The Sfas Emes zy'a (אלה ה"ד ב"תרנ) asks: Everything is revealed before Hashem yisbarach. From the beginning of creation, Hashem knew that the world would be destroyed in the mabul. Hashem could have created the world starting from Noach's time! Why did Hashem create a world only to destroy it?
Sfas Emes answers with the Chazal (Kesubos 5a) which says, וארץ שמים ממעשה יותר צדיקים מעשה גדולים "The actions of tzaddikim are greater than the action of creation of heaven and earth." The story of Noach teaches us this lesson. Hashem created the world, heaven and earth, but the flood destroyed that world. The world was reestablished in Noach's merit and continues until this day. This teaches us that the deeds of tzaddikim are greater than the deeds of creation of heaven and earth.
Ups and Downs in Avodas Hashem
A father asked his son to get out of the car and check if the blinkers were working. The son said, "They're working. They're not working. They're working. They're not working." The father explained to the young boy that the blinking means that the lights work correctly. Similarly, when it comes to avodas Hashem, we expect ups and downs. When everything is smooth and straightforward, something is wrong. That’s just not how avodas Hashem works.
Someone said to a rosh yeshiva, "My son learns in your yeshiva. How is he doing? Is he studying well?" The rosh yeshiva replied, "I don't know what to say. There are days when he studies well, but there are times when he doesn't..." The father smiled broadly and said, "That's what I was hoping to hear." The rosh yeshiva was startled; why was the father happy to hear that his son’s performance fluctuated? The father explained, "I'm a cardiologist, and I watch the lines on a cardiograph machine. When the lines go up and down, I know the patient is alive. When there's a straight line, I know it’s over. For me, ups and downs are a sign of life."
