God tells Noach that He will maintain His bris with him.
The word ברית stems from the root ברת which denotes separation (ברת הארץ means a stretch of land, separated from others). The verb used in the term כריתת ברית also means to separate.
The expression הקמת ברית denotes an unconditional promise. A ברית stands unsupported. Left to itself it would fall down; only the כורת ברית upholds it.
A ברית can be unilateral. It does not imply a mutual agreement (unlike the word covenant, which is an inadequate translation).
The planks of wood were not enough to save those inside. Others could have tried to copy Noach and it wouldn’t have helped them. They were protected by God because God said He would.
It seems that the only reason Noach was asked to build the ark was to follow the principal of (פסחים דף סד) אין סומכין על הנס – we don’t rely on miracles (we perform actions that minimize or conceal the miracle GS).
Beraishis 6:18
pages 185-186
