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Sidra
Overview
The Ancient Triennial Sedarim
Sidra 5
Noach, Noah
Torah, Genesis 6:9 - 7:24
This is the line of Noah. – Noah was a righteous man; he was blameless in his
age; Noah walked with God.- Noah begot three sons: Shem, Ham and Japheth.
In our last sidra, we read that the people become increasingly evil. In verse 7 we heard Adonoi say, "I will
wipe out humankind, whom I have created, from the whole earth…." This sidra
begins the account of Noah, the judgment of the flood upon all the people, and
the mercy that Adonai shows to Noah and his descendants. Through Noah redemption
for all mankind comes from Adonoi, ad we see the beginning of the ever-present
remnant of people that worship HaShem alone.
The first that we hear of Noah is that he found favor with Adonoi, among his
generation he was the only righteous man, and he walked with God. Adonai told
Noah of His plans to destroy all men on the earth, and Noah’s part in the
redemption of mankind. Noah is to build the ark according to Adonai’s
specifications, take two of each animal into the ark, and bring in every kind of
food for the animals and Noah’s family. God’s part is to bring the flood, and to
make a bri’t (covenant) with Noah.
In chapter 7, Noah is told to bring in seven pair of every clean animal, and
only one pair of every unclean animal. The differentiation between clean and
unclean indicates whether or not the animal is suitable for sacrifice or for
eating. Noah did all that Adonai commanded. The building of the ark took one
hundred years, during which time all who saw Noah and inquired of the purpose of
the ark were given the chance to repent. If you look at the generations provided
in the last sidra, we can see that Lamek, Noah’s father, died when Noah was 595.
Methuselah, Noah’s grandfather, lived until Noah was 600 years old, the same
year that Adonai brought the flood. Rashi tells us that the seven day’s notice
that Adonai gave to Noah was a period of mourning for Methuselah, the only other
surviving righteous man.
Noah and his family entered the ark, and Adonai shut the door. The rain fell for
forty days, and the waters of the deep opened up. All land was covered; the
flood came 22 feet higher than the tops of the mountains. All life was blotted
from the earth, only those in the ark remained.
Qeriath, Ezekiel 38:10-23
This prophecy of Ezekiel begins with a group of nations threatening Israel under
the leadership of Gog. Ezekiel refers to Israel as a land of open towns, the
people having returned from exile among the nations, living at peace. Gog will
attack with vast hordes – but they will have been brought there by Adonai in
order to manifest His holiness and so that the nations may know Him. Other
prophets sent by Adonai have prophesied this. When Gog sets foot in Eretz
Israel, Adonai will cause an earthquake, mountains shall fall, and walls shall
crumble. Every human being on earth will quake before HaShem. There will be
bloodshed, with men turning against their brothers with the sword; pestilence;
torrential rain; hail and sulfurous fire against Gog and his hordes. Thus shall
the nations know that Adonai is God.
Da'ath, 1Peter 3:13-22
Kefa continues his letter, encouraging us to trust in Messiah, especially during
times of persecution for doing good. It is far better to suffer for doing what
is good than for doing what is evil. We are to always be ready to explain the
hope in us.
Kefa reminds us that Yeshua, a righteous person, died for our sins – an
unrighteous people, and that Adonai had a plan for redemption even during the
times of Noah. God waited patiently during the building of the ark for those who
were disobedient to repent. The flood prefigured the mikveh, or immersion in
water, that is one’s pledge to keep a good conscience towards God through the
resurrection of Yeshua.
Igarath, Hebrews 3:12-19
The writer of Hebrews continues the admonition by the Ruach HaKodesh, to
not harden our hearts as Israel did when they continually put God to the test in
the wilderness. We are all commanded to continually exhort one another, so none
of us will harden our hearts through the deceit of sin. That will keep us from
apostasy, or turning from our faith in Adonai. The people who died in the
wilderness were those who did not have an active faith in the provision of
Adonai, they could not enter His rest.
Conclusion
In Torah, judgment came upon all peoples because they turned away from Adonoi.
Qeriath shows God’s judgment upon Gog and all his followers for opposing Him by
attacking Israel. Da'ath tells us that God had His plan of redemption in the
time of Noah, and it is complete through the sacrifice of Yeshua HaMashiach.
Igarath explains that in order to enter Adonai’s rest we must place our faith in
Yeshua, and through Him be obedient to God.
Barukh HaShem,
George Robinson