A Different Take on the story of Noah

Today I just wanted to take the time to offer a perspective of a story we all know from childhood. The story of a man named Noah. The story of Noah is found in Genesis; Chapters 5-9. (really not a long story).

I’ll start from the beginning.

And he called his name Noah (meaning rest), saying, This same shall comfort us concerning our work and toil of our hands, because of the ground which the Lord hath cursed.” Ch. 5 verse 21

           “But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord.” Ch. 6. verse 8

I stole this statement from a Friend of mine, but keeping in mind that the Old Testament is mostly a picture of the new, notice that Rest was found in Grace (chen) translated to be favor and acceptance.

We all know the next part of the story, clean animals by sevens, unclean by twos, cubits, beaver wood and all those things so I won’t spend a lot of time there. (I do recommend that you read it all.) I want to jump on down a little further.

The flood is over, the earth has returned to a livable state, confirmed by the dove and all that stuff. The cruise is over and we are off of the boat. After all the burnt offerings and his sons receiving instruction to replenish the earth, Noah plants a vineyard. Ch. 9 verse 20

Noah drinks the Wine of the vineyard and becomes drunk and passes out naked in his tent.

(Stop here… And think about where the fruits of your own labor can get you.)

On to the scene at this point comes the Religious folks.. Or folk. His name is Ham, one of Noah’s sons. (Ch. 9 verse 22) Ham thought it best to expose his father’s shortfall to his brothers. I mean it’s gotta be the right thing to do. Noah must confess his sin and repent, so Ham is just being a good Christian right?

Read on and watch how the other brothers handled the shortfall:

“And Shem and Japheth took a garment, and laid it upon both their shoulders, and went backward, and covered the nakedness (can be translated as improper behavior) of their father; and their faces were backward, and they saw not their father’s nakedness.” Ch. 9 verse 23

These two, instead of putting Noah on blast, refused to look upon his Sin. In other words; knowing their father was living in a position of Favor and Acceptance of the Lord, chose to look the other way and cover the temporary downfall of Noah.

And check this out.

“And Noah awoke from his wine, and knew what his younger son had done unto him.And he said, Cursed be Canaan; a servant of servants shall he be unto his brethren.And he said, Blessed be the Lord God of Shem; and Canaan shall be his servant. God shall enlarge Japheth, and he shall dwell in the tents of Shem; and Canaan shall be his servant.” Ch. 9:24-27

You see what recognizing the Grace that rested on the life of Noah did for Japheth and Shem?

The good news is that the covenant we now live in is even sweeter than that of Noah!

A whole other message could be typed out on the question “Do you have Ham theology?”

I will do that one next! Hope you enjoyed this! Remember to have your brother’s back and be quick to give Grace!

Much Love,

Devin