Avraham Avinu’s loyalty to Hashem was ratified through ten trials, which he passed with exemplary devotion. Every trial had its own unique degree of challenge. The tenth, and most significant trial, was the Akeidah — when Hashem instructed Avraham to bind Yitzchak and sacrifice him. Avraham responded, “Hineni,” I am prepared and ready to serve You in any way that You ask. In response to a test of this caliber, the Satan was working overtime, challenging Avraham every step of the way. The Satan appeared to Avraham in the guise of an old man. He questioned Avraham regarding his destination. At first, Avraham was evasive, but when he saw that the Satan was not giving up, he told him emphatically, “I will not listen to you. Leave me alone!” Avraham refused to have any dialogue with the Satan. He knew that any relationship with the Satan would be devastating. Noach also had an interchange with the Satan, but, unlike Avraham, he seemed to have no problem learning an ethical lesson from him. When Noach was about to plant the vine, the Satan appeared and asked Noach if he would like him to join, to become his partner in nurturing the vine. Noach readily agreed. Satan left, returning with a little lamb which he slaughtered over the vine. He left again, only to return with a lion, which he slaughtered and whose blood he poured over the vine. He left yet again, returning with a monkey which he slaughtered, pouring its blood over the vine. Finally, he brought a pig which he slaughtered, and its blood stained the earth under the vine.
The lesson was: excessive drinking can have repulsive results. One cup of wine can make a man docile as a lamb. If he drinks two cups, he behaves like a lion–arrogant, boasting about his physical prowess. After three cups, he dances foolishly, like a monkey. Four cups will bring him to the point of inebriation, when he will vomit and roll in the mud like a pig. “Be careful,” the Satan told Noach, “if you imbibe excessively, it can have such results that you enter into my domain. You will no longer have self-control; you will act like a swine, wallowing in the filth. You will be mine!”
Two great people–Noach and Avraham. One chooses to accept mussar from the Satan, while the other banishes him from his presence. Avraham refused to talk with the Satan. What are we to learn from these disparate approaches? Horav Moshe Schwab, zl, observes that herein lies the distinction between Noach and Avraham. Noach and his followers/students have no compunction to derive from the Torah only those lessons that the Satan disputes. Those things with which the Satan agrees, on the contrary, learn from the Satan! When it comes to social laws, manners, character refinements, etiquette, they want to be students of Satan. Avraham Avinu and his students view Torah as a code which encompasses every aspect of life. Torah does not focus on Olam Habah; it should be our guide and directive as to how we should relate and act in Olam Hazeh. Noach and his milieu believe in Torah study, tefillah–indeed, everything spiritual. They also believe that this world is for enjoyment–not necessarily the enjoyment as seen through the perspective of the Torah. Their perspective is secular. In those areas which they know are not antagonistic to Torah — or simply should not be in the Torah’s domain — they have no problem inviting the Satan to teach them ethics. Avraham understands that only when an endeavor is totally guided by the Torah can it become part of one’s psyche and, thus, be bequeathed to the next generation. The answer for every question concerning life, from birth until the end of life, can be found in the Torah. One only has to be willing to look.
