“ALCOHOL’

1. After Noah and his family exited the ark,

2. What kind of job did Noah have?

3. It would have been difficult for him to survive as a preacher.

4. It would not have been feasible for him to open up some type of store.

5. There was also no need to build another boat.

6. With only 7 other people on the planet, what did Noah do?

7. Noah started to farm GEN: 9:20-21/

I. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT NOAH BECAME INVOVED WITH WAS GRAPES HE PLANTED A VINEYARD.

A. Noah or someone else made some “wine”

B. The Bible says that Noah drank some of this wine.

C. Noah drank enough wine that he became “drunk”

D. This is a rather interesting picture.

E. Noah had been a good man.

(1) He was one of eight people saved by God.

(2) This man had “saved his household”, Heb: 11:7.

(3) This man had been a preacher.

(4) This is a rather interesting picture.

(5) Gen: 9 tell us that………

F. Even the best men and women are not immune from sin.

G. I would hope that no preacher in our day and time would follow the kind of course taken by Noah.

H. While we can wish for this, we know the truth.

I. Some have taken the same path that Noah took.

J. Others have pursued other pleasures of the flesh.

K. Preachers, elders, deacons Christians many have succumbed.

L. In some cases we may say, “It was a mistake of youth.”

M. While this statement may have a small amount of relevance,

N. It certainly did not apply to Noah.

(1) This man was old.

(2) He was 600 years old when he boarded the ark.

(3) Noah was old enough to know better.

(4) Sin is not only capable of affecting God’s best people,

(5) It can attract and affect both the young and the old.

P. Noah’s involvement with alcohol on this occasion was deep.

Q. The Bible says that he “uncovered himself” in his tent.

R. From what I can determine,

S. Noah took off his clothing, or he pulled it up.

T. With this information in mind, let’s look at v. 22 READ

(1) This may sound rather strange,

(2) But here is what the text is describing.

(3) Ham saw his father’s exposed flesh.

(4) Ham “looked at” his dad’s naked flesh.

(5) Leopold translated this: he gazed w/ satisfaction.

(6) I do not know what gratification Ham received from this event.

(7) I don’t know this.

(8) Ham went and “told his two brethren outside.”

(9) The idea is, “He told with delight.”

V. Ham thought that his drunken, unclothed person is a family member?

II. HAM’S BROTHERS DID NOT AGREE.

A. Notice, please verse 23 – READ

B. Ham’s two brothers “picked up a robe.”

C. Robes were worn by men a nighttime, at least later in Biblical History (Ex: 22:26-27)

D. Out of respect for their father two sons walked backwards.”

E. Their faces were turned to avoid seeing his exposed flesh.

F. Noah finally woke up from his drunken state, v. 24.

G. He learned what his youngest son had done.

1. Can we put our self in Noah’s shoes?

2. What if we were to get very drunk, &…

3. We uncovered some body parts that are normally hidden,

4. And a family member came in an gawked at us;

5. Then this family member went out and made fun of us in front of other family members.

H. Would we be in a good mood?

I. Noah wasn’t. Noah appears to have been upset.

J. Noah issued a “curse” (vs. 25-27) READ.

K. What I just read is a passage which has been grossly abused.

1. While this is not now too often true,

2. In years past these verses have been used by “church people.

3. So-called preachers have used these three verses.

4. What Noah said has been used to argue two things;

5. First, these verses have been misused to justify slavery.

6. The word” Ham” seems to convey the idea of dark colored skin.

7. Thus, some have been zealous and eager to teach,

8. “The Bible says that dark skinned people are to be slaves.”

9. This point was followed by a second idea:

10. Dark skinned people should be slaves because of Ham’s curse.

L. The Bible does not endorse slavery in either testament.

M. Neither does the Bible elevate one skin color above another.

1. Nevertheless, some wanted to argue that slavery is right,

2. And these people have wanted the Bible to support them.

3. Because the Bible did not support either of these ideas,

4. Information from Gen: 9 had to be twisted and distorted.

N. Notice from Gen: 9 that Ham was not cursed. No certain skin color was cursed.

O. Instead of Ham being cursed, Canaan (a son, 10”6 was cursed.

P. Through Canaan (who was one of Ham’s son’s came some terrible people.

1. These descendents (Canaan) was worthy of destruction in Abraham day.

2. Nevertheless, God patiently waited.

3. Canaan’s descendents were in Israel during the time of Joshua.

4. By this time it is time to destroy, some of those who came from Ham’s son Canaan.

Q. Canaan was not being punished for the sin of Ham.

1. Rather, Noah’s prophecy looked forward to the type of people.

2. What kind of son was Ham based upon what we have examine

3. Canaan (Ham’s son) would be even worse...

4. Noah predicted that from this evil line would come judgment.

III WE HAVE A LOT OF MATERIAL IN GEN; 9, AND THERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT WE CAN LEARN FROM THIS CHAPTER.

A. We can learn that alcohol is often found hand in hand with sin.

B. Early in the Bible “wine” is connected with sin.

C. I have heard people say, “I do not drink the hard stuff.”

D. “Wine/beer is my preference.”

1. Gen: 9 clearly describe wine.

2. From what is said,

3. The one who did not drink (Ham) got into trouble.

4. When we discuss the subject of alcohol,

5. We normally focus on those who drink it.

6. In this story the emphasis is not on the drinker (Noah)

7. Ham’s actions & Ham’s descendents are center stage.

E. At the bare minimum Gen”9 suggests that when….

F. People are involved with alcohol, such is found at a drinking party we need to leave them alone.

1. I have heard young people say,

2. I am going to go to the party but I will not drink.

3. “I will only watch.”

4. There is no indication that Ham drank any of the wine.

5. He only “watched” (gazed). For this he got into trouble.

6. Parents cannot supervise their children every single second.

7. If our young people want some guidance from God,

8. Here is a lesson from early earth history;

9. When people are involved with alcohol, leave them alone.

10. Even after the 2 sons covered up their father,

11. They left him alone.

12. There are places and environments that are best avoided.

13. When people are drinking and partying or drunken,

14. The environment is almost always a bad place to be.

G. The way Shem and Japheth treated Noah brings forth something else.

H. There is to be respect for our parents.

1. Some make cruel jokes about their parents.

2. Mothers and fathers are mocked.

3. Perhaps Ham mimicked Noah in his drunken state.

4. Gen: 9 show that this type of behavior is not wise.

5. Respect needs to be shown for parents even when they make mistakes.

I. Speaking of unwise behavior,

1. Noah had exposed skin which should have been covered.

2. We are now entering into a period of warm weather.

3. There are going to be some people like Noah.

4. Some are going to uncover some skin that should remain covered

5. When people bare what they should keep hidden,

6. The reaction is going to be just like the one in Gen: 9.

7. People are going to stare. Some will stop and gawk.

8. I have no right to tell people how to dress.

9. I do know and I do have the right to teach what is in Gen: 9.

10. If a son were willing to stare at his father’s expose flesh,

11. What can be said of men and women exposing themselves to members of the

Opposite sex.

12. Gen 9 shows that clothing is an important item.

13. There are parts of the body which are not for public display.

14. In our day and time modesty needs to describe God’s people.

15. As the weather gets warmer and warmer,

16. Think of Noah. Take the time to re-read Gen: 9.

17. If a son were willing to look at his father’s bared flesh,

18. What will be true of those who wear skimpy and immodest clothes?

J. As Gen: 9 is examined, we find that men will twist scripture.

1. Slavery was a horrible thing in America and in other cult.

2. To justify slavery some have appealed to the Bible.

3. People had a terrible idea wanted God’s word to support them

4. The Bible never supports things that are wrong.

5. Yet, some who lack scruples will twist and pervert the word of Christianity.

6. Just because someone says, “The Bible approves of this;

7. Or, “The Bible teaches this”, that does not make something true.

8. Peter spoke of some who “wrest” the scriptures.

9. Nothing has changed.

10. When the scriptures are taken by people and twisted.

11. We must stand up and correct the error as has been done today.

K. The last thing I wish to say based upon Gen: 9 is

L. God blesses the saved and He curses the unsaved.

M. The curse on Canaan would not happen immediately.

N. God’s help and blessings may also have not been immediate for Shem and Joshua.

O. God does give to the good and bad exactly what each deserves.

CONCLUSION:

1. Noah is now receiving what is right.

2. Ham has received what is right for him.

3. The same is true for Noah’s other two sons.

4. When we go to the world beyond this one, what will we receive?

5. We will be with those who are being blessed and cared for by God?

6. Or, will we be like those who are cursed? We know the answer to this question.