saved the whole world*.
* The atonement on the cross is the locus of future world redemption.
The weekly reading for the week of 1 Heshvan, 5765 - October 16, 2004 Parashah: Noach Genesis 6:9 to 11:32; Haftarah: the regular Haftarah reading of Isaiah 42:1 to 43:5 is replaced by the Rosh Chodesh reading of Isaiah 66:1-24; Maftir: Numbers 28:9-15; Mei Kituvim: Daniel 4:1-37; Brit Chadashah: John 6:1-71
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