Dear Friends,

Noah, the "hero" of the flood story, was saved because: "...Noah was a righteous man; he was blameless in his age; Noah walked with God." (Gen 6:9)

However, later on when God spoke to Avraham, he instructed him: "...walk before Me and be blameless..." (Gen. 17:1)

That is, Noah walked with God while Avraham walked before God.

The rabbis explained the difference: Even though Noah was righteous in his generation, in absolute moral terms he was like a small child. Noah needed constant attention, direction, and supervision. Therefore "Noah walked with God."

Abraham

Avraham, however was morally mature and righteous by any measure. He did not need God's constant prodding and was allowed more freedom. Therefore, as with an older child, Avraham walked before God.
 

One of the clearest examples of the difference in the ethical maturity of the two is how they each responded to God's warnings of destruction.

When God said to Noah: "I have decided to put an end to all flesh, for the earth is filled with lawlessness because of them..," Noah was silent. According to the Zohar, Noah was silent because he felt powerless to stop the upcoming destruction. Given the opportunity for him and his family to escape the onslaught, he seized it without hesitation. He did not question or protest.

However, when God told Avraham about the impending doom of Sodom and Gemorrah, Avraham refused to hold his tongue. He protested and argued with God in an attempt to save the city: "Will you sweep away the innocent along with the guilty?..Far be it from You to do such a thing, to bring death upon the innocent as well as the guilty, so that the innocent and guilty fare alike. Far be if from You! Shall not the judge of the earth deal justly?" (Gen. 18:23-25) Although the cities were ultimately destroyed, it was not for lack of Avraham's efforts to save them.

Noah demonstrated his moral immaturity when he declined to protest God's actions and refused to beg for mercy on behalf of his fellow creatures. He was saved only because he was the best of what could be had at that time.

Avraham, however, refused to accept what he perceived as injustice. When he saw something wrong, he protested, even when he believed that it was God Godself who was in need of reprimand.

This is why Avraham, and not Noah, became the progenitor of the Jewish people: it was because of the moral life he led and the righteous indignation he displayed in the face of injustice.

As Jews we are obligated to follow in Avraham's footsteps, protesting injustice and inequity wherever they are found, regardless of who perpetuates them.