The Progress of History

1. The first thousand years, expressed the attribute of Chessed, kindness.

There were righteous men who lived during that era - Adam, Chanoch, Mesuchelach [Methuselah] - but they were isolated from the people around them.

Indeed, even with regard to their own Divine service, it can be said, that their connection to G-d, was dependent on the awareness of G-d, that they were granted from Above, and not on their own efforts.

As the commentaries explain [16] with regard to Chanoch, although he was righteous, he was easily influenced; and would have had difficulty maintaining, his virtue.

Although there was good in the world, it came from Above and did not affect the world. Therefore, the world became corrupt and decadent.
_________
2. The second thousand year period, manifested the quality of din, judgment.

Judgment involves, taking a careful look at the subject being judged. In this motif, the refinement of the world became important. Not only was good to be revealed from above, but man would also have to work bring reveal the good, that lies latent within the world.

This process was begun by Noach [Noah]
____________
To illustrate the difference between these two millennia by analogy: There are two ways in which a teacher can instruct a student.

He can teach the student ideas, explaining concept after concept, in a manner which the student could not grasp on his own. In this way, he gives him a multitude of information, and exposes him to a higher way of understanding.

Alternatively, the teacher can endeavor to mold the student's process of thought. His goal is not to explain ideas, but to teach the student to discover explanations on his own.
__________
Each path has an advantage. With regard to the depth of the concepts understood, there is an advantage to the first path. Since the first student is involved with the teacher's ideas, he will reach higher peaks than the second; who is dependent on his own, more limited, potential.

On the other hand, the first student's own powers of understanding, will not change. Although he will be able to repeat his teacher's wisdom, he himself will not have become wise and will not be capable of grasping new ideas.

The second student, by contrast, will lack the brilliance and clarity that results from his teacher's explanation, but he will have learned to think for himself.
____________
In the same way, in the first millennium of existence, the emphasis was on G-d's beneficence. Mankind, as it existed for itself, remained corrupt.

In the second millennium, the focus shifted to man's efforts to refine the world. The one who initiated this new thrust of Divine service was Noach. [18] His efforts began with himself.

For he was in contact with the wicked people around him, but was not swayed by them. Day after day, he rebuked them, and tried to influence them to refine their conduct.

Although he was not successful in affecting them, the fact that he personally remained righteous, despite his interaction with them [19], reflected the refinement he underwent within.
___________
On this basis, we can appreciate the inner purpose of the flood. G-d's fundamental intent, was not to punish the sinners, but rather to purify the world.

The depravity of the previous generations, had degraded the world to the extent, that man's striving toward refinement could not be carried out, within the world as it existed at that time. The entire framework of reference, had to be changed.

In that vein, our Sages [20] compare the flood to a mikveh, a ritual bath. Just as the 40 seah of water in a mikveh, [can] purge ritual impurity from an article or person; so, too, the 40 days of the flood, removed the evil and corruption from the world; thereby making it possible, for man to elevate even the material dimensions of our environment.
____________
One of the effects of this process of refinement, can be seen in the conduct of the animals. Among the signs of the decadence that preceded the flood, was that animals mated outside their species, disrupting the laws of nature.

While on the ark and indeed, even before they entered the ark, they abandoned this wantonness, and clung to their own kind. [21]
_____________
The Sages state [22] that Noach "saw a new world" when he emerged from the ark. Not only was the evil of the world washed away, and the world was returned to its natural state, but a new motif was initiated.

Instead, of only having good revealed from above, from this time onward, positive influence would be generated primarily by man's Divine service, within his surrounding environment; taking limited material entities, and using them for an infinite spiritual purpose.
_________
On this basis, we can understand the significance of the name Noach, a term associated with the concepts of rest and satisfaction.

For Noach's personal mission was, to establish calm and tranquility among mankind, and awaken satisfaction through his Divine service.

Moreover, the Torah repeats the name Noach twice in the same verse. [23] The Sages [24] interpret this to mean that, Noach's efforts to refine the world caused these qualities to be expressed, not only in this physical realm, but also in the spiritual realms above. [25]

This allows us to appreciate a positive connotation in the flood being called "the waters of Noach." [4] For it was the flood that purified the world, and made it possible for Noach and his descendants, to enter a new phase of Divine service, that would express these qualities.
_______
Although the new phase of Divine service begun by Noach, depended on his own initiative, it was inspired by a unique revelation from above.

Our Rabbis [26] point this out, noting that in Noach's ark, "a wolf dwelled with a lamb"; [27] predators didn't prey on the more docile animals. Why was this?

Because the spiritual climate that pervaded the ark was a foreglow, of the revelations that will encompass the world in the era of Mashiach.

The peace and tranquility [28] that will characterize that future era, prevailed within the ark. In order that this revelation would affect all existence, G-d commanded Noach to bring a microcosm of creation into the ark: humans, animals, and plants.

Their experience within the ark, endowed them with the inner peace and tranquility, to conduct themselves differently afterwards.
_________
The new phase of Divine service initiated by Noach, was reflected in the first activity he performed after leaving the ark: offering sacrifices.

Korban, the Hebrew word for a sacrifice, relates to the word karov, meaning "close." [29]

The purpose of the sacrifices is to draw the material elements of existence, closer to G-d, elevating them to Him. This was where Noach focused his efforts, upon emerging from the ark.

Noach's sacrifices evoked Divine satisfaction and favor, [30] prompting Him to establish a covenant with Noach and his descendants. [31]
___________
At that time, G-d blessed Noach: [32] "Be fruitful and multiply and populate the earth," renewing the blessing, he had given to Adam. [33]

There is, however, a difference in the wording of these two blessings. Adam is told to "conquer" the world, while no such blessing is given to Noach.

Conquest implies, imposing one's will, forcing the vanquished entity to do what the conqueror wants against its own tendencies.

This was appropriate for the spiritual gestalt that prevailed at Adam's time, for then, good had to be invested in the world from above, against its nature, as it were.

Noach's mission, by contrast, was to bring out the positive potential that exists, within the world itself, to show, that within the context of its own definition, the world is good.
_________
The covenant with Noach, had no relation to any revealed levels of G-dliness, it was a bond with His very essence. And since it was an expression of His essence, it encompassed even the lowest dimensions of material existence; [39] offering assurance that, "Never again will there be a flood, to destroy the earth."
_________
On one hand, G-d's relationship with Noach involved only the material dimension of existence. He was given the responsibility to create peaceful harmony within the world, but only within the limited material dimensions of the world.

In his era, the [Divine] decree separating the spiritual from the physical [40], was still intact. [41] Nevertheless, Noach was the beneficiary of the great love, described above.
_____________
We see a parallel to this on the mortal plane. With regard to the intellect and understanding, it is obvious, that we share far more with our adult children, or with those who have matured to the point, when their educational process has started.

But to whom do we grant our deepest expressions of love? To our young children, whose minds have not developed. With them, we are totally uninhibited, pouring out our inner resources of emotion.

On the other hand, no parent desires his child to remain an infant. He hopes that he will grow and mature, into the most complete person he could possibly be. Indeed, from the very beginning, he points him in that direction, giving him subtle hints toward the course of his development.
____________
In a similar way, Noach represents mankind's childhood, a level that precedes the sharing of thought, made possible by the Giving of the Torah.

For that reason, he was granted the great love described above. Nevertheless, the purpose of the love showered upon Noach, was to enable mankind, to proceed to the higher level of fulfillment, which would be realized with the Giving of the Torah. [42]

Moreover, implicit in G-d's covenant with Noach, was mankind's advancement towards the consummate fulfillment, that will characterize the era of Mashiach [the Messiah].

In this vein, the Zohar [43] explains, that the radiant colors of the rainbow showed to Noach, alludes to the splendor of that future era.
__________
The Seven Mitzvos commanded to Noach and his descendants, are of a different nature, than the 613 [Jewish] Mitzvos of the Torah.

The Mitzvos commanded to Noach, are intended to establish a settled environment, and develop harmony within mankind.

The Mitzvos given to the Jewish people, by contrast, are intended fundamentally, to establish a [transcendent] bond with G-d.