Read Gen. 9:20-29
The first thing Noah is recorded doing is planting a vineyard to make wine. I find this interesting since you would think he would plant crops to eat first. Spiritually, wine is a symbol of joy.After the trial of the flood I guess Noah thought they needed a little joy. The trouble with Noah was that he had a little too much joy and got drunk. He was not only drunk but naked and drunk. Since the father was honored so highly in the Jewish family, this was not a funny thing. Ham happened to find his father in this state and told his brothers instead of covering his embarrassment. Shem and Japheth did the right thing and took a mantle, laid it on their shoulders and walked backward covering their father as they went. They showed Noah honor. Somehow when Noah woke out of his stupor, he knew that Ham had made fun of him and that Shem and Japheth had covered him. Instead of cursing Ham, he cursed Ham’s son, Canaan, to be a slave to his uncles Shem and Japheth. He blessed Shem to lord over Canaan and blessed Japheth to be enlarged on the earth and also to have Canaan as his slave. Noah lived 350 more years after the flood and a total of 950 years. The days of his life signify that he was fruitful in his service to God.
In the day we live in it is acceptable to laugh at others abnormalities and short comings. Somehow it makes us feel good about out own failures. Have we forgotten how to have grace and cover each others weaknesses and mistakes?
Lord, let us be like Shem and Japheth and cover others mistakes instead of exposing them. Remind us to tell you alone about them because you alone can take make a difference.
No comments:
Post a Comment