Download a PDF Copy here: The Just Men are Men of Covenant

Noah was a just man, perfect in his generations. Noah walked with God. And Noah begot three sons: Shem, Ham, and Japheth. The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence. So God looked upon the earth, and indeed it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted their way on the earth. And God said to Noah, “The end of all flesh has come before Me, for the earth is filled with violence through them; and behold, I will destroy them with the earth. Make yourself an ark of gopherwood; make rooms in the ark, and cover it inside and outside with pitch. And this is how you shall make it…” (Genesis 6:9-15).

Genesis 6:9 tells us clearly that Noah was a Just Man – perfect in his generations. What does this mean, because we know he did not live a perfect life. In fact, no man can live a perfect life without sin, for it is written: “for no one alive is righteous before You” (Psalm 143:2) and Romans 3:10 tells us: “No one is righteous— not even one”. We must understand that Noah was a descendant of Adam and Eve, therefore was subject to the curse of sin of Adam, as were all of the corrupt flesh upon the earth that God chose to wipe out.

Why Noah? As I discussed in The ‘Just Men’ Must Stand – I See Everything, the words “Just Man” come from the Greek words δίκαιος ὢν (dikaios ōn) meaning “being righteous”, or standing  up for what is true and right. In Judaism, a tzadik or ‘righteous one’ is a man or woman (tzadeikes in case of a woman) who according to Maimonides is “ones whose merit surpasses his iniquity” and has attained a connection to Shekhinah (Holy Spirit).[1] When considering whether this has merit or not, one must remember that Jesus Christ was a Hebrew Jew who fulfilled all of his obligations under the law of Moses. Yes, He gave his life for us, but should we continue to sin? No, we should live as Just Men and Women in the sight of God.

Noah was chosen not because he “was righteous”, but the Book of Jubilees 5:5 (Earliest Bible, Dead Sea Scrolls) tells us, “but Noah found grace before the eyes of the Lord”. The Book of Jubilees tells us why it was accounted to Noah as righteousness:

And He is not one who will regard the person (of any), nor is He one who will receive gifts, if He says that He will execute judgment on each: if one gave everything that is on the earth, He will not regard the gifts or the person (of any), nor accept anything at his hands, for He is a righteous judge. [And of the children of Israel it has been written and ordained: If they turn to him in righteousness He will forgive all their transgressions and pardon all their sins. It is written and ordained that He will show mercy to all who turn from all their guilt once each year.] And as for all those who corrupted their ways and their thoughts before the flood, no man’s person was accepted save that of Noah alone; for his person was accepted in behalf of his sons, whom (God) saved from the waters of the flood on his account; for his heart was righteous in all his ways, according as it was commanded regarding him, and he had not departed from aught that was ordained for him. (Jubilees 5:16-20)

If the children of Israel “turn to Him in righteousness, He will forgive all their transgressions and pardon all their sins”. We find it was Noah alone who repented for his sins, and on behalf of his family. This was accounted to him as “righteousness”. Repentance leads to righteousness and blessing, but as we know, there are some hard roads and tests along the way to be accounted as a tzadik – a ‘Just Man’.

God made him a promise in Genesis 6:18, “But I will establish My covenant with you; and you shall go into the ark—you, your sons, your wife, and your sons’ wives with you”. The Ark was His covenant with Noah! This was the beginning of the blessed lineage of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob – it began with the Ark of the Covenant with Noah – to unite the Upper (Heaven) and Lower Worlds (earth), to keep the seed alive! “The Righteous Ones are the foundation of the world” (Proverbs 10:25). Noah walked with God. The Hebrew words are הָֽאֱלֹהִ֖ים (ha Elohim), meaning with Elohim (Christ). Noah was the first tzadik of many who formed the foundation of the new world – the covenant of peace (Ezekiel 34:25).

After the flood, Noah upon leaving the Ark built an altar to the Lord, and entered into a Covenant with God. He proclaimed a new era of prosperity, with an abating of the curse of Adam, in that instead of thorns and thistles, Noah introduced the plough and sowed wheat. This was a great blessing that has stood the test of time right up to this very day in the making of bread.

With repentance any of us can rise as a ‘Just Man’ or ‘Just Woman’ and do great things in our lives. Make a Covenant with God today, and watch the blessings flow in your life. However, be sure to follow that through, and not get drunk like Noah, who fell into a drunken stupor and was found naked in his tent, and allowed Canaan to be cursed by the chuckling of his sons. This is why many ‘Just Men’ take the Nazarite vow for purity. If you feel this is for you, then do so. If it is not, then have a drink, but do not get drunk and make a fool of yourself. The consequences may be significant and you may not even realize why.

Noah was a man who walked with Elohim (Christ), talked with Him, listened to Him, and obeyed when he was given a command. He came to God through repentance and it was accounted to him as righteousness. We can learn a great deal from this ‘Just Man’ who made a Covenant with God. Noah was the first tzadik of many who formed the foundation of the new world. Will you choose to follow his lead?

Selah.

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© 2019 inclusive Dr Peter D Matthews. All rights reserved. This academic paper may be freely used for academic purposes, subject to citing Dr Peter D Matthews as the author.

[1] Mishneh Torah, Sefer Madda, Laws of Repentance 3:1, Babylonian Talmud 49b-50a.