WHAT MAKES ABRAHAM BETTER THAN NOAH
There seems to be a general consensus that Abraham was a better man, better human being than Noah. I do not believe that we should dismiss Noah as a Tzaddik, a righteous person, however. Noah, imperfect though he MIGHT have been, still serves as a role model.
In Sefer B’reishit (Genesis) chapter IV verse 8 we are told “Noah found favor with the Lord.” This is the last verse of Parashat B’reishit. It is the conclusion of what is primarily the creation story and the genealogy of the first ten generations of humankind. From this we can infer that Noah did, indeed, have many admirable traits. But then, the immediately following verse creates room for ambiguity. Verse 9 say “… Noah was a righteous man, blameless in his age.” The question then arises: was Noah righteous compared to his generation, the people so evil that they were eventually annihilated in the great flood, or was he righteous in spite of them?
There is a big difference here. Comparative goodness is not necessarily real or absolute goodness. Was Wille Sutton a good man because he only robbed banks and did not murder people, or was he just better than (or not as bad as) Al Capone? The question arises because while Noah followed God’s instructions faithfully, we can wonder whether this was an act of faith or simply an act of fear; he might just have built the ark to save his own life. We need to ask if Noah included the animal kingdom on his passenger list out of love and compassion for our “furry friends,” out of a sense of needing them for work and food, or whether he obeyed God’s command out of fear of punishment or fear that he might not be saved at all. Finally, we note that Noah is never recorded as either pleading for God to spare his fellow humans or of his warning anybody else, not even any family, brothers, sisters, or cousins he might have of the impending disaster. So, there are big questions about Noah’s true character even as we accept the premise that he is basically righteous. (I personally come down on the side of despite his generation).
Abraham (or initially Abram), on the other hand, without any suggestion of impending doom, is told to get up from the home he has known for most of his life and move his family and belongings to a new place the God will show him, only because God says so, and he does. He rescues his nephew, Lot, from powerful kings because he sees that as the right thing to do, especially since Lot is family. Ater the birth of Yishmael, Abraham at great risk to his health and at risk of great pain, circumcises himself and his child, just because God said so, without any promise of reward of punishment. Abraham, even though, we can infer from the timing of the narrative, still in pain while recovering from the circumcision greets three strangers and feeds them a choice meal. God, referring to Abraham as beloved or my friend reveals God’s plan to wipe out the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. This is a key moment. When Noah heard about the flood, he built the ark to save himself with no regard for his neighbors and family. But, what does Abraham do? He argues with God. He invokes God self-proclaimed propensity for justice. He steps up for others just as he did when he rescued Lot.
Of course, Abraham is not without his flaws. He twice has Sarah lie about the nature of their relationship, claiming to be his sister rather than his wife. This leads two different kings to nearly commit the grievous sin of taking another man’s wife. This perceived need for subterfuge can be seen as displaying a failure of complete faith that God will provide protection. The troubling (at best) episode of the akeidah, the binding and near-sacrifice of Isaac, can leave one wondering just where the line is between being a person of faith and a fanatic.
So, what is Abraham’s true greatness? He obeys God’s commands of him. He shows an amazing level of faith in God and God’s promises to him. But, so did Noah. The difference is that Abraham was unselfish. He risked first his life and, later, God’s wrath to benefit people other than just himself. Upon leaving the ark Noah made sacrifices, offerings to the Lord (Genesis 8:20). Abraham stood up for and demanded justice. The book of Mishlei (Proverbs) 21;3 tells us that “to do what is right and just is more desirable to Adonai than sacrifice.” It is his compassion, his capacity for chesed, his caring that make Abraham the greater person
