Christian Stories - Bible Study Online
After God had laid out the "Magna Charta" for Noah and the new world, we are now somewhat introduced to his three sons -- Shem, Ham, and Japheth. Now these three sons of Noah would eventually become the forefathers of future civilizations that would eventually populate and subdue the earth. Also at this time, the scriptures specifically points out that Ham was the father of Canaan. Now this is important, for it would make Canaan -- Noah's grandson and not his son. We will touch more on this subject in a little bit, but for right now... I'll like to point out, that this information is purposely mention in order to setup the "blessing & curse" scene that would happen later on. Before the Great Flood of Judgment had ravage the earth, there are a few things that we learn, when it comes to Noah. First, he was skilled when it came to building ships. Second, he was a husbandman, which is a man of the soil or farmer. The more we learn about Noah, it becomes clearer that he was definitely predestined for the task that God had laid before him. Noah was a good and righteous man that stood out from his generation, to where God used him to save the human race from the wicked practices that had taken hold of it. Now we find that Noah's skills in husbandry would come into to play when it came to tilling and taking care of the ground after the waters had rescinded. But unfortunately at this time we find that this skill would lead to the curse of one of his three sons. For we find that Noah had planted a vineyard and from that vineyard he had made some wine. Noah had became drunk from the wine that he had made and ended up passing out naked in his tent.
"Noah, a man of the soil, proceeded to plant a vineyard. When he drank some of its wine, he became drunk and lay uncovered inside his tent. Ham the father of Canaan saw his father nakedness and told his two brothers outside. "But Shem and Japheth took a garment and laid it across their shoulders; then they walked in backward and covered their father's nakedness. Their faces were turned the other way so they could not see their father's nakedness. "When Noah awoke from his wine and found out what his youngest son had done to him, he said, 'Cursed be Canaan! The lowest of slaves will he be to his brothers.'" (Genesis 9: 20-24) Now it gets a bit tricky and mysterious here, for the generational curse that was levied against his son Canaan was not his son but in fact his grandson. For Noah's son Ham was the father of Canaan. Also, when you read the scripture you will notice that Ham is the one that had saw his father's nakedness, not Canaan. So why is the curse directed at Canaan, Noah's grandson - instead of his son Ham? If you'll read the scripture again you will notice that it states that "Ham the father of Canaan saw his father nakedness and told his two brothers outside." Notice that the scriptures uses the word (saw) and not the word (found), for we are lead to believe that it was Canaan that had found his grandfather Noah laying naked in his tent, and then he went to go and tell his father Ham. Now instead of Ham covering up his father and disciplining Canaan for his mischief, he too participated in the embarrassment of his father Noah, by going to get his two brothers so they too could see their father in a confound situation. But when the brothers get there, they immediately cover up their father's nakedness and put an end to their Noah's embarrassment. But to say that this generational curse was only directed at Canaan wouldn't be totally true? With Canaan being Ham's son this curse would indeed affect Ham as well, being that Canaan was his seed. Now this generational curse would seem a little harsh for a one time incident. So harsh, that the reasoning behind the incident has the majority of people thinking that it had something to do with some type of immoral sexual act that happen against Noah. I for one don't believe this was the case, for if it was, I truly believe that the Bible would have pointed this out - just like it does throughout the rest of the scriptures that deals with the immoral sexual conduct of others. We have to remember that God had just destroyed the world because of the constant evil intentions and practices of the human race. To have this type of behavior at such an early stage of the new world would not have served it well. After all Noah's family had been through and having been spared from a judgment of death, they should have known that this type of behavior would not be tolerated. In fact, this type of behavior will be judged and punished, for God had just gave his "Magna Charta" stating that the human race will be held accountable for their actions - good or bad. This is why Japheth and Shem received generational blessings for covering up their father: "Blessed be the Lord, the God of Shem! May Canaan be the slave of Shem. May God extend the territory of Japheth, may Japheth live in the tents of Shem and may Canaan be his slave." (Genesis 9: 26-27) Now we are told that Noah had lived three hundred and fifty years after the "Great Flood of Judgment," this would have made him nine hundred and fifty when he died. God had blessed Noah to see and be a blessing to two worlds. God also blessed Noah with longevity for he lived twenty years longer than Adam and just nineteen years less than Methuselah, who was the longest living human that's been recorded within the Bible. 04) Noah Leaves Ark 06) <-CURRENT PAGE-> 08) Nimrod the Great  CrossDaily.com Web Search where you can VOTE FOR THIS SITE & other great ones. Christian search engine, directory & voting index. You'll find Bible, chat, churches, jobs, music, reviews, software, theology, & more. See the best sites!
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