Messy Servants - Genesis 9-10 - Foundations
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ILLUST: Kids making messes, trying to clean them up - Adults let them try, then step in to help, showing the right way
ILLUST: Kids making messes, trying to clean them up - Adults let them try, then step in to help, showing the right way
Since Creation, people (children) have made messes, tried their own way to clean them up. God (the Father) steps in and helps, even sent Jesus to show the right way
1) More questions answered
1) More questions answered
Race (show images, explain black and white)
Genetic diversity - clearly possible, with basic genetic studies
Population statistics - 8 people leave ark (and all people at that time know and trust God)
Capital punishment
Meat-eating
2) The Curse of Canaan
2) The Curse of Canaan
NOT - Curse of Ham
Due to Noah’s nakedness, drunkenness, Ham’s inappropriateness
Explain what happened
Noah drunk, lying totally exposed, shameful
Ham looks on him (other two do not), possibly involves Canaan, his son
NOT Ethnic or Race (Ham may have been dark-toned, seems to settle in Africa, N. Africa
ASIDE - evolution is amazingly “racist”
What’s with the curse? By Noah (he apparently sobers up and is aware of what has happened)
The character of the father is anticipated in the deeds of the son
More prophetic than immediate “curse”
Canaan’s future actions are not Ham’s fault, though
His descendents will end up subjugated to those of the other two
ASIDE - Drunkenness, seek out Scripture
And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit,
Woe to those who rise early in the morning that they may pursue strong drink, Who stay up late in the evening that wine may inflame them!
Let us behave properly as in the day, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual promiscuity and sensuality, not in strife and jealousy.
envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
Noah put himself in a situation where he was not in control
3) Messy Servants
3) Messy Servants
People are messy....spiritually....”BUT GOD...”
Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
Noah is not perfect - He is Faithful!
God has already stated that the heart is bent toward evil (earlier in Ch. 9)
Parallel messy situations - Adam and Noah
Their offspring are sinners
Their offspring are given blessing
Both experience the shame of nakedness
Adam after the fall, Noah in this instance
Adam’s sin led to strife between offspring - Cain and Abel/Seth
Noah’s sin led to same - Shem, Ham, Japheth
New relationships (people vs animals)
New assurances - covenant with earth and people
New order (human government established, cap. punishment)
BUT…same old human heart
TABLE OF NATIONS - GENESIS 10 - not a perfect person in the list
Note Peleg - in the days the earth was divided (foreshadowing of Gen. 11)
God uses lots and lots of broken people, like you and me, to reach broken people like you and me
Noah - three sons
Shem - line of the Messiah, the “Shemites” - “Semites” - following God
Abram comes from this line
Ham - line of Canaan results - the “Canaanites” noted in Joshua and other places - wickedness prevails
Japheth - other Gentile groups - later will be part of “grafting in,” by trusting in Christ
Realize, each of these fathers knew God, knew what He had done, firsthand
How could their offspring possibly not trust God? Individual choice
Noah - imperfect, but faithful
One son - offspring openly leaves the Lord
Another - offspring rather lukewarm with relation to God
Another - offspring chosen by God for faithfulness (Abram already knew of Yahweh when called, but also idol worshiper with his father)
God was involved in each life, though it always came down to personal trust/faith
Each, messy, imperfect life
God would use any of them, if they would simply own their sin and trust
Every problem wouldn’t be fixed, solved, taken care of
But faith pleases God, as in Heb 11:6
And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.
Adam - messy; Noah - messy
You - messy
What messes have you made?
How have you tried to clean them up?
Is the mess so bad that God can’t use you?
Moses - murderer; David - adulterer, murderer; Peter - Jesus denier; Paul - persecuter of Christians, and so on
Is the mess so bad that God can’t use you?
Adam - forgiven; Noah - forgiven; Moses, David, Peter, Paul - yep, forgiven
You? Forgiven?
How can God use you, what you have been through, what you know?
who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.
Realize, that while we made messes, still do, God was there, is there, to comfort
Then - God will send people your way, messy people, who need God’s comfort, and you get to explain to them how God comforted you
BUT…your choice how you deal with the messes
Run from God
Ambivalent/lukewarm to God
Embrace Him - let Him help you clean up
Starts with salvation
Continues with sanctification
Will conclude in Glory - where God will complete the perfect work He has begun
For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.
HAS GOD BEGUN THAT GOOD WORK IN YOU?
Have you placed your trust in Him?
WILL YOU LET HIM WORK NOW?
Be amazed at what He will do, if we will only let Him, messes and all