Build For Yourself
Hashem made us humans flexible and adaptable. And this can be seen as our strength and our weakness at the same time. On the one hand, we adapt to a changing world around us, but on the other hand, each time we do, we can change to something that is not good for us. We can become flexible in ways that are not always beneficial. This flexibility is at the core of human lives and our relationship with our Maker, allowing both trespass and repentance.
The story of Noah tells us that the world became hopelessly corrupted and wicked. It changed for the worse, and human hearts were hard set on evil. So, God resolved to take drastic measures to remedy the corruption and evil. And that is where we encounter Noach in the Torah. In Bereshit, in Genesis 6:14, Hashem commands Noah, עֲשֵׂה לְךָ תֵּבַת עֲצֵי־גֹפֶר (aseh lekha tevat atzei-gopher). Literally – “build for yourself an ark of gopher wood.” Next, God instructs him exactly how to build the ark, providing detailed directions and even precise dimensions.
In Hebrew, aseh lekha (עֲשֵׂה לְךָ) means “make for yourself.” A simple and direct command. And what is surprising is that in the end, the ark was a massive boat for Noah and his family! But why would Noah need such a big boat just for himself and his household? Because building for ourselves does not always mean it’s literally just for us alone. Almighty may have told Noah to build for himself, but he meant for him to make plenty of room for others. Just as Noah did, we often build our lives like lifeboats, and ultimately, they are ours, for ourselves and our families. We pack our lives with the things we need on the journey and make them cozy.
What I say next could be something that Hashem could be saying to some of us today. We only need to look at our spiritual ark. Within the instructions God gave, there was a hidden challenge to think bigger, plan bigger, and build bigger than just for our needs. The dimensions imply there is a bigger purpose in our ark than just us. We should make space for others in our ark, not filling every corner, and allow for flexibility with where things go.
In fact, be ready for God to bring those for whom you made the space right to the door of your ark in just the right time. And I am not talking about getting a bigger house. The ark is a kind of metaphor for our spiritual life. If you make room, Hashem may arrange for relationships you did not expect. They may enrich your life, you may enrich theirs, and possibly you may even change each other’s futures. But to have this, you have to read between the lines, think bigger, and build your ark, not just for yourself, and make room for others.