Sondra Oster Baras of Christian Friends of Israeli Communities explains the significance of a Biblical covenant, which is a two-way street that God makes with humanity.
In the latest Torah portion focusing on Noah, we continue exploring themes introduced in the previous week’s reading. This analysis delves into humanity’s early relationship with God, the concept of divine covenants, and the consequences of human ambition divorced from divine guidance.
The story begins with God’s initial command to Adam and Eve to “be fruitful and multiply,” a directive that serves both as a commandment and a promise. This fundamental responsibility to procreate and manage the world forms the basis of humanity’s first covenant with God. However, as we saw in the previous portion, humanity’s wickedness led God to regret His creation, save for Noah, who “found favor with Hashem.”
Noah’s righteousness sets him apart, and God chooses him to restart humanity after the flood. The covenant established with Noah mirrors the original one given to Adam and Eve: “Be fertile and increase, and fill the earth.” This repetition underscores the continuity of God’s expectations for humanity, despite the reset brought about by the flood.
An interesting parallel is drawn between God’s planting of the Garden of Eden and Noah’s planting of a vineyard post-flood. Just as Adam and Eve’s consumption of forbidden fruit led to their downfall, Noah’s overindulgence in wine from his vineyard leads to a compromising situation with his sons. This episode serves as a stark reminder that even the righteous are susceptible to sin, and that the “restart” of humanity does not guarantee perfection.
The narrative then shifts to the Tower of Babel, a story that illustrates the dangers of human unity devoid of divine purpose. The people’s desire to “make a name for ourselves” is interpreted as an attempt to compete with or replace God. This misguided ambition leads God to confuse their languages and scatter them across the earth, effectively creating distinct nations.
This dispersion is seen not just as a punishment, but as a preparatory step for God’s next phase in relating to humanity. By creating separate nations, God lays the groundwork for selecting one nation – Israel – to serve as a vehicle for communicating righteousness to the world.
The lesson drawn from these stories is clear: humanity’s progress and unity are positive only when aligned with divine will. When human ambition seeks to replace or compete with God, it leads to division and scattering. The creation of nations, including the future nation of Israel, is presented as God’s solution to guide humanity back towards its divine purpose.
The Torah portions of Noah and the Tower of Babel offer profound insights into the early relationship between God and humanity. They demonstrate the recurring pattern of human failings, divine intervention, and the establishment of new systems for human-divine interaction. These stories set the stage for the upcoming narrative of Abraham and the birth of the Israelite nation, continuing the theme of God’s ongoing efforts to guide humanity towards righteousness.
