“The sons of Noah who went forth from the ark were Shem, Ham, and Japheth. (Ham was the father of Canaan.) These three were the sons of Noah, and from these the people of the whole earth were dispersed.
Noah began to be a man of the soil, and he planted a vineyard*. He drank of the wine and became drunk and lay uncovered in his tent.” (Genesis 9:18-21 ESV, *Footnote reads: Noah, a man of the soil, was the first to plant a vineyard)
Though wild vines existed before Noah, he was the first to plant a vineyard. Cultivated vines tend to produce more grapes on them, which in turn would yield a greater amount of wine. We don’t know if wine had been established before this moment or not. Did Noah know this drink would cause him to get drunk? Whether he did or not, he became intoxicated and stripped naked within his tent.
Last week we discovered that the Lord had reestablished a covenant with Noah that He had originally given to Adam/mankind when He created the earth. The world had just experienced a sort of rebirth and creation was at peace, until now. Similarly to the garden of Eden’s fall of man, Noah sinned and laid naked. Before sin entered the world, “Both the man and his wife were naked, yet felt no shame.” (Genesis 2:25). After sin, Adam replied to the Lord, “I heard You in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked, so I hid.” (Genesis 3:10) Suddenly, he was aware of his nakedness and felt fear and shame –two of the main resulted attachments of sin. Adam and Eve tried to cover themselves with fig leaves, but then God made them outfits out of animal’s skin – presumably from the first animal sacrifice for their sin. Now, Noah laid ashamedly naked from his drunkenness.
“Ham, the father of Canaan, saw his father naked and told his two brothers outside.” (Genesis 9:22) Though Noah was in his own tent, his sin became exposed when his youngest son, Ham, entered. Ham had a choice: honour his father by covering him with a blanket and speak nothing of what he had seen, or, with evil intent broadcast his father’s failings to the world (which was quite small at the time so word would travel quickly). Ham’s heart was also exposed in this situation. Like Adam and Eve passed blame on others when sin took hold of their hearts, so too Ham pointed the finger at another rather than humbly recognizing the faults within himself.
Though at times we are to carefully rebuke another, it is always to be with a heart of lovingly redirecting the person back to Christ, looking to the Savior of the sin. Instead, Ham pointed to the shame of the sin alone, and to his demise, the consequence of his own sin was not only placed on him but on one of his sons, as well. As he was the youngest of Noah’s sons, so the consequence of his sin fell on his youngest son, Canaan.
This family was well aware of where sin could lead them and yet the desire of temptation overrode the recent memory of the flood. Perhaps Noah had observed that Canaan was already following in his father’s footsteps of desiring that which was of the Father of Lies instead of our Loving Heavenly Father who had just rescued them from the destroying grasp of the wickedness surrounding them.
Why do you think the author of Genesis highlighted twice in this passage that “Ham was the father of Canaan” (vs. 18,22) yet there was no mention of Shem or Japheth’s children? Who was the author of Genesis? It is presumed that Moses wrote this book, which if that’s the case, this story was written to the Israelites. Canaan’s descendants would become a nation of his namesake. Moses wrote the book of Genesis while Israel was wandering in the wilderness waiting for the Lord to lead them into the land of Canaan to conquer it. The mention of Canaan twice in this passage in Genesis 9 would have loudly rung out to its intended audience that this is the reason Israel was going to take over the land of Canaan in the first place! Why? Let’s continue reading Genesis 9:23-29:
“Then Shem and Japheth took a cloak and placed it over both their shoulders, and walking backward, they covered their father’s nakedness. Their faces were turned away, and they did not see their father naked.
When Noah awoke from his drinking and learned what his youngest son had done to him, he said:
‘Canaan is cursed.
He will be the lowest of slaves to his brothers.’
He also said:
‘Blessed be the Lord, the God of Shem;
Let Canaan be Shem’s slave.
Let God extend Japheth;
let Japheth dwell in the tents of Shem;
let Canaan be Shem’s slave.’
Now Noah lived 350 years after the flood. So Noah’s life lasted 950 years; then he died.”
As we’ll learn in Genesis 10, Shem was the forefather of Abraham who became the forefather of the Israelites. Japheth’s family became many of the European nations we have today (Greece and Italy to name some important ones in Israel’s history). I believe some of Japheth’s descendants would become some of the “foreigners” who would eventually mix with the Israelites creating the Samaritans. The fallout of this family’s situation would significantly mark the rest of history.
Temptations are like “flaming arrows” (Ephesians 6:16) and “sin is crouching at the door” (Genesis 4:7) looking to devour us. Where do these come from? The Ancient Serpent. “Be serious! Be alert! Your adversary the Devil is prowling around like a roaring lion, looking for anyone he can devour.” (1 Peter 5:8) God tells us, “Resist him and be firm in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are being experienced by your fellow believers throughout the world.”
“Now the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ Jesus, will personally restore, establish, strengthen, and support you after you have suffered a little. The dominion belongs to Him forever. Amen.” (1 Peter 5:9-11)
No one is exempt from temptation; even Jesus Christ experienced it Himself (see Matthew 4:1-11). Like the stories all throughout the Bible, and down through every generation afterwards, temptation is common for us all. Not much has changed in Satan’s game since the first temptation in the garden of Eden. We try to lift ourselves up for pride, selfish ambitions, and control, and tear others down in the meantime. But, like Shem experienced, there’s always a way of escape in order to choose what’s right in God’s eyes over our own. “God is faithful, and He will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able but with the temptation He will also provide a way of escape so that you are able to bear it.” (1 Corinthians 10:13) Jesus Christ conquered temptation and sin, and provided a way for us to do the same.
Are you, like Ham, giving into the flaming arrows of temptation? Are you shaping the next generation towards selfish gains? Or, are you like Shem, willing to walk in righteousness, honouring your Father in heaven by submitting to His will even when you might not agree or understand it at the time?
Our conduct has much greater influence than we realize. This is why we need to live with God’s Kingdom mindset. We need to set our focus on things above, not on the temporary fleeting circumstances surrounding us.
“Seek the Lord while he may be found;
call upon him while he is near;
let the wicked forsake his way,
and the unrighteous man his thoughts;
let him return to the Lord, that he may have compassion on him,
and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.” (Isaiah 55:6-7)
“Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits.” (Psalm 103:2). Stand firm in your faith and put on the armour of God. Resist the Devil and draw near to God (James 4:7). The victory is the Lord’s, and we as His children partake in His security. Let’s march towards Zion with shouts of praise and humble hearts.
