In Parshas Bereishis we learned about the birth of Noach. “And Lemech lived one hundred and twenty-eight years, and a son was born, and he called his name Noach, saying: This one will relieve us of our hard work and of the weariness of our hands, from the earth that Hashem cursed.”
Rashi explains that until Noach was born, there were no plows. The earth would bring forth thorns and thistles when they planted wheat, because of the curse of Adam Harishon. But in the days of Noach, the earth rested.
These words beg explanation. How did they already know when Noach was born that the earth would rest due to his efforts? The Rashbam explains that they said this as a tefillah – they davened to Hashem that this child would bring them peace and serenity.
Hashem created the world perfectly. All the needs of mankind were available to him without any toil. When Adam sinned, he was cursed by the decree, “By the sweat of your brow you shall eat bread.” The earth was ruined, and it would bring forth only thorns and thistles.
The birth of Noach took place at a time when Adam Harishon left the world. Hope descended upon the world at that time that perhaps now the decree was over. Perhaps now the world was to be rebuilt.
They expressed this hope practically, by calling the child who was born Noach, and they also expressed their hope that “this one shall comfort us,” or, as per the Rashbam’s explanation, they davened for peace.
They davened and spoke words of comfort, and this indeed stood by them, and plows and tools were invented to work the land.
This is a lesson for us not to be overwhelmed, but rather to be calm and relaxed, to depend on Hashem and hope for the good, to say that “it will be good,” and, b’ezras Hashem, it will indeed be good.
