In Bereshit Rabbah, a classic collection of rabbinic interpretations on the Book of Genesis, we find a fascinating discussion about the depth of that relationship.

Rabbi Yoḥanan, Rabbi Shimon ben Lakish, and a group simply called "the Rabbis" couldn't quite agree, each offering a unique perspective.

Rabbi Yoḥanan uses a beautiful analogy: imagine walking down the road and meeting someone, and you just click. To what extent does that initial connection go? Yoḥanan says it deepens into a real friendship. Just like Joseph found favor in Potiphar's eyes, leading to a bond of friendship. As it says in Genesis 39:4, "Joseph found favor in his eyes." So too, God befriended Noah, as it were.

But Rabbi Shimon ben Lakish sees it differently. He also pictures two people meeting on the road, but this time, the connection leads to something more powerful: authority. Think of Esther, who "found favor in the eyes of all who saw her" (Esther 2:15). This favor ultimately led to her becoming queen. For Rabbi Shimon ben Lakish, Noah finding favor meant he was given mastery over all living things, as described in Genesis 9:2.

Then we have the perspective of "the Rabbis." Their analogy? Meeting someone on the road and developing such a strong connection that you give them your daughter in marriage! This is a much more profound level of intimacy and trust. They connect this to the verse in Zechariah 12:10, "I will pour a spirit of grace and supplication upon the house of David." The Rabbis understood this as a spirit of divine wisdom, often personified as one's "daughter" – a reference, explains the Maharzu commentary, to profound wisdom. So, Noah, by finding favor, was granted exceptional wisdom.

And just how profound was this wisdom? The Midrash continues, explaining that Noah possessed the incredible knowledge to know precisely when each animal needed to be fed – which one at the second hour of the day, and which at the third hour of the night! This is no small feat. Think of the sheer amount of knowledge and understanding of the natural world that would require!

So, what does all of this tell us? The Rabbis are showing us that finding "favor" in God's eyes isn't just a passive blessing. It represents a deep, multifaceted relationship that can manifest as friendship, authority, or profound wisdom. It’s a connection that empowers and elevates the individual.

Perhaps, then, the next time we read about someone finding favor, we can remember these interpretations and appreciate the richness and complexity of that divine connection. It's not just about being liked; it's about entering into a transformative relationship with the Divine.