If you ask anyone “Who was the first person to recognize Hashem?,” they will definitely answer “Avraham Avinu”. However, asks Rav Yonasan Eibshitz, the pasuk very clearly tells us “es haElokim hishalech Noach” – that Noach walked with Hashem. Wasn’t Noach the first to recognize Hashem?
There are two levels in recognizing Hashem. The first level is that a person looks at the world around him and realizes that there must be a Creator who designed and maintains the world. The second level is to recognize and be blown away, to be so inspired that you feel that you have to inspire others as well. That is the difference between Avraham and Noach. Avraham spread the knowledge of Hashem to the entire world. Noach recognized Hashem as well, but he didn’t spread that knowledge. Why not?
The gemara says in Berachos (48.) that as young children, Abaye and Rava were eating at the home of Rabba. At the conclusion of the meal, Rabba asked them “To Whom does one make a blessing?” When they answered, “to Hashem”, Rabba asked them, “and where does the Hashem reside?” Rava pointed to the ceiling, whereas Abaye went outside and pointed to the heavens. Rabba then said to them, “You will both become sages”. Commenting on this, the Gemara notes, “This is what people say: Pumpkin, pumpkin, from the stalk we know you”. The signs of one’s potential greatness are evident from a very young age. (It is the job of parents, teachers and community to cultivate and develop that potential.)
Rav Pinchas Friedman says there are two types of Tzadikim. The first type of Tzadik secludes himself and purifies himself in avodas Hashem until he reaches great heights. The second type of Tzadik is not content with perfecting his own avodas Hashem. He feels compelled to teach others and tries to help them come closer to Hashem. This type of Tzadik is busy with the klal, and as a result he cannot devote all his time and strength to his own avodah. It seems that he loses out due to his involvement in helping others, but the truth is that this type of Tzadik is more beloved to Hashem. The involved Tzadik has so much ahavas Hashem that he is willing to be moser nefesh and give up on his own avodah for the sake of Hashem.
The Baal Shem Tov (Toldos Yaakov Yosef Parshas Beha’alosicha) says that if a person wants to save someone from drowning, he has to make sure that he’s strong enough to pull the person out of the ocean. If he’s not strong enough, not only won’t he save the victim, but he will end up drowning as well! The same applies to one who wishes to help others do teshuvah. He must make sure that he is strong enough spiritually to influence the sinner, or else he will be the one getting influenced! We unfortunately see people with good intentions who wish to bring others closer to Torah. However, when they aren’t strong themselves in Yiddishkeit, not only do they fail in bringing others closer to Hashem, but they themselves fall in their observance.
Says the Koshnitzer Magid: (Avodas Yisroel – Chanukah – Shabbos 21) The ner Chanukah is placed outside; however, at a time of danger, you should place it inside on a table. What does it mean “in a time of danger”? A time of danger, he explains, is when there is a danger of influence from the outside. Ner Chanukah is supposed to spread knowledge of Hashem far and wide. But if there’s a danger of the outside influences coming inside, then you should light inside. That’s a time to seclude yourself and work on your avodas Hashem. Don’t try influencing others when there’s a danger that you might become influenced negatively as a result. Again, we see this concept that a person cannot reach out to bring others to teshuvah unless he himself is so strong that there is no danger of influence.
This is peshat in the gemara in Brachos. Raba asked Abaye and Rava, “Where is Hashem?,” meaning, which way is the correct path in a person’s avodas Hashem? Rava pointed to the ceiling, indicating that a person must first work on his own avodas Hashem and perfect it before anything else. Abaye pointed outside to the heavens, meaning that a person must spread knowledge of Hashem and teach others Torah. Raba commented that he could tell that these youngsters would both grow up to be great talmidei chochomim, because they were both correct. A yid tries his best to perfect himself and reach great heights in his own personal growth. And only if and when he’s strong enough should he reach out and help others grow as well.
Now we can understand why Noach secluded himself and was not working on spreading his knowledge to others. Because that generation was so corrupt, Noach with great humility felt that he was not strong enough to go out and influence others without getting affected. And so, he remained secluded, not venturing out to teach his generation. Avraham Avinu, on the other hand, did reach out and taught his generation to recognize Hashem. And that’s why only Avraham is Avinu and not Noach.
