We Just Have to Try

We read toward the end of Parashat Bereshit that Hashem saw the evil of mankind and decided to destroy the world. Next week, in Parashat Noach, we read of the flood that Hashem brought upon the earth, sparing only Noach and his family. After the flood, Hashem made a promise that He would never flood the earth again. When we read these pesukim carefully, we notice something surprising. Here in Parashat Bereshit, the Torah says, וירא ה' כי רבה רעת האדם בארץ, וכל יצר מחשבות לבו רק רע כל היום – Hashem saw all the evil that the people were committing, and He saw the evil in their heart, their natural tendency to sin (6:5). The evil nature of people led Hashem to decide to destroy them. After the flood, however, we find just the opposite. Hashem announced that He would never again destroy the earth כי יצר לב האדם רע מנעריו – because of the people's yetzer ha'ra (evil inclination), because of their evil instincts. How could the yetzer ha'ra be both the reason to destroy mankind, and the reason not to destroy mankind? The answer is quite simple – and exceedingly important. In short: we just have to try. Before the flood, the people did not even try to restrain their sinful instincts. They followed their negative tendencies without any attempt to exercise discipline and act the right way. After the flood, however, Noach offered a sacrifice to Hashem – symbolizing the people's commitment to say "no" to their evil tendencies, to sacrifice the things they desire for the sake of fulfillin