I’m reading the last 12 verses of Genesis 9 (which is found in page 5 of my NKJV Bible, page 6 of my NASB Bible, pages 10-11 of my VOICE copy, and page 11 of my Amplified Bible (Classic Edition) copy, by the way) and I noticed some strange words Noah was speaking. I think it was a prophecy of the people that Noah made, all from each of his sons. But I think he desired freedom for all of them. I know I wouldn’t enslave anyone even if I did meet someone descended from Canaan. But dang, do I want to live in the South Pacific one day, though I’d rather stay here while paying off my debts, which I know can take many years. I still want to pay them off as fast as I can, though.
Anyway, Ham’s ridiculous deed of seeing Noah naked is why I think he uttered this curse upon the land of Canaan. But Noah was drunk that day because he had too much wine from his vineyard, so I think it was good his other two sons, Shem and Japheth, decided not to look at him while he was nude. I don’t think it’s a good idea to walk naked, you know? But if we’re honest, I think we’ve all done some shameful things in our lives. There’s no reason God wouldn’t forgive you, though. If He didn’t forgive others, who could stand before Him? (See Psalm 130:3.) Yet He doesn’t leave injustice unchecked. I don’t know why Ham looked at Noah naked, but I forgive him.
What I cannot accept, though, is the idea that slavery is what someone deserves, as if the words from verses 25-27 here teach this. We do see the unholiness of creation spiraling out again from this passage, though. Maybe if Noah hadn’t gone stark naked, the idolatry wouldn’t have been so popular. But I suppose God waited another three thousand years until Jesus was born… for reasons I do not know. In my last post, I spoke mostly about how the people groups are supposed to get along, and also on how extreme poverty is going down over time. But today, I’m writing to say this: you must have a heart for blessing your sons/daughters, and other young relatives. For what I’ve been hearing for a long time is that many who rear children are also trying to deceive them into something resembling the Proverbs but in reality is a dangerous threat to justice everywhere… at least that’s what I can see when I read between the lines when the people quote the Scriptures. I don’t think the Bible is being used correctly. But I do know one thing: Noah was predicting Canaan’s downfall; he wasn’t trying to enslave anyone, and it’s not like he wanted slavery to happen anyway. Remember that he had been righteous for many years (Genesis 6:8).
But from this story, I think many who call themselves Christians say it’s good to curse an entire generation based off a single and/or common misconception. The 30-somethings and under who want to bless others and do good without hypocrisy have faced too much “divine” hate from these evil creatures, for too long. Some of them don’t even sound like humans. Jon Foreman was right in his song Blinding Light when he said of the U.S., “we’re the nation that eats our youth,” and again in Where I Belong when he sang twice (also of the U.S.), “until I die I’ll sing these songs on the shores of Babylon.” Both songs are found in the Vice Verses CD, Switchfoot’s eighth album released in 2011. Paul can even attest to this truth in 1 Timothy 4:12 when he says to his protége not to let other people look down on him because of his age (he was in his mid-20s at the time), and I don’t want to do that, either. God has planned something amazing for each person in this world, and Jesus can be the One for them to give credit to. I saw on a PewDiePie video (I was watching that at my brother’s house last Christmas) that a teenage girl was going crazy but she wanted to do good for the people around her — we all thought it was awesome! I then mentioned that everyone was born to do good works and that they want to do good in any scenario. My brother agreed with me, and I’m sure you would also if you saw a kid being publicly recognized on TV for his/her charitable deeds. The culture says to keep your children in line and made them do what you tell them to do. I say different! I think you should introduce them to Jesus and His love for them as early as you can manage, and not decline something good they want to do, like volunteering at an animal shelter, work in a kitchen to feed homeless people, or even something as simple as playing Legos with them. (Disclaimer: Legos have small parts, and it says on each box that no child under three years should play with Legos that small.) Whatever it is, instead of giving them shame, pour the greatest love you can have for them, especially telling them Jesus. Do this and you won’t need to see them walk out on you later, especially if you don’t punish them or train them hatefully (for punishment ruins everything, including connection). I do believe the punitive people don’t deserve their descendants, though.
Alcoholism isn’t helpful to the scenario, but some wine in moderation isn’t a bad thing if you’re above the legal drinking age in your area. But I stay away from it entirely because it’s not worth it to see someone think you can get wasted like Noah did. Again, I don’t know why he did it, but this is a good passage. This drunkenness may have been the forward motion for depravity to resume among mankind after Noah died, though.
On to chapter ten!
Ron And His Stories 