That’s kind of what the ancient Rabbis were wrestling with when they looked at the story of Noah, specifically Genesis 7:6: “And Noah was six hundred years old, and the flood was water upon the earth.”
The Rabbis in Bereshit Rabbah, a collection of early rabbinic interpretations of the Book of Genesis, dove deep into this seemingly simple verse. They asked a fascinating question: How do we count the year of the Flood in Noah’s life? Does it even count toward his lifespan?
Rabbi Yehuda and Rabbi Neḥemya had differing opinions, as we often find in rabbinic discussions. Rabbi Yehuda argued that the year of the Flood isn’t included in the tally of Noah’s years. : Noah was 600 when the Flood began, lived another 350 years after (Genesis 9:28), and the Flood itself lasted a full year. Yet, his total lifespan is recorded as 950 years (Genesis 9:29). So, where does that year fit in?
Rabbi Neḥemya respectfully disagreed. He conceded that it might not be included in Noah’s personal tally, but insisted it absolutely counts in calendrical calculations. These calculations, based on the years since Creation, wouldn't simply skip over the year of the Flood. It’s a year in history, a year that shaped the world, and a year that factors into the unfolding of time itself.
It's a subtle point, but it highlights how the Rabbis saw time itself. Was it merely a personal experience, or part of a larger, divinely ordained order? Both, perhaps.
But the Rabbis didn't stop there. They continued their meticulous examination with Genesis 7:7: "Noah, and his sons, and his wife… came into the ark, because of the water of the flood."
Rabbi Yoḥanan offered a rather… unflattering assessment of Noah’s faith. He suggested that Noah wasn't exactly jumping at the chance to get into that ark. In fact, Rabbi Yoḥanan said, Noah was lacking in faith; if the water hadn't reached his ankles, he wouldn't have entered the ark at all!
Ouch.
This isn't a literal accusation, of course. It's an interpretation meant to highlight the human element in even the most righteous figures. Noah, despite being chosen by God, wasn't perfect. He had his doubts, his hesitations. He needed a little…push, shall we say, from the rising waters to fully commit.
What does this all mean for us? Perhaps it's a reminder that even when we're facing overwhelming circumstances – our own personal "floods" – every moment still matters. Even the toughest times are part of the bigger picture. And maybe, just maybe, it’s okay to need a little nudge to get where we need to be. Even Noah did.