Noach (1): Man's Leading Role

The Sfas Emes asks a question that is central to understanding the whole Noach story: Hashem is omniscient, He knows everything. If everything is revealed before Him, then Hashem already knew from the time of creation that the whole world would be wiped out and restarted with Noach. If this was known, then why not just start with Noach and his family the first time? What is the need to start with Adam HaRishon, watch the whole world deteriorate and the hit the reset button?

Chazal say, גדול מעשה צדיקים יותר ממעשה שמים וארץ, the actions of the Tzadikim are greater than the creation of earth. Why is this so? Chazal explain is many places that by doing the right thing we take part in the ongoing process of maintaining the world.

For example, in a general sense Chazal explain that the world was created with עשר מאמרות, ten G-dly utterances to give good reward to the Tzadikim who upkeep such a nuanced world. We see that the Tzadikim are considered a key part of the what keeps the world turning. Even something as simple as reciting the passage of ויכולו on Friday night allows one the honor of being considered a partner in the creation of the world.

Hashem is the בורא עולם, the creator of the world. But, He implanted within us a soul, a חלק אלוק' ממעל, a Divine Spark that emanates from His Essence so-to-speak. That spark gives us the opportunity to become creators of the world right alongside HaKadosh Baruch Hu Himself. The actualization of this potential is the greatest Kiddush Hashem because it demonstrates Hashem's presence within man.

This is the secret of גדול מעשה צדיקים יותר ממעשה שמים וארץ. More than Hashem wants to create the world, He wants to show us that we too are capable of being creators. We can ascend to such heights.

This is why Hashem chose to make the world twice. The first time around was only there to show Hashem as the Designer of reality. But that brought us Noach who was meritorious enough to take an active role in starting the world again. Hashem created the world the first time, and brought us a Noach to teach us גדול מעשה צדיקים יותר ממעשה שמים וארץ. 

Hashem wants us to know how potent our actions are. Everything we do adds a stroke of color on the fabric of life. We are not in the back seat of history, passively letting it unfold before us. By instilling within us a soul Hashem puts us in the driver's seat and reveals to us our integral role in the unfolding of the the universe's story.