After the flood has ended, we learn that Noah and his sons are to be life producers, not life takers. They are to begin the population of the earth.
The sons of Noah who went out of the ark were Shem, Ham, and Japheth. Ham was the father of Canaan. These three were the sons of Noah, and from these the whole earth was peopled (Genesis 9:18-19).
The first two instances of drunkenness mentioned in the Bible (both here and in 19:31) ended in disaster. Noah got drunk, and his son Ham was at the wrong place at the wrong time.
He saw his father’s nakedness and should have quietly left. Instead, he talked about it with his brothers.
Noah, a man of the soil, was the first to plant a vineyard. He drank some of the wine and became drunk, and he lay uncovered in his tent.
And Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father and told his two brothers outside (Genesis 9:20-22).
Bruce Kirby and Rudy Ross produced a YouTube video with me on this passage. They both observed that all Ham needed to do was to simply turn around and leave.
He didn’t have to expose his father to any sort of ridicule with his other brothers or even talk to them. All he had to do was be quiet and his father’s honor would have been preserved.
His brothers did the right thing, which is what Ham should have done.
Then Shem and Japheth took a garment, laid it on both their shoulders, and walked backward and covered the nakedness of their father; their faces were turned away, and they did not see their father’s nakedness (Genesis 9:23).
The telling of his brothers was probably the reason why he got this reaction from Noah.
When Noah awoke from his wine and knew what his youngest son had done to him, he said,
“Cursed be Canaan;
lowest of slaves shall he be to his brothers.” (Genesis 9:24)
It is worth noting that the first recorded words of Noah in Scripture is this curse on his son Ham.
In today’s YouTube video, Bruce and Rudy discuss the Septuagint translation of this passage. The Septuagint is the Greek translation of the Hebrew text. Instead of “slave” in this verse, the Septuagint translated it as “servant.”
The concept of servanthood is intriguing, especially considering Jesus’s teaching that the greatest among us should be the servant of all. Perhaps this service isn’t a curse, but rather a form of service to them.
However, we shouldn’t ignore the connection between Ham, Canaan, the Canaanites, and the challenges faced in conquering the Promised Land. Perhaps Noah’s curse on his son reveals something deeper than simply a mandate for loyal service.
The Power of Blessing
In my ministry, I often meet people who have failed to receive a parental blessing. It is as if this lack of blessing causes them to limp through life.
I don’t know how many people I’ve met over the years who struggled with drug addiction, criminal behavior, and gang activity, all looking for a blessing that did not come from a parent.
Quite frankly, it makes me wonder about how well I did with my own children.
Where Ham did not get a blessing from Noah, his other two sons did, and they certainly made a difference in their lives, which was then handed down to the other generations.
He also said,
“Blessed by the Lord my God be Shem,
and let Canaan be his slave.
May God make space for Japheth,
and let him live in the tents of Shem,
and let Canaan be his slave.” (Genesis 9:26-27)
James compares reading the Bible to looking in a mirror. As we examine this passage today, let’s resolve to live with self-control and ensure we treat others with the blessings they deserve.
But be doers of the word and not merely hearers who deceive themselves.
For if any are hearers of the word and not doers, they are like those who look at themselves in a mirror; for they look at themselves and, on going away, immediately forget what they were like (James 1:22-24).
James emphasizes that reading the Bible is not just about self-reflection; it requires practical application.
YouTube Discussion
Rudy Ross, Bruce Kirby, and I discussed this passage on YouTube today.
Real Voices 