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In Genesis 6, 10 generations after Adam and Eve, things are not going well in God's world. God observes that corruption and immorality are rampant and robbery is common.
God is furious, regrets creating humanity, and decides to destroy the world with a flood.
But there is also a glimmer of hope. God decides to save one man and his family and ultimately recreate the world through them. That man is Noah.
In Noah, God chose a righteous and extraordinarily gifted partner. (FOX News Photo/Joshua Commins)
God instructs Noah to build an ark, and God dictates its specifications. The Ark is large and complex, befitting a ship that is expected to save the future for humanity and vast numbers of animals.
Noah's Ark is 'buried in a mountain in Turkey' Expert says 3D scan proves existence of Biblical ship
We know very little about Noah when God chose him for this important mission. All we really know is that Noah was “a perfectly righteous man in his generation.” Commentators have long wondered and debated whether this meant that Noah was objectively right, or simply good compared to the rest of his corrupt generation. .
This passage leaves us wondering about the extent of Noah's righteousness, but it also clearly states something else. Noah builds the ark by himself. He is very skillful.
This fact, as Rabbi David Wolpe explains, reveals an important reason why God chose Noah. God chose Noah, at least in part, because he was so good at making things. If there was a righteous and bookish person like Noah, God would never choose that person. God needed a righteous and extraordinarily gifted partner.
Rabbi Wolpe's explanation is obvious if you think about it. It's so obvious that you want to bang your head and say, “Of course! Why didn't I know that?”
A Bible story that combines faith, family, and fun comes to life at Kentucky's Ark Encounter.
The answer may come from a 2021 YouGov survey that looked at what people in different countries want from their children's careers. The survey found that people around the world differ in what kind of career they are proud of.
Respondents around the world want their children to become doctors or scientists. What about social media influencers? The Indians are very encouraging, the Americans are skeptical, and the Spaniards are very disappointed. nurse? Americans are very proud, Poles are not. Miner? In Australia it's 'yes', in Italy it's 'no'.
The data reveals a deeper commonality than respect for doctors and scientists. That is, respondents in every country value certain occupations more highly than others. Although the hierarchy of values varies by region, respondents in all countries value certain professions much more highly than others.
No country takes into account what can be called “diversity of skill sets.” No wonder readers of the Bible do not immediately think of Rabbi Wolpe's obvious answer to the question of why God chose Noah.
Perhaps God is disappointed with the YouGov investigation and its results. God doesn't just need Noah's architectural acumen at this time. God shows us throughout the Bible that He values different skill sets.
A 3,000-year-old tablet that tells the story of Noah's Ark in Babylonia may be the “oldest example of fake news in history,'' a scholar says.
In Exodus 31, God commands Moses to build a tabernacle. God could have left it at that and trusted Moses to be a capable general contractor. But that's not what God does. He lists the professions that should be included in the construction of the tabernacle. They include weavers, perfumers, artists, metalworkers, sculptors, sculptors, and more. Why does God list so many professions individually?
God explains, “I have given skill to all who are skilled.” Anyone who is skilled at something has a gift from God and should be recognized as such.
During the exodus from Egypt, Moses received stone tablets with the Ten Commandments written on Mount Sinai. From “Sunday Reading for Young People'', published by Wells, Gardner & Co., Darton & Co., London in 1895. (St. Petersburg)
This Biblical truth should have become clear during the coronavirus pandemic, when workers in “essential occupations” were exempted from the lockdown. Despite widespread recognition that food processing plant workers, utility workers, and gas station workers are “essential,” people around the world still clearly do not consider them “essential.” They tend to respect people more in roles where they are not.
A decent society requires many features to function well. From Torah weavers to New Jersey gas station attendants, the people who fill these roles deserve respect.
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There is one organization in modern society that exemplifies the power of, and to some extent builds on, the power of diversity in skill sets. This is the Israel Defense Forces.
Most militaries automatically or effectively disqualify individuals with autism from serving in the military. However, the IDF actively recruits them in a program known as Roim Rachok (Seeing More). The program shows that people with autism are far better at spotting patterns, processing details, noticing subtle changes in visual data, and focusing than their neurotypical peers. It is based on the recognition that there are many.
Israeli soldiers look on as yellow ribbons and the number “365'' indicating the number of days since the Hamas terrorist attack are displayed alongside photos of the victims in Jerusalem, October 6, 2024. (Ahmad Gharabli/AFP via Getty Images)
Similarly, most militaries disqualify people who have developmental disabilities and do not exceed a certain IQ threshold. The Israel Defense Forces recruits them in a program known as “Special in Uniform.” The IDF found these soldiers to be competent in food services, material management, and administrative tasks.
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Additionally, the IDF determined that the presence of developmentally delayed soldiers could motivate other soldiers who were struggling. They are inspired by how hard-working and dedicated their colleagues are despite significant challenges.
God must be proud.
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