Parasha 5: God's Invitation to a Wicked Nation

"God's Invitation  to a Wicked Generation"

Introduction: 

Have you ever experienced the joy of receiving an invitation to a wedding or a grand event? How does it make you feel? 

Our Torah portion begins by describing Noah as a righteous man who walked with God. He lived in a wicked generation, a time when the earth was corrupt and filled with violence. God, having reached His limit, decided to bring destruction upon mankind. In light of this impending catastrophe, God instructed Noah to construct an Ark to save himself and his household. Throughout Scripture, we find numerous instances of God extending invitations to His people. For example, in Exodus, God used Moses to lead the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt, inviting them to worship Him in the wilderness. Similarly, Messiah Yeshua said in Matthew 11:28, "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." In Revelation 18:4, Yeshua invites His people to "come out" of a particular place. Now, let us examine how Noah responded to God's invitation. 

First and foremost, Noah and his family believed in God's warning of the impending destruction. Hebrews 11:7 tells us that Noah, by faith, heeded God's warning even though he had not yet seen any signs of the impending flood. He was moved by fear and took action to build an ark, thus saving his household. Noah understood the seriousness of God's warnings and believed that they required a corresponding response. When we believe in God's warnings, we also believe in His instructions on how to prepare and escape from the impending peril. Like Noah, we too must choose life, not just for ourselves but for our families as well. 

Secondly, Noah believed in God's promise to establish a covenant with him. The Hebrew word for covenant, "Berith," conveys the idea of selecting the best. It signifies more than a mere contract or agreement; it carries a pledge and a promise. In Noah's case, God wanted him to understand that He was committing Himself to save Noah and his family from the coming destruction. A covenant represents a profound and binding commitment. It is through this covenant that salvation is attained. 

Thirdly, Noah recognized that he had to take action in order to secure his deliverance. He obediently followed God's instructions to build the Ark. The Hebrew term for Ark, "tevah," is the same word used to describe the basket in which Moses was placed. A tevah is a box-like vessel that floats without human intervention, guided solely by God's hand and providence. Humanity is merely passengers aboard the tevah. 

Only eight individuals were chosen and set apart to restart life on the planet. The number eight holds great significance in the Bible, symbolizing redemption and eternity. Noah stands as a pivotal figure in the history of redemption, demonstrating genuine faith through his trust in God's word and his obedience in building the Ark. Genesis 7:5 says: “And Noah did all that the LORD had commanded him.”

Lessons:

A.Salvation is by grace through genuine faith. 

Why genuine faith? The word faith in Hebrew is Emunah which means “faith that results in faithfulness, implying action. James 2:17-18 says: “So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. But someone will say, "You have faith and I have work." Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.” Even the Apostle Paul said in Philippians 2:12b: “Work out on your salvation with fear and trembling.” So in the case of Noah, yes he had genuine faith that also involves  action on his part, so only Noah and those who were with him in the ark remained alive(Genesis 7:23). 

B.Do not Ignore God's Invitation 

Notice how chapter 7 begins. “Then the Lord said to Noah, “Come into the ark, you and all your household, because I have seen that  you are righteous before Me in this generation.” In our time, people are not aware that God is making already an invitation to them, just like sending people to share the truth about His words, or maybe events in life to draw their attention to God, But they are often neglected. That's why when God has an invitation for us to return to His presence, let's take advantage of this amazing privilege because this opportunity can be lost or never come again. Perhaps this is the reason why Yeshua mentioned the time of Noah when He came back. Matthew 24:37-39: “But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.”

C.For the wicked, it's impossible to escape from the verdict of the Righteous Judge

Verse 22 says: “All in whose nostrils was the breath of the spirit of life, all that was on the dry land, died.” People only focus on God's kindness, but forget that He is also cruel when He is angry. It seems that seven more days passed before God made it rain(v.4), which in my understanding the Creator of the heavens and the earth was waiting for those who would ask for forgiveness but none of them did. Psalm 1:5-6 says: “Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous; for the Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.”

D.God is looking for righteous people. 

God said to Noah in verse 1: “For I have seen that you are righteous before Me in this generation.” In this wicked and sinful world, God can see the righteous which means He is watching like a shepherd who watches his flock. 1 Peter 3:12 says: “For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil."

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In our Haftarah portion, water is again used by God as a means of judgment. In this context, God assures His people of His unwavering love and His covenant of peace. Even if the mountains depart and the hills are removed, God's loyal love and covenant will endure. It is an eternal covenant based on God's merciful character. God was furious with the world in Noah's time, but His anger subsided. God always keeps His promises: "But My kindness shall not depart from you, nor shall the covenant of My peace be removed," declares the Lord, who has mercy on you. 

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In our Apostolic portion, Peter uses the story of Noah and the Ark to encourage believers who are facing suffering. He draws a parallel between the disobedient people in Noah's time, who mocked him for his obedience to God, and the victory of Yeshua over evil. Just as Yeshua was present in the Tanakh, and the Prophets, predicting His coming, Messiah Yeshua was also present in the time of Noah, preaching to the disobedient people of his time. Yeshua Himself foretold that the last days and His second coming would resemble the generation of Noah, prompting us to delve deeper into God's word to understand His meaning. 

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Here is the connection in our Parasha: In the Torah portion, God demonstrates His kindness and mercy to Noah and his family by establishing a covenant. In the Haftarah portion, God solidifies His promise through an oath, assuring His people that His love and covenant will remain intact. In the Apostolic portion, Peter references Noah's story as a reminder of God's covenant and the salvation He provides through His Son, Yeshua, showcasing God's kindness and mercy. 

Going back to the introduction, while Noah played a role in building the Ark, it was ultimately God who orchestrated everything. Moreover, the Ark was not the final refuge prepared by God. He has prepared a final Ark, Yeshua the Messiah, as a safe haven for the righteous when He unleashes His wrath and brings about the end of the world. We are incredibly privileged and blessed to be invited by God. Joyfully, I can confidently say with assurance that God does not destroy the righteous along with the wicked.

Proverbs 10:30 ESV

“The righteous will never be removed,

but the wicked will not dwell in the land.”

Shabbat Shalom,

Topher

Sources:

bible strong app 

firmisrael.org

thebiblesays.com

icr.org

blueletterbible.org

torahclass.com

talmidimway.org