Noah & the Curse of Ham

[BrokenContriteHeart]

Hey all,

I had a question about how we should interpret these verses in Genesis 9:

And Noah began to be a master of the soil, and he planted a vineyard.
And he drank of the wine and became drunk, and he uncovered himself within his tent.
And Ham, the father of Canaan, saw his father's nakedness, and he told his two brothers outside.
And Shem and Japheth took the garment, and they placed [it] on both of their shoulders, and they walked backwards, and they covered their father's nakedness, and their faces were turned backwards, so that they did not see their father's nakedness.
And Noah awoke from his wine, and he knew what his small son had done to him.
And he said, "Cursed be Canaan; he shall be a slave among slaves to his brethren."
And he said, "Blessed be the Lord, the God of Shem, and may Canaan be a slave to them.
May God expand Japheth, and may He dwell in the tents of Shem, and may Canaan be a slave to them."

There has been and probably will be a lot of discussion on what exactly happened, but my interpretation of it is as follows:
1. The lack of detail itself should tell us something
2. Being drunk and naked are both not proscribed activities
3. The sin here could well be that of a child who not only does not cover their parents' folly or shameful things, but furthermore broadcasts it.
4. The application for us should be that whenever possible, children should not belittle, make fun of, point fingers at or broadcast our parents' folly -- even if the shame is true.

An example might be if a parent has a debt, alcoholism or anger problem, the child should not amplify it, for example on social media (anonymously seeking advice is probably permissible).

What if the parent's conduct crosses into criminality, such as if the child knows their parents are cheating people, wife beating or worse? Probably then they should take action (pushing for things to be made right quietly or internally) and at a last resort, to take things to the authorities. Because the Bible also tells us to be blind and without favor while executing justice.

 

[DragonFox91]

I recently heard a message on this after the Flood, God promises blessing to Noah's children.
& what does Noah do next? He curses his children!

It also discussed the sin of children broadcasting Noah's shame. But it didn't make the exact connection that that's what kids do today, pointing out the sins of their fathers. That's a good connection!

The message didn't go into Noah's drunkenness being sin, only his nakedness shame being broadcast & his ungodly response. I thought that was glossing over drunkenness being a cause of sin

 

[TruthInLight]

This gives insight to what happened in that chapter and clues of why the curse happened. Noah, Ham, and the Cursing of Canaan—Part Two

When the person writing that blog points out to Deuteronomy and Leviticus, it makes sense to me.

 

[Aseyesee]

Hey all,

I had a question about how we should interpret these verses in Genesis 9:



There has been and probably will be a lot of discussion on what exactly happened, but my interpretation of it is as follows:
1. The lack of detail itself should tell us something
2. Being drunk and naked are both not proscribed activities
3. The sin here could well be that of a child who not only does not cover their parents' folly or shameful things, but furthermore broadcasts it.
4. The application for us should be that whenever possible, children should not belittle, make fun of, point fingers at or broadcast our parents' folly -- even if the shame is true.

An example might be if a parent has a debt, alcoholism or anger problem, the child should not amplify it, for example on social media (anonymously seeking advice is probably permissible).

What if the parent's conduct crosses into criminality, such as if the child knows their parents are cheating people, wife beating or worse? Probably then they should take action (pushing for things to be made right quietly or internally) and at a last resort, to take things to the authorities. Because the Bible also tells us to be blind and without favor while executing justice.

This is a garden scenario, where (through the process of time) the name of the land (Israel/God's firstborn) finds its first name in relationship to the son we are. As a side note the two seeds are brought together again in Noah (a son of a 1/3rd son which retalte to a great many things in scripture), above all its a picture of the process of reasoning.

 

[com7fy8]

Well, Noah does not curse Ham who did the thing. But Noah curses "Canaan" who was a son of Ham. Plus, Ham had other sons who are not recorded as being cursed.

So, all the ones who come from Ham are not necessarily cursed. Plus, all in sin are cursed.

But God did bless them all, after the flood. So, I can see His blessing could have overruled Noah's cursing, to some extent.

Plus, Jesus on the cross put an end to any curses we have had in sin. We have gotten a new beginning with Jesus. So, even if someone were cursed by Noah, that is ended by trusting Jesus on the cross.

So, what did Ham do? May be, since its effects are canceled by those who join with Jesus at Calvary . . . it is a past thing, and our attention belongs now with Jesus . . . answering to Him, not trying to get Him to answer to us.

 

[Aseyesee]

Well, Noah does not curse Ham who did the thing. But Noah curses "Canaan" who was a son of Ham. Plus, Ham had other sons who are not recorded as being cursed.

So, all the ones who come from Ham are not necessarily cursed. Plus, all in sin are cursed.

But God did bless them all, after the flood. So, I can see His blessing could have overruled Noah's cursing, to some extent.

Plus, Jesus on the cross put an end to any curses we have had in sin. We have gotten a new beginning with Jesus. So, even if someone were cursed by Noah, that is ended by trusting Jesus on the cross.

So, what did Ham do? May be, since its effects are canceled by those who join with Jesus at Calvary . . . it is a past thing, and our attention belongs now with Jesus . . . answering to Him, not trying to get Him to answer to us.

I think the big question is why Noah would curse Ham's (4th) son, and what connection does this have to the purpose God purposed in himself, now being revealed in us ...

 

[Servus]

One theory is that Ham seeing his father in his nakedness is an idiom for Ham committed incest with Noah's wife, Ham's mother, which resulted in the birth of Canaan.

This stems from: The nakedness of thy father's wife shalt thou not uncover: it is thy father's nakedness. Leviticus 18:8