The Midrash translates Noah’s name as “Serenity.” “Noah brought serenity for himself, serenity for the world, serenity for his ancestors(who would rest in peace in their graves), and serenity for his children and future generations, serenity in the upper worlds and serenity in the lower worlds, serenity in this world and serenity in the next world”(Bereshit Raba 30:5).
This serenity was achieved by the floodwaters, referred by the Torah as “the waters of Noah.” Chassidut explains that before the flood material matter was brittle and insensitive to anything spiritual. This is why the world became so degenerate and corrupt.
The waters of the flood were like a Mikvah (ritual bath).
When a person immerse in a Mikvah he might notice that his thoughts become purer that day, or his conscience is more awake. In the same way the mabul, which was compared to a global Mikvah had a purifying effect on the physical world, helping bring a higher state of consciousness which brought together soul and body to a greater communication.
After the flood, humanity had a greater appreciation of G-d and understanding which brought serenity to the world helping people to have a motivation to repent when they did something wrong making it worthwhile for H”S to continue sustaining His world.
Excerpts taken from “Chayenu”
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