Light in the Darkness: Noah’s True Mission

The story of the flood does not start with rain and does not finish once the rain stops. We learn about the people of the food generation, their lifestyle and their mistakes. Trying to relate to that experience makes us question our own attitude and ability to recognise the need for action.

As we are making a quick overview of the story, we find ourselves watching Noah and his
family in the ark. The rain starts, and they are all together floating in the water. They had no idea how long the rain would continue to fall. Surely they were happy to be safe inside,
however the uncertainty of the situation is hard to underestimate.

Now we are able to read the story, and we know the outcome, but let’s be honest – even at our homes, to see rain falling day in and day out is often bringing melancholy. If this is the case, how much more difficult it is to be away from your home, looking after animals (often physically exhausting and far from a clean job) with a single source of light. Although it is a discussion what kind of light was in the ark – some will tell you that it was an opening in the roof (like a skylight), or maybe it was a luminous stone (like a light globe), or maybe it was a spiritual light.

No matter what we think about it, this was not an “all expenses paid” luxury cruise. Life in the ark was physically and emotionally challenging. We can try to imagine looking after the animals day in and day out, while all they could see outside is rain for 40 days and 40 nights. Maybe the Creator asked Noah to look after the animals, so there would be no room for melancholy or even silly thoughts. After all, animals could have been recreated or just hibernating during the flood. So obviously it was done for the benefit of the humans.

Therefore, we can start realising the importance of keeping busy. The Creator in His infinite Wisdom gives us the gift of cocreating this world with Him. It is not a need in any shape or form; it is compassion towards humanity. If we are honest and look around, we will see that people who are busy with positive impact action are happier and healthier. They are able to receive blessings with joy.

Our sages are teaching us about the concept of the bread of shame. It sounds harsh; however, the point is to work for everything we have. Once we as humans put in the effort to achieve any target, we will feel happier with success. On the contrary, anything received without effort and purely as a gift is not as pleasurable (and often not cherished). Nowadays, we see the negative impact on people receiving social security payments, as it often turns into intergenerational traumatic experiences. Make no mistake, we have to try to support people during harsh times, however it needs to be in a way that helps to rebuild their self-esteem and ability to return to a productive lifestyle.

Additionally, we know that one of the missions that Noah and his family were entrusted with was to repopulate and take care of the world. Animals are a large part of it. By feeding and overall looking after the animals, a special bond was created. Armed with this bond, Noah would have a clearer vision of his mission as well as be able to appreciate the intricate laws of nature.

There are more lessons to be derived from the story, so let’s continue our journey through history next time. For now, let us use the lesson of appreciation and acknowledgement of all the gifts coming from our Creator. When we see our lives being spared and things are looking up for us, the attitude of gratitude is a healthy lifestyle option.