Since the creation of man, G-d has desired for people to stop seeking their own idea of what is right and wrong and instead seek Him for the answers. But mankind is stubborn. Each person insists that he or she can know what is right and what is wrong. This condition has plagued mankind since the day Adam, who, instead of listening to G-d, "listened to his wife and ate of the tree." (Genesis 3:17) After Eden, people continued to do what they felt was correct. Eventually, everbody would fuse right from wrong and would soon not be able to distinguish the two. People corrupted themselves so great that G-d decided to intervene and destroy the earth. But there was a remnant--a family--which sought after the Truth. Noah and his family listened to G-d. They sought after what G-d taught was right. G-d instructed Noah to build an Ark in which Noah and his family would be saved from the flood waters. This time, G-d would preserve a people who would be willing to accept Instruction from Him.
When Noah and his family exited the Ark, G-d established a Covenant with them, the Noahide Covenant. G-d introduced the rainbow in the sky as a symbol of that Covenant. In this Covenant, G-d promised never to destroy mankind with water again. He gave the Seven Commandments which Noah and his family gladly accepted for all his descendants. This is why all people are children of Noah, and why we all have the responsibility to observe the Noahide Covenant and the Seven Commandments our forefather Noah accepted. People have responsibilities to one another and to their family. Though this Instruction G-d gave mankind, everyone works to make the world a better place.
The name B'nei Noach is an English transliteration of the Hebrew which means "Children (or descendants) of Noah." Today it refers to anyone who chooses to abide by the Covenant G-d made with Noah according to the Bible. However, according to the Bible (as interpreted by it's originator, Orthodox Judaism, everyone is obligated to these Commandments whether or not they choose to be. Choosing to abide by them is only effective when we take upon ourselves to do "t'shuvah" (repentance)--a turning from ourselves, our own directions--and toward G-d--as the Torah teaches (the first five books of the Bible). Once we turn from ourselves and toward this Instruction G-d has provided us, we opt to live righteous lives away from our own interpretation or the interpretation of those who are not learned by Hebrew and the Oral Torah handed down to Noah.
Torah teaches that the way to Ha-Olam Habah (the World-to-Come) is not dependent upon any mediator and that it is by the grace of G-d alone that a person have a share in it. It is not about believing in certain doctrines as interpreted by gentiles. It is not about "evil" people and "good" people, for everyone has the capacity to do both evil and good. It is about being righteous--practicing to live righteous lives--by turning oneself to the Torah, or Instruction of G-d. It is about ensuring that our good outweighs our bad. In Ha-Olam Habah, G-d rewards the righteous (of any faith or religion) by weighing his good with his bad. G-d punishes evil deeds. Only those whose evil deeds so outweigh his good deeds so greatly will lose eternal life in the World-to-Come. Thus, no human being needs any false god, religion, "Jesus," or particular faith to find his or her path to righteousness or to obtain eternal life in the World-to-Come. In fact using such a mediator to reach G-d is idolatry. It doesn't matter whether such a mediator is an animal, a thing (e.g. stone idol) or a person. In fact some people who have strong religion can lose his share of the World-to-Come, while some agnostics will discover they have their share it it.
Torah teaches that every human being has a personal relationship with G-d. Some people may choose not to open "dialog" with the Almighty. Others may find it necessary to open a strong dialog with Him. In their relationship, choosing to abide by the Teaching (the Torah) that G-d has given mankind begins his or her righteous walk in life.
The Noahide laws were designed by G-d to enhance life and to benefit humanity. They include prohibitions which almost everyone on earth would agree with. Four of the Commandments pertain to the way we should treat one another as human beings. They are (#1) a prohibition of murder, (#2) a prohibition of theft of another's property, (#3) a prohibition of sexual immorality, and (#4) an injunction to set up and support courts of justice. Another of the commandments deals with how we are to treat animals. This Commandment (#5) forbids the barbarity of removing the flesh from a living animal. The last two Commandments pertain to how we relate to G-d. One teaches us (#6) not to blaspheme G-d (which incidently causes us to acknowlege that G-d exists) and the other (#7) forbids idolatry, the practice of using a medium such as stones, animals or people to worship through, pray through, or associate with any deity, whether true or false. Contrary to the views of many, idolatry can be even practiced by someone believing only in the Almighty Himself.
In these latter days as the approaching of the days of the coming of the Messiah, there is a community of non-Jews who have recognized the Noachide Covenant and who have made the choice to follow the Seven Noahide Laws. These people are practicing their lives as "righteous Gentiles." They have chosen to accept the G-d of Israel yet do not wish to be understood as being Christian or being Jewish. They are satisfied of thier relationship with the Creator and with mankind. They are content with doing good without commiting to a certain religion.
The Path Noahides follow is a return to this simple truth: G-d the Heavenly Father, blessed be His Name, loves mankind so much and wants the best for everyone and gave us His Guidance to help us. It is the heart of Noachides to return this love and obey His Teaching, His Commandments.
B'nei Noach is an extension of Orthodox Judaism. As G-d has chosen Israel to receive the Torah, He has given Jews the responsibility to be "a light to the nations." Thus, it is the Jew's responsibility to hand it (teach it) to the rest of the world. Thus Noahides rely upon rabbincal supervision for their interpretation of the Bible ("Old Testament") and of the Creator.
The Commandments of the Noachic Covenant:
Continue to next topic
Return to homepage
Copyright (c)2004/(c)5764 mattityahu@yahoo.com
This site updated on 2-10-04
Get your own Free Home Page