Noah was a just, perfect man in his generation. Noah walked with G-d. (Gen. 6:9)
There are those Jews who behave very Jewishly in their homes, but when they go out into the world among other people they are embarrassed about their Judaism. There are also those who, in the privacy of their own homes, are not so observant. But when outside or among others, they put on a G-d-fearing facade. A pure, wholesome Jew is one who is "a just, perfect man in his generation" - one who acts the same way among people as well as "with G-d" when in the privacy of his own home. (Yalkut HaDrush)
The earth was corrupt before G-d, and the earth was filled with violence. (Gen. 6:11)
People are mistaken to think that without belief in G-d they will still perform the mitzvot that are between one person and another (i.e. charity, hospitality, not stealing, etc.). For, when the world becomes "corrupt before G-d" - when people throw off the yoke of belief and sin toward G-d - the outcome will be "and the earth was filled with violence." (Or HaTorah)
And G-d said to Noah, "Come with all your household into the ark " (Gen. 7:1)
The Hebrew word for "ark" is "teiva," which can also mean "word." The Baal Shem Tov interprets this phrase as an exhortation to "enter" the words of Torah and prayer. When one brings his children into the protective "ark" of the words of Torah, and sets limitations for their behavior according to the standards of Torah conduct, then those youngsters are saved from the stormy flood waters of the negative influences of the environment.
Of clean beasts and of beasts that are not clean that came to Noah and into the ark, two by two (Gen. 7:8)
The word "unclean" would have been more succinct than "that are not clean." However, the Torah goes out of its way, using eight extra letters, to avoid an unpleasant word; the Torah is always as concise as possible. The message of this elaborate phrase, then, is that one's speech should be at all times free of improper expressions. (Rashi)
And the whole earth was of one language. (Gen. 11:1)
The generation that was alive at the time of the Flood was utterly steeped in thievery and dishonesty, and therefore was thoroughly destroyed. But the generation of the Tower of Babel had at least the merit of loving their fellow man and getting along with each other, as it says, "and the whole earth was of one language." Therefore, they were not all destroyed. (Breishit Rabba)
Reprinted from the Parshat 5763/2003 (Issue #789) email of L’Chaim, a publication of the Lubavitch Youth Organization in Brooklyn, NY.