Walking with God When the World Loses Its Way | Parshat Noach

The Torah says, "Noah walked with God." When the world around him lost its way, Noah still knew who he was following. And then God reveals to Noah something that no one around him knows. And behold, I am bringing the flood of waters upon the earth. But along with the knowledge comes a command, make yourself an ark of gopherwood. And the building of the ark lasted 120 years. Rashi brings the words of our sages so that the people of his generation would see him, ask him what he's doing, and he'd tell them that God is going to bring a flood to the world. Maybe they would repent. And then the moment arrives. Come, you and your family, into the ark. Seven more days were given, more time, another chance to change. And God shut him in. And the rain was upon the earth 40 days and 40 nights. A whole world that was sure it would go on as usual is no more. Inside one small ark, the future is preserved. And God remembered Noah. The waters begin to recede. He sent forth the dove to see if the waters were abaded, and in her mouth was an olive leaf. The world begins to return, but Noah waits for the command. And God spoke to Noah, saying, "Go forth from the ark, the same earth, but a new beginning.