Day 2: Noach/Genesis 7:17-8:14

For those who belong to Elohim, their existence is found within Yeshua and they are viewed by Elohim through Yeshua’s righteousness and the blood He shed for their atonement and redemption. Paul/Rav Shaul puts it succinctly: “And Elohim raised us up with Messiah and seated us with Him in the heavenly realms in Messiah Yeshua, in order that in the coming ages might show the incomparable riches of His grace, expressed in the His kindness to us in Messiah Yeshua.” Eph. 2:6-7

Those “heavenly realms,” often translated as “high places,” are not places of man’s vainglorious worship of a false “Elohim;” rather, they are the location that the Creator placed in the hearts of His worshipers—the places that He has designated as His place of habitation on this earth. Yet, one may ask: “What part of the earth does not belong to the Maker?” Most certainly, every hilltop, every high mountain belongs to YHVH.

Even as the world was created, the waters covered the deep and the Ruach of Elohim hovered over the surface of the deep. Not only was Elohim at the beginning of all things, but the Creator also carried within Himself the blueprints, pattern, plans, destiny, and every facet of man, animal, plant, sea, and earth. In this, His Ruach is reminiscent of the ark in which all things gain existence, breath, and life. He hovered over His creation with the intent of seeding that creation with content that would mirror Himself.

The ark that Noach built carried the foretold promises and fulfillment of those promises that Elohim spoke at creation. Like the Ruach, it floated on the surface of the water that covered the whole earth. There is no explanation given of why the earth was formed with water first and then land; but at the time of Noach’s life on earth, man had become burdensome and completely corrupt; to the point that His creation would need to be purged and washed clean.

Torah, later, reveals that Elohim requires His people, their clothing, vessels, and anything else used by them has to be immersed/washed in water. This, in turn, would cause a spiritual change in the person or article (both are made out of earth in some way or form) and they would be considered clean (at evening). Commonly referred to as a mikvah, the idea of being cleansed with water would be ordained through Torah as a prescribed antidote for both uncleanness and sin leading to uncleanness (there is a difference). Within the reality of words and meanings, mikvah is actually the place of immersion, while the process of immersion is rachats, simply meaning “to bathe.”

From the beginning, the earth was pure; as it began with water and not land or creatures breathing air. Like an airborne disease, what the serpent, Chavah, and Adam did (by their choosing to sin) traversed through the bloodline by the breath of man (by your words you will be justified, by your words, you will be condemned). Instead of being or seeking the Breath of Life found in the Ruach, man chose the breath of air from a corrupted world by which to live and be sustained.

Because of the power given to haSatan/the adversary, due to man’s willingness to serve him in sin, power was gained by the adversary as he would now be known as the “Prince of the Power of the Air.” His influence would help to corrupt all that was surrounded by the air or breathed in through the air. This defiled all land and its contents and separated creation from the Creator. It would take a great flood to wash this corruption away. Similar in nature, as Israel would leave the captivity from Egypt, YHVH would take them through the midst of the Red Sea. Their national mikvah would set them apart from Egypt and be meant to draw them closer to YHVH.

After the immersion of the entire earth, Elohim caused the water to abate from the land once again. A renewal of life and YHVH’s Covenant would take place; not replacing the original, but rather, affirming the Covenant made with Adam and Chavah. The cleansing of the world brought forth newness of life and a second chance for humanity to choose whom they would serve.

Unfortunately, the choice was already known by Elohim, and “His Ruach would not always content with man.” YHVH would allow corrupted man to struggle with evil until the final days of wrath would ultimately consume the earth completely. Those that belong to the Creator will remain safe within His Being; yet, those that belong to the earth will be consumed with it.

Elohim set forth a natural cause and effect that points to the spiritual reality of life or death. Mankind must choose between them. The choice is to be immersed in corruption or, instead, to be immersed in the Light of the world Who will determine how each of us will spend eternity.

Right now, our lives are governed by the physical limitations placed upon us by the Creator. Simply put, if we do not breathe, we die.

Spiritually, if we take in only that which is defiled, dead, or does not come from the Ruach of YHVH, then we will spiritually fade away into death. The air of this world is still corrupted by the adversary and mankind. Each spiritual breath we inhale must be tested to know—is there contamination stemming from death and evil or is this coming from the Breath of Life found in Messiah? This is an ongoing cycle that we must endure to be sure that we are walking in the Light, Life, and unction of the Ruach Who gives/seeds life, not death.

Like Noach, the olive leaf of peace has been given to us by the Dove of Heaven, that is the Ruach, Himself. As He offers to place that peace, not only upon us but in us, it is incumbent upon each believer to choose to pursue that peace with the Creator and allow His washing of the water of the Word to cover us and restore us back to Him into the fullness of a Covenant relationship.

1 Peter 3:18-21, “For Messiah also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to YHVH, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit; in which also He went and made proclamation to the spirits now in prison, who once were disobedient, when the patience of Elohim kept waiting in the days of Noach, during the construction of the ark, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through the water. Corresponding to that, immersion now saves you—not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to YHVH for a good conscience—through the resurrection of Yeshua Messiah…”