Genesis Session 17

I do not know if there is anything worse than finding yourself at the wrong place at the wrong time.

Have you ever walked into a situation by happenstance and thought, “Man… I do NOT want to be here right now!”

Maybe it was the entrance into a conversation you didn’t want to be a part of.

Maybe it was the inclusion in a situation you wanted nothing to do with.

Maybe it was a position you were placed in at work.

Whatever the case… many of us know what it feels like to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. And when we stop and think about most of those moments… what is it that we do not like about such moments? THEY MAKE US FEEL UNCOMFORTABLE.

Awkward moments… tense situations… moments of confusion or intensity… being pulled into people’s business we didn’t ask to be a part of… can certainly make a person feel uncomfortable. And this is where one of Noah’s sons finds himself in our passage of study this evening.

Genesis 9:18–22 NIV

18 The sons of Noah who came out of the ark were Shem, Ham and Japheth. (Ham was the father of Canaan.) 19 These were the three sons of Noah, and from them came the people who were scattered over the whole earth. 20 Noah, a man of the soil, proceeded to plant a vineyard. 21 When he drank some of its wine, he became drunk and lay uncovered inside his tent. 22 Ham, the father of Canaan, saw his father naked and told his two brothers outside.

These three sons had been with Noah throughout the entire flood narrative.

They saw the wickedness of the world prior to the flood.

They saw the building of the Ark that would be a refuge from the flood.

They saw the cleansing of the earth through the enormity of the flood.

The saw the resetting of all things through the recession of the flood.

These guys had literally seen the world at its worst, and the intensity of God’s judgement on sin. So… you would think they would have a well-earned understanding regarding the dangers of sin and the power of God. They were spared for the favor that Noah had found in the eyes of the Lord.

Now… on the other side of the flood… we get a glimpse of life back in motion in Noah and his family.

Noah was a man of the soil. Noah… was an agriculturalist. He knew how to work the ground so that the ground would produce fruit. Specifically, Noah had planted a vineyard and apparently he was successful in producing fruit.

In order for wine to be made, a harvest had to be brought in. So as we read verse 20 and the first half of 21, we understand that those verses covers a significant amount of time. Think of it this evening:

Noah had to prep the ground for planting.

Noah had to plant the seed.

Noah had to wait for the vines to grow and produce fruit.

Noah had to harvest the fruit.

Noah had to make wine of the fruit.

Noah had to wait for the wine to ferment in order for intoxication to be possible.

Consider this: it can take 3 years before a grapevine produces any fruit. It can take an additional two years for that fruit to be drinkable from the bottle. While we are not certain on the exact time that is represented here… we can assume that 3-5 years pass by in verse 20-21.

I bring that up to make this point: at least 3-5 years have passed since Noah and His family exited the ark. We are not for certain as to when this story took place… it is possible it was significantly further out than that. But life was back in full motion. And unfortunately, Ham would find himself in one of those awkward moments.

Noah was drunk. Scripture doesn’t go into detail to condone or condemn his drunkenness… it just gives the report. Noah planted a vineyard, he made wine from its fruit, and he got drunk off the wine.

Noah was in a compromised state because his mind was under the influence of alcohol. Noah probably didn’t want to be where he was in this moment, either.

Alcohol has a way of placing people in situations… they never thought they would find themselves in. Drunkenness does nothing but make fools of the drinker. And in that foolishness… damage can be done.

Noah placed his family in an awkward situation. He was out… he was hammered. He was unaware of his situation. He was passed out in his tent, uncovered (naked) because of his over-consumption of wine.

And then… the situation intensified. Ham, one of Noah’s sons, walks into the tent and find his dad fully exposed and unconscious.

Talk about awkward! Talk about wrong place wrong time! Talk about an uncomfortable moment!!!

Ham is bewildered… I can only imagine he is a bit embarrassed. So he leaves his father in the condition that he found him, walks out of the tent undetected… and then tells his brothers what just happened outside the tent.

Now, it could be very likely that these guys were looking for their dad. Perhaps they were concerned for his safety because of his absence. Maybe this was a well-being visit. We simply do not know.

What we do know is Ham left dad in the condition that he found him… and then proceeded to talk about what he saw with his two brothers.

Ham dishonored Noah in two different ways.

One, Ham discovered his dad in a compromised state… and he did nothing to alleviate his condition. Not only was Noah exposed… he was unconscious, passed out. He was not well physically.

Two, Ham spread the word regarding Noah’s condition bringing further shame to Noah’s situation. I’m sure Noah wasn’t pleased with how things turned out that day regarding his own actions… but that displeasure was intensified when he learned what happened when Ham entered his tent.

Where Ham went Bad.

Being caught in a moment of discomfort is one thing… but choosing to make matters worse regarding that moment is another.

As people of God, we are called to make a difference in this world… to operate differently than this world… and to be extensions of Jesus’ love to this world.

The behavior Ham displayed in reaction to what he encountered was behavior more reflective of the world than God. And I get it… Ham didn’t want to be where he was in that moment… but he was there… and he would be held responsible for his reaction.

We have no idea what we might come across in the course of a day. We do not know what kind of situations lie ahead. However, I pray that no matter what comes our way, we will opt to honor God in our behaviors, attitudes and actions.

For instance, if or when we find ourselves in the wrong place at the wrong time, I pray that our emotions and self do not become distractions to what we know our God would have us do. Ham was so caught up in his discomfort that he missed out on the opportunity to honor his dad. Instead, he made matters worse for him.

Did Noah deserve to be in the spot he was in that day? Yes. That might sound harsh but hear me out.

Noah choose to drink, and to drink, and to drink some more. Just when you thought he might be finished, he opened another bottle and then… his face hit the floor. Noah’s actions landed him in this compromised position.

And that is what sin does… drunkenness is sin. Sin lands us in situations that can be destructive to our lives. Noah was where he was because of what he had done.

However… the added shame of his situation came because of the actions of another… his son, Ham. Ham did NOTHING to remedy the situation… he only acted in his discomfort and brought further shame to the story.

As believers, we are NOT to be spreaders of shame… we are to be extensions of grace - specifically God’s grace.

Think about it… how quick are people willing to talk about awkward moments they encounter or conversations that went south? How quick does our culture move to criticize and to condemn? And I believe that much of what is spoken is done to ease that person’s discomfort regarding the situation.

They do not agree with what they heard, saw, or experienced. However, spreading word of said experience only delivers more shame and discomfort to the parties involved.

The victim in our passage tonight is Noah - who fell victim to his own decisions. Perhaps Ham felt violated regarding what took place, “You won’t believe what just happened to me.” How often do we put “me” in the lead? how often do we tell the tale of our discomfort instead of move to ease the discomfort of a hurting and dying world?

Ham went and told his brothers what had happened. Ham gave his report. But unlike Ham, the other two brothers decided to do something about their father’s condition. They were unwilling to leave Noah in that compromised state.

They were moved with compassion for their father so they took action on his behalf.

Where Shem and Japheth got it Right.

Genesis 9:23 NIV

23 But Shem and Japheth took a garment and laid it across their shoulders; then they walked in backward and covered their father’s naked body. Their faces were turned the other way so that they would not see their father naked.

As soon as the two brothers received word concerning their father’s condition, they moved to remedy the situation… instead of ignoring the problem.

The brothers did not want anyone else walking in on their father in that condition. They did not want to add to the embarrassment of the situation. Noah was in no condition to help himself. So the two brothers stepped in to bring assistance where they could.

They could not move Noah from intoxication to sober… only time could heal that situation.

What they could do was aide their father with a covering… and avoid conversation.

Scripture does not tell us the motive behind Ham’s decision to talk to his brothers about what he saw. What we do know is Ham did nothing to assist.

He left his father the first time.

He is not mentioned assisting in covering Noah with Shem and Japheth. Ham remained passive. He didn’t like what he saw… and he did nothing to remedy what he saw… even though it involved his father.

God has not called us to pass by or to be unmoved by the hurting and broken people in our world. He is not asking us to condone their actions. He is simply asking us to come to where they are, and to assist them in anyway needed.

Too often… we are all talk… and no walk. Too often we tell of what we saw because it makes a good story. But it stops at making a good story. Ham was willing to talk… but displayed no walk regarding the care of his father. And when it is all talk and no walk… the only person being fooled is themselves.

1 John 1:6 NIV

6 If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth.

When our walk is nothing but talk… we lie to ourselves. Ham was caught lying to himself and to his father. His active level of compassion was lacking in response to his father’s care.

Here’s the deal… we cannot claim to love Jesus… and choose not to love others. It really is that simple. We cannot have a relationship or fellowship with the light and continue to walk in darkness.

Darkness kept Ham from doing anything.

Darkness moved Ham to be a gossip.

Darkness kept Ham from helping his brothers cover their father.

And this darkness… came with a high price.

Genesis 9:24–29 NIV

24 When Noah awoke from his wine and found out what his youngest son had done to him, 25 he said, “Cursed be Canaan! The lowest of slaves will he be to his brothers.” 26 He also said, “Praise be to the Lord, the God of Shem! May Canaan be the slave of Shem. 27 May God extend Japheth’s territory; may Japheth live in the tents of Shem, and may Canaan be the slave of Japheth.” 28 After the flood Noah lived 350 years. 29 Noah lived a total of 950 years, and then he died.

Do you realize the first recorded words spoken by Noah… are words that cursed his son’s son because of his decision to withhold care from his father?

Throughout the entire flood narrative, this is the first we hear directly from Noah. Ham’s actions have now had negative consequence on his life, but also on the life of his son.

Ham missed out on the blessing of his father, and instead walked under the weight of a curse.

Application

So what can we take away from this tonight? Wrong place at the wrong time can lead to some very uncomfortable moments… but more often than not, they are moments brought to us by God. They are moments that call for an anointed, Spirit-filled person to intervene or bring the love of Christ to.

They are NOT moments that are to become talking points or tomorrow’s gossip. They are NOT moments that we pass by or ignore. They are moments to let the love of Jesus shine.

Jesus never once passed by anyone in need.

In almost every circumstance, that person was where they were because of the decisions they had made. Yet Jesus came in and covered their shame. Jesus came in and transformed their situations around.

We have the power to either be a solution or to be part of the problem. We can either lift up or tear down.

Our fellowship with God is an active fellowship meaning it will be observable in all we say and do. If darkness it detected rather than the light of Christ, then we are the one being deceived.

Our mission is to Love God and to Love People - no matter how awkward those “loving people” moments might be.

Loving people is NOT condoning sin, but is helping them where they are and showing them the way to grace.

When we were down and out… God provided for us a new covering… a covering we did not deserve… a covering that covered not only our sin but also our shame. God did that for you through Jesus… are you willing to do the same for others?

God doesn’t need anymore talkers… what He needs are some Spirit-filled walkers… people who won’t pass by but will minister to the needs of those around them.

YOU ARE NOT IN THE WRONG PLACE.

YOU ARE NOT IN THE WRONG TIME.

You ARE strategically placed by God for His will and purpose. So the question is, are you going to talk? (be passive) Or are you going to walk? (be active)