Page:A Jewish Interpretation of the Book of Genesis (Morgenstern, 1919, jewishinterpreta00morg).pdf/99

 The Flood perhaps not bring the flood



for

81

God

is

truly,

as the Bible

and gracious, long-suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth." (Exodus XXXIV, 6.) But they only laughed 'at Noah and his words. Years passed and the trees grew big and strong. Noah continued to urge the people to repent, but still they laughed and mocked and persisted in At last Noah began to cut down the trees their evil w^ays. says, "merciful

With only

and build the ark.

his

three

sons

help

to

he

labored on, believing firmly in (lod's word, while the people scoffed

more loudly than

and Noah and

his

ever.

Soon the ark was completed Seven

family and the animals entered.

more days God allowed, as the final opportunity for the people to repent. Though the clouds were dark and lightning flashed, they refused to believe or to cease from their sinful conduct. But when the flood began and the water rose higher and higher, they crowded about the ark, and in fear and anguish declared that now they believed and repented and were sorry for their past, and begged to be taken in. Thus sinners do always when the consequences of their sin at last come upon them. But all in vain; God Himself had closed up the ark, and it was not to be opened until the flood had ceased. peo])le

in

As

the

waters

rose

higher

despair ascended the mountains.

the highest summits were covered and

without

tiie

ark

all

and

higher,

the

Soon, however, living

perished, and the race of sinners

creatures

came

to

an end.

But the one righteous man in that generation, the one man with God and lived the life He intended that live, and who tried by word and example to lead others to righteousness, him and his family God kept alive to become the parents of a new and better and more righteous race. With him He established His covenant, and sealed the covenant with His bow, the rainbow which shines so beautifully in the sky, when the bright sun breaks through and scatters the dark clouds, whose ends seem to rest upon

who walked man should