It must have been overwhelming. And the very first thing he does? He builds an altar. But here's the kicker – God didn't tell him to!
So, why did Noah build an altar without being commanded? That's the question posed in the Midrash of Philo 20, and it's a good one.
It's a question that gets at the very heart of Noah's character. Was he just being proactive? Anxious to get back in God's good graces after, well, the whole world-ending flood thing? Or was there something deeper going on?
The text offers a fascinating glimpse into the rabbinic mind, wrestling with scripture and trying to understand the motivations of these biblical giants.
Sometimes, the most meaningful acts are the ones we aren't explicitly told to do. They spring from a place of deep understanding, a desire to connect with something larger than ourselves. Noah's altar, in that sense, might have been the most genuine expression of gratitude imaginable. A symbol of hope rising from the ashes of devastation.
What do you think? What would you have done?