Genesis: Chapter Eight: 20: Then Noah built an altar to Hashem and took of every pure animal and of every pure bird, and offered burnt offerings. 21:Hashem smelled the pleasing aroma and Hashem said in his heart:"I will not continue to curse again the ground because of man, since the design of man's heart is evil from his youth; nor will I again continue to smite every living being, as I have done. 22:Continuously, all the days of the earth, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, and day and night, shall not cease.

The Malbim explains that the concept of offering a sacrifice is that by burning to ashes the body of the animal the spiritual aspects of the animal return to it's creator. From this we learn that through the burning devotion and love for our Creator we can actually conquer our physical lusts and return whole heartily to G-d. This is what is meant by "Hashem smelled the pleasing aroma". It was as if Noah sacrificed himself by following the pure thoughts, which flowed, from his heart and mind and not those which surged from the profundity of his body. This is what pleased his Creator.

The Malbim continues to explain that the reason why the earth was cursed was not to punish man because of his many sins and that man is doomed to damnation etc. etc. But rather when the verse states that Hashem "will not continue to curse again the ground because of man" the more accurate English translation is "for the sake man". In other words there was no longer a need to curse the ground.

He explains, that before the flood, man, the earth and all that is physical was filled with a ornery vitality, strong and tough which served to strengthen it inhabitants with a massive constitution and long life. This is why there were giants and other strange phenomenon explained by our sages. Not only that, but life in the Garden of Eden was a life of leisure and plenteousness. Under this environment man was unable to conquer his bodily lusts and was a slave to the impulses, which rose, from his physicality.

Therefore the reason why G-d cursed the ground was for the good and success of man. By weakening the forces of nature, man armed with his pure heart and intellect, was now able to overpower and triumph successfully over his lazy, arrogant and lustful tendencies.

The question arises, What exactly did Hashem change in nature that caused this weakening of the environment? The Sforno explains that the answer is in the following verse, which states that the seasons "shall not cease". Before the flood the earth's' axes was vertical which created a perfect environment without seasons. Hashem "cursed the ground" by tilting the earth and creating seasons which causes all that lives to expend its energy on adjusting to the new and different situation.

From this we can learn that what appears to us to be disorder, disturbance or even upheaval is really G-d blessing us with an opportunity to grow and exercise the true values by which we all strive and hope to live by.

[This message was edited by Rabbi Mitterhoff on January 08, 2004 at 01:23 PM.]

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Rabbi Mitterhoff,

I believe, this is just me, and I could be wrong, that Hashem cursed the ground " for man's sake" because, if man had continued on the current path, then man would not have left anything sacred before his Creator.Now If man had become so full of himself, where would that have left Hashem? Not where He belongs, in our hearts, and minds. I think that this is why Hashem decided that to curse everything "for man's sake" was not the correct way to go. That, although sacrificing does cleanse, it is better to be obedient. Is it not written that obedience is better than sacrifice? So for Hashem to curse everything because man fell, He decided to make the snow with the sandstorm in thier own season's, the heat and the cold, the seeding times with the harvest. I believe that these are the reasons for the season's, because Hashem wanted man to know that He was not going to curse anything else in creation, because of man's sinfulness.