Understanding Noach’s Faith & Challenge: What it means to us 

                   by Rabbi Yosef Kalatsky reprint from Torah.org  my change isa that YHVH replaces Hashem

The Torah tells us that YHVH commanded Noach to build a Tevah (Ark) according to specific dimensions. The project of building the Tevah and the gathering of all the food that was meant to feed the species who were to enter the Tevah took Noach 120 years. The Torah states, “Noach did according to everything G-d commanded him, so he did.” Rashi explains that this verse is referring to the fact that Noach followed YHVH's instructions regarding the building of the Tevah exactly. The question is why does the Torah need to tell us that Noach did exactly as YHVH  commanded him? Why would we think otherwise since the Torah tells us that Noach was devout and perfect in all of his generations? 

When the Torah refers to the Choke (Statute) of the Par Adumah (Red Heifer) it expresses itself as, “Zos chukkas ha’Torah (This is the Statute of the Torah).” The Midrash tells us that the Statute of the Par Adumah was not comprehendible even to Shlomo HaMelech (King Solomon (who is the wisest man to ever live). As he states in Ecclesiastes, “It is beyond me.” Meaning although we, as human beings, may have difficulty understanding this Statute we must follow it without question because it is the Decree of YHVH. Rashi cites the Midrash- “It is My decree and you have no right to question it.” The Statute of the Red Heifer is beyond human comprehension because the service of the Par Adumah, which is the process of removing the spiritual impurity of the contamination of the dead, purifies the person who was contaminated and contaminates the person who is in a pure state… If the Par Adumah inherently has the ability to purify then why does it contaminate the person who is pure? This contradiction exists only in the human realm; however, in the Divine realm there is no contradiction. Therefore the Torah states, “This is THE decree” – meaning that we must adhere to it regardless of our lack of understanding. 

The specifications of Noach’s Ark were approximately six hundred feet in length and one hundred feet in width and sixty feet in height. This Ark was meant to contain two of every non-Kosher species (including all reptiles, insects birds, domesticated and undomesticated animals) land and seven of every Kosher species, in addition to Noach and his family. It would seem that it is impossibility for this limited structure to accommodate this endless number of creatures. The building of the Ark would be an exercise of futility since something of a limited dimension cannot contain something beyond its capacity. It should have been reasonable that Noach would have had difficulty assuming this endeavor of the Ark because of the impossibility of its reality. Noach with unswerving faith in YHVH immediately began building the Ark. This is the meaning of the verse, “Noach did according to everything G-d commanded him, so he did.” 

The Midrash tells us that one of the reasons Noach built the Ark over 120 years was so that the people of the generation should see him building it and ask him -what it’s the purpose of this structure? By engaging in dialogue with the members of his generation, Noach would have the opportunity to alert them to the pending world destruction if they do not make corrections in their lives and do teshuvah (repent). Noach built the Ark despite the ridicule that he would receive when he would respond that the purpose of the Ark was to accommodate an endless number of living species – which was physically impossible. Noach nevertheless did not waiver and was not deterred. 

On a human level, one is able to understand the Splitting of the Sea because it is simply a question of parting the waters (which is not beyond YHVH's  ability); however, putting thousands of gallons of water into a three-ounce cup is beyond the human capacity to comprehend. One of the miracles which took place in the Bais HaMikdash (The Temple) was that although on Yom Kippur all those who were present in the Sanctuary stood pressed together – when they heard the pronouncement of the Name of YHVH,  by the High Priest, all those present prostrated themselves to their full length without any difficulty. The Bais HaMikdash in the physical context had a specific dimension; however, vis-à-vis its functionality it had an unlimited capacity. 

We are limited to the physical realm and cannot comprehend anything beyond that. Noach was able to negate his understanding to such a degree that he was able to follow the Dictate of YHVH egardless of his inability to comprehend the impossible. This aspect of Noach’s greatness is being communicated to us by the verse, “Noach did according to everything G-d commanded him so he did.” 

In life we face situations that are not comprehendible; however, if YHVH says that events will unfold in a certain manner then we accept them as fact. For example, at the end of time the Jewish people will confronted by all the nations of the world at the time of the Armageddon and ultimately we will defeat them. How is it possible that relatively speaking a handful of people are able to defeat an unlimited enemy? The answer is that if this is what YHVH has communicated to us through the Prophets then it will take place in its proper time. This is something that goes unquestioned. This is the perspective that a Jew and all YHVH's children must have. Noach is building the Ark, according to the specifications prescribed by YHVH to accommodate an unlimited number of animals, is the equivalent of following the Choke (Statute) of the Red Heifer.