Page:A Jewish Interpretation of the Book of Genesis (Morgenstern, 1919, jewishinterpreta00morg).pdf/97

 The flood and

significant

supreme,

contrast,

In the Babylonian story the ship

cared

But

in

the

in

guided by His [jrovidence, that

purpose might be

is

at

Biljle

sublime

is

the

spiritual.

sailors

and

ark floats along,

no danger of last

only one,

and

manned by

story

Biblical

God, and

only by

for

the

the (jod of

and all-powerful,

all-wise

helmsman.

79,

foundering,

His wise and loving

fulfilled.

But one difference is significant above all others. The flood is brought by the Babylonian gods and all mankind is destroyed merely because one god has been personally angered by the people of a single city. Only through the favor In of another god do one man and those with him escape.

marked

contrast,

the

Biblical

story

depicts

the

increasing

Only

sinfulness of mankind, despite God's purpose of good.

after waiting patiently for ten long generations in the hope

mankind would repent of its evil, and only when, at convinced of the total and hopeless corruption of the human race, does God, in sorrow, determine upon their destruction. But the one man who does not merit the common fate, him alone wath his family God saves. "Noah was in his generation a man righteous and wholeThus the Bible charachearted; Noah walked with God." terizes the hero of the flood-story, and at the same time contrasts him with the rest of his generation. "Noah walked

that

last,

with God".

In this simple phrase the entire Jewish scheme

up. God has placed us here on earth, we He has endowed us have learned, for a definite purpose. with rich gifts and powers, and has bidden us use these to

of

life is

fulfil

summed

the purpose of

existence.

If

we

obey,

then

we

live

as God has meant that we should live, and mankind is Such living the Bible calls walking blessed by our living. with God, treading the path of life which He has ordained. To turn away from God and to cease to walk with Him and in His path is rebellion against God and defiance of His

law of

life.

The Hebrew verb

for to

turn

awav

is

sur.