After נח was saved from the מבול, he built a מזבח and brought קרבנות.
Hashem “smelled the pleasing fragrance” of the קרבנות.
He was so ___________ with the קרבנות that נח brought, that He swore that he would never again destroy the world as He had done with the מבול, and that as long as the world lasts the annual cycle of the seasons will not stop.
The מדרש explains that Hashem’s promise came about not only because of the pleasure of the קרבנות brought by נח, but by the ____ _______, the self-sacrifice of אברהם אבינו who would allow himself to be thrown into the fiery furnace, as well the מסירת נפש of חנני', מישאל, עזרי' who were also thrown into a fiery furnace, and the מסירת נפש of Yidden throughout history who faced similar tests.
Question
Why was the pleasure that Hashem had from the קרבנות that ___ brought not enough?
Why was it specifically the מסירת נפש of later generations that brought about Hashem’s covenant with נח?
Answer / Life Lesson
When a person acts with מסירת נפש, there is nothing that stops him from doing Hashem’s will.
He will continue to do what Hashem wants him to do, no matter what the circumstances are.
It is specifically ______ behavior – serving Hashem in a consistent way and not stopping for anything – that brings about the promise from Hashem that He, too, will give existence to the world and ensure that the cycle of the seasons continue to function ____________, and not stop.
Further Discussion
The constancy of nature itself reflects the infinite power of Hashem.
How is this same idea reflected in מסירת נפש?
(See אותיות ח-ט in the Sicha)
