Scripture:
Genesis 9:20-25
Noah, a man
of the soil, proceeded to plant a vineyard. 21 When
he drank some of its wine, he became drunk and lay uncovered inside his
tent. 22 Ham, the father of Canaan, saw his father
naked and told his two brothers outside. 23 But
Shem and Japheth took a garment and laid it across their shoulders; then they
walked in backward and covered their father’s naked body. Their faces were
turned the other way so that they would not see their father naked.
24 When Noah awoke from his wine and found out
what his youngest son had done to him, 25 he said,
“Cursed be
Canaan!
The lowest of slaves
will he be to his brothers.”
The lowest of slaves
will he be to his brothers.”
Seriously, drunk people are funny. They do silly
things. And it wasn't like Ham was the one getting drunk - it was his old man -
so why is Ham the one getting the bad rap here?
Let's answer that question with a question. Has
anyone ever taken advantage of you when you were in need? Maybe you were
vulnerable and someone saw your moment of weakness as an opportunity to get
something for themselves rather than giving you support.
Has anyone ever spread word of your mistakes?
That's what Ham did. 1) He didn't help Noah when
he saw him in need. 2) He saw Noah's mistake and spread the word about it for
his own amusement.
Rather than showing grace to his father, he left
him as he was and then, exposed his father's mistake to his brothers
needlessly.
Let us not be like Ham. When we see someone who
has made a mistake, let's not further shame them by telling others about it.
Instead, let us quietly help them correct the mistake as Shem and Japheth did
for their father. We are called to be full of grace, helping one another, not
taking joy in another's downfall or spreading gossip about it.
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