Prisons in Oklahoma are still locked down, but I was able to provide this short midrash to the chaplain at Lawton Correctional and Rehabilitation Facility (LCRF) to provide to the congregation there:

Shalom! Shalom!
This week we read and study Torah portion Noach (Noah), B’reshiyt/Genesis 6:9-11:32. Let’s discuss some of the life lessons from Torah portion Noach. The man Noach is described as tamiym (perfect, complete, entire, whole) in his generations. The medieval Jewish commentator Rashi notes: “Some of our Sages interpret ‘generations’ favorably: How much more so if he had lived in a generation of righteous people, he would have been even more righteous. Others interpret it derogatorily: In comparison with his generation he was righteous, but if he had been in Abraham’s generation, he would not have been considered of any importance.” I take the former view based on Hebrews 11:7. Noach is mentioned in the great faith chapter of the Scriptures as a man of belief (or faith), who was warned by Yah about things yet unseen and took appropriate action in obedience. Therefore, he “became the heir of righteousness which is according to belief” (Hebrews 11:7b, ISR 2009).
Noach was righteous in a generation that was wholly unrighteous, entirely corrupt (Gen. 6:12). Noach was called to be faithful even among a people that was entirely faithless. We, too, live in a corrupt generation. It may seem, at times, that the faithful today are outnumbered as much as “Noach vs The World.” Yeshua HaMashiach even asked the question: “But when the Son of Adam comes, shall He find the belief [or faith] on the earth?” (Luke 18:8b, ISR 2009). One lesson from Torah portion Noach is to answer the Master’s question with a resounding “Yes!” There are many times the number of believers in LCRF today than existed in Noach’s time. Like Noach, we must answer the Master’s call to faithfulness with simple obedience, despite our surroundings in a corrupt generation: “And Noach did according to all that Elohim commanded him, so he did” (Gen 6:22, ISR, 2009).
Yet….even though Noach was called perfect in his generations, and that he obeyed all that Elohim commanded him, and he is prominently listed in the faith chapter of Hebrews 11, we know that he was not always sober-minded (1 Cor 15:34). As recorded in Genesis 9, Noach was once found drunk and inappropriately naked. What should we do with that? What life lesson should we learn from that? The Bible tells the truth about even those who are faithful. Noach is characterized as obedient and faithful, despite this “out of character” reminder that “wine is a mocker” (Proverbs 20:1) and that even the obedient and faithful can fall prey to it. Despite falling victim to too much wine, Noach is still counted among the faithful in Hebrews 11. Let’s remember the words of the Messiah: “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, because they
shall be filled” (Matthew 5:6, ISR 2009). We know that no one is righteous in and of themselves (Psalm 14:1-3, Psalm 53:1-4, Romans 3:10). But, the Messiah did not say: “Blessed are the righteous” in this passage. Rather, the Messiah said this: “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness.” This is a huge difference. Since no one but Yeshua HaMashiach was completely without spot or blemish, how can it be that others are called obedient, faithful, and even righteous before Elohim (for example, Yochanon haMatbiyl’s/John the Baptist’s parents). Is there a contradiction? A life lesson from Torah portion Noach is that those who hunger and thirst for righteousness are blessed. They are characterized as faithful and obedient, even if they do not always attain the absolute standard of righteous behavior. Noach hungered and thirsted for righteousness, and even if he did not always live up to that standard Noach serves as an example to us of a person of faith in a corrupt generation.
May you be blessed as you hunger and thirst for righteousness,
Wayne