Your Reward for Caring for Others

Parsha Nugget Noach – Genesis 6:9-11-32

I bet you have met someone who professes to be devoted to G-d but does not treat people very nicely. Considered from the standpoint of a ruler, it would make sense to be most concerned with how you treat the King of Kings. But if so, Parshas Noach, has the punishments backwards:

“And G-d dispersed them from there over the face of all the earth.” (Genesis/Bereishis 11:8)

Your Reward for Caring for Others

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The parsha for this Sabbath is Noach. In it we read about G-d choosing Noah to save humans, animals, birds, and creeping things from total destruction in the flood He is bringing on account of the irredeemable corruption among people. Rain falls for 40 days and nights. The waters churn for another 150 days.After they recede Noah brings an offering to G-d. But then he defiles himself by getting drunk on wine. One of his sons, Ham, reveals his base character when he sees his father naked and inebriated in his tent then goes and tells his other brothers who handle the incident properly and are blessed for it. The

After they recede Noah brings an offering to G-d. But then he defiles himself by getting drunk on wine. One of his sons, Ham, reveals his base character when he sees his father naked and inebriated in his tent then goes and tells his other brothers who handle the incident properly and are blessed for it. The parsha concludes with a listing of the descendants from Noah that formed the 70 nations, the story of the tower of Babel and dispersion of the nations, and the ten generations from Noah to Abraham.

The tower of Babel’s builders determined to set themselves up as equal to G-d. As well, they may have intended to prevent the Almighty from bringing another flood, thereby signaling they had no faith when He covenanted not to so do again. For this direct assault on his authority, the Master of the World dispersed humanity across the whole earth and separated people through numerous languages.

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The generation of the flood committed sexual immorality, idolatry, and robbery. Note their crimes were primarily against each other. Idolatry is evil as much from enticing others into it throes as from showing contempt for G-d. For abusing each other, the Almighty sentences humanity to destruction, saving only Noah and his family.

Our Heavenly Father punishes those who prey on His children far more harshly than those who show Him disrespect. While you are better off revering G-d, He does not need your praise and prayers. But existence becomes intolerable if another person victimizes you.

The message is clear:

You Honor G-d Best by Caring Other People

When somebody mistreats another person he desecrates G-d’s name, especially if he claims devotion to Him. By contrast, when you look after the needs of the Almighty’s children not only are you serving humanity you are rewarded by exalting G-d.

Question – What have you done recently to care for someone?
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Every year beginning on Simchas Torah, the cycle of reading the Torah, the first five books of the Bible, ends and begins again. Each Sabbath a portion known as a sedra or parsha is read. Its name comes from the first significant word or two with which this weekly reading begins.

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