Parashat Noah: The main thing is the intention
Noah’s sacrifice after the Flood offers a lesson in sincere faith and the importance of doing good without seeking recognition.
The story of Noah's Flood is one of the most impactful events in shaping the world and humanity. Before the Flood, the earth was created in perfection and goodness, but after Adam's sin, evil entered human experience. Humanity reached a point where violence, corruption, and lack of moral boundaries overwhelmed the world, leading to the Flood.
After the Flood, Noah and his family were left in a desolate world, with no other humans or familiar surroundings. In this moment of devastation, Noah's first action was to build an altar to the Lord and offer burnt offerings on it. This act demonstrated Noah's acknowledgment of God's sovereignty, gratitude, and submission to the Creator.
Following this, a divine promise was made, stating that God would never again curse the earth or destroy all life with another Flood. However, this promise also raises a question: how could a single act of Noah's have such a profound impact, given that many people rejected his warnings?
The Mishna in Tractate Makkot explains that the Holy One wished to bring merit to Israel by providing them with an abundance of Torah and commandments. Maimonides elaborates on this principle, stating that when a person fulfills a commandment purely for its own sake, out of love, they merit the World to Come. Noah's act of building an altar and offering sacrifices was performed lishma, or for its own sake, without any personal motives or worldly objectives.
This act, free from any self-interest, ensured the world's continued existence and demonstrated the power of serving God without any ulterior motives.
Written by urgent.news from Jerusalem Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
