THE PROBLEM DIDN'T GO AWAY
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THE PROBLEM DIDN’T GO AWAY
THE PROBLEM DIDN’T GO AWAY
INTRODUCTION:
INTRODUCTION:
In , God sent the flood to destroy the earth b/c of man’s wickedness & sinfulness…but as we saw Sunday morning - man is still capable of sinning.
Sunday morning we looked at this passage & saw that Noah got drunk & lay naked in his tent.
Noah planted a vineyard, got drunk, & lay naked in his tent.
God had destroyed all of the ungodly people from off of the earth…yet sin is still present.
Why - the heart is still wicked.
9 “The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; Who can know it?
21 And the Lord smelled a soothing aroma. Then the Lord said in His heart, “I will never again curse the ground for man’s sake, although the imagination of man’s heart is evil from his youth; nor will I again destroy every living thing as I have done.
Noah was saved from the flood b/c he found grace in the eyes of God…but Noah wasn’t a perfect man.
Noah still had a sinful nature.
Also, there were seven other people who got off the boat with Noah.
And just b/c Noah believed in God & walked with God…doesn’t mean that they fully believed in God.
So, the problem of sin still remained.
The problem of sin didn’t go away.
Tonight, I want to go through this passage & share with you some lessons & truths about the problem of sin.
1) SIN IS THE CAUSE OF RACISM
1) SIN IS THE CAUSE OF RACISM
Gen. 9:
18 Now the sons of Noah who went out of the ark were Shem, Ham, and Japheth. And Ham was the father of Canaan.
19 These three were the sons of Noah, and from these the whole earth was populated.
These two verses tell us about the beginning of all the human races.
All the races and people of the earth can be traced back to one of these three sons.
Shem, Ham, and Japheth gave rise to everyone who lives today, to all the races and people of the earth.
Lesson
Lesson
This means that the human race—all people and all nations—have come from one source.
All races are tied and bound together by a common ancestor.
The unity of the human race is a fact...the universal brotherhood of man is a living reality.
There should be no prejudice, discrimination, or classes among us.
We are all brothers and sisters, bound together by a common ancestor.
We are, therefore, to love one another…and should practice brotherly love.
39 And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’
22 Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart,
NOTE: Racism & hate shouldn't exist b/c we all come from the same source.
NOTE: Racism & hate shouldn't exist b/c we all come from the same source.
We may look different b/c of our skin color…but we come from the same source.
When we practice racism…not only are we sinning against God…but in reality, we are hating our brothers & sisters.
But in reality, we are hating our brothers & sisters.
But it all goes back to the problem of sin.
NOTE: Sin creates this hatred within us for others that don’t look like us…and that are different than us.
Sin leads to the mistreatment of others that are different…whether it be skin color or nationality…or something else.
Sin wants to classify people & segregate people…but God sent His Son to unite people.
And when we get to heaven…it’s going to be filled with every race & skin color.
2) SIN AFFECTS EVERYONE
2) SIN AFFECTS EVERYONE
Gen. 9:2
20 And Noah began to be a farmer, and he planted a vineyard.
21 Then he drank of the wine and was drunk, and became uncovered in his tent.
22 And Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father, and told his two brothers outside.
20 And Noah began to be a farmer, and he planted a vineyard.
21 Then he drank of the wine and was drunk, and became uncovered in his tent.
Genesis 9:20-22
Noah gets drunk & lay naked in his tent.
We covered this on Sunday…but quickly I want to remind you that even godly people are prone to sin.
No person is above sin, not even a servant of God.
Anyone can fall into sin.
Sin is no respect of persons.
NOTE: No matter who the person is & no matter how godly he has been and how high a position he may hold—he can still fall and commit serious sin.
Noah, the great man of God, sinned, and so can we.
No one is above or beyond temptation.
23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
No one will go through this world untouched by sin.
All of us have a sinful nature that we are born with.
Noah was successful in the past but he failed in this moment.
Past success does not provide power for future victory.
NOTE: Daily we need God’s grace & strength to be victorious over sin.
None of us is ever past temptation or the need of God’s sustaining grace.
3) OUR SIN MAY LEAD OTHERS TO SIN
3) OUR SIN MAY LEAD OTHERS TO SIN
23 But Shem and Japheth took a garment, laid it on both their shoulders, and went backward and covered the nakedness of their father. Their faces were turned away, and they did not see their father’s nakedness.
22 And Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father, and told his two brothers outside.
GEN. 9:
GEN. 9:
Noah’s sin had consequences…It lead to his son Ham committing sin…which led to his grandson Canaan being cursed.
Lesson
The consequences of sin are always terrible.
Scripture declares this fact:
19 As righteousness leads to life, So he who pursues evil pursues it to his own death.
2 But your iniquities have separated you from your God; And your sins have hidden His face from you, So that He will not hear.
4 “Behold, all souls are Mine; The soul of the father As well as the soul of the son is Mine; The soul who sins shall die.
Ezek. 18:4
Ez. 18:4
23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
NOTE: When we sin, there will be consequences.
NOTE: When we sin, there will be consequences.
God is gracious & forgiving…but there will consequences for our choices & actions.
So, what was Ham’s sin?
22 And Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father, and told his two brothers outside.
24 So Noah awoke from his wine, and knew what his younger son had done to him.
It has been debated as to exactly what Ham did to Noah.
Some say he just looked at his father & told his brothers jokingly.
Others have suggested that he committed a sexual sin with his father.
⇒ says that Ham "saw the nakedness of his father."
⇒ says that Ham " saw the nakedness of his father." The Hebrew means more than just looking at his father; it means that he saw with pleasure, joy, and satisfaction. Does this imply more than just looking with pleasure at his father? Does just looking merit such a terrible curse as was pronounced upon the younger son of Ham ()?
The Hebrew means more than just looking at his father.
It means that he saw with pleasure, joy, and satisfaction.
⇒ says that Noah found out "what his younger son had done to him."
⇒ says that Noah found out "what his younger son had done to him." This might refer to some physical act or sexual sin, but it could simply refer to Ham dishonoring and mocking Noah ().
This might refer to some physical act or sexual sin, but it could simply refer to Ham dishonoring and mocking Noah ().
⇒ In other Scriptures to uncover the nakedness of someone means to commit some sexual sin (; , ; ). In the word "see" is used instead of "uncover." The word "see" means to have sexual relations (Victor Hamilton. The Book of Genesis, p.322).
17 ‘If a man takes his sister, his father’s daughter or his mother’s daughter, and sees her nakedness and she sees his nakedness, it is a wicked thing. And they shall be cut off in the sight of their people. He has uncovered his sister’s nakedness. He shall bear his guilt.
In this verse the word "see" has the same force that the word "know" often has throughout Scripture.
For example, "Adam knew Eve...and she conceived" ().
Both words—"see" and "know"—sometimes mean to see and know in the most intimate sense - to have sexual relations.
Personally, I believe that Ham did more than look at his father’s nudity...I believe this explains why the curse on Canaan was so severe.
Something that is interesting about the Canaanites is where they end up settling down.
But notice this - no one had to tell Noah what had happened…The text says, “he knew...”
19 And the border of the Canaanites was from Sidon as you go toward Gerar, as far as Gaza; then as you go toward Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, and Zeboiim, as far as Lasha.
20 These were the sons of Ham, according to their families, according to their languages, in their lands and in their nations.
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19 And the border of the Canaanites was from Sidon as you go toward Gerar, as far as Gaza; then as you go toward Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, and Zeboiim, as far as Lasha.
What was Sodom & Gomorrah known for?
Scripture doesn’t specifically say that a sexual sin was committed, unless the word "saw" means sexual relations as it does in above.
Also, note this: Scripture does not specifically say that a sexual sin was committed, unless the word "saw" means sexual relations as it does in above.
But looking at where Ham’s sons end up…I believe it started with Ham.
Now, at least three serious sins were committed by Ham (four, if you believe that he committed a sexual sin).
These are covered in the following points (b-d).
A. Ham dishonored his father.
A. Ham dishonored his father.
This is seen not only in the act of Ham, but in the word "saw."
The Hebrew means to gaze upon, to look upon intently, to look upon with pleasure, to look upon with satisfaction (H.C. Leupold. Genesis, Vol.1, p.346).
Ham saw his father naked and deliberately stood there looking upon the nakedness of his father.
Why? Because he was receiving some kind of satisfaction from it.
He was pleased to see his father in such a state of drunkenness, shame, and dishonor.
For some reason, Ham felt ill will toward his father.
Consequently…
he refused to throw a covering over his father. He just let him lie there in his shameful nakedness.
he took great satisfaction and pleasure in seeing his father shame himself.
Simply stated, Ham dishonored his father...He showed the utmost disrespect and spite for him.
B. Ham scorned, ridiculed, and showed contempt for his father.
B. Ham scorned, ridiculed, and showed contempt for his father.
Ham went right out and told his brothers about his father's drunkenness and nakedness.
The word for "told" means that he told them with delight (H.C. Leupold. Genesis, Vol.1, p.346).
He actually got joy and satisfaction in telling them.
He was able to ridicule and mock his father's behavior, to show scorn and contempt in the hope that his brothers might feel ill will toward their father as well.
Lesson
Dishonoring parents has always been a serious sin in the eyes of God.
18 “If a man has a stubborn and rebellious son who will not obey the voice of his father or the voice of his mother, and who, when they have chastened him, will not heed them,
,
20 And they shall say to the elders of his city, ‘This son of ours is stubborn and rebellious; he will not obey our voice; he is a glutton and a drunkard.’
21 Then all the men of his city shall stone him to death with stones; so you shall put away the evil from among you, and all Israel shall hear and fear.
4 For God commanded, saying, ‘Honor your father and your mother’; and, ‘He who curses father or mother, let him be put to death.’
Lesson
Disobedience to parents is a common problem within society today.
And the bible warns us that in the last days it would be this way.
1 But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come:
2 For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
Now more than ever, kids aren’t respectful…and they don’t show honor to their elders anymore.
A lot of it has to do with how a child is brought up…but the main problem or the root of it all is sin.
Sin only begets more sin.
C. Ham apparently had turned away from the faith of his father.
C. Ham apparently had turned away from the faith of his father.
Ham apparently had turned away from the faith of his father.
Basically—in the core of his being—Noah was a very godly man, despite his serious and tragic fall at this point in his life.
Noah had been chosen and used by God in a great way, and he was a true preacher of righteousness ().
Ham probably helped his father build the ark while the neighbors laughed.
Outwardly, he went along with the program...But in his heart, he hated his father’s righteousness.
His heart was really with the world, not with his father.
Even though he saw the horrors of God’s judgment through the flood...he was delighted when he finally saw his father sin.
It gave him reason to justify his own sinful desires.
In fact, no true believer can show dishonor and scorn toward any person, no matter how terrible a sinner the person may be.
Outwardly, Ham
Lesson
In fact, no true believer can show dishonor and scorn toward any person, no matter how terrible a sinner the person may be.
What was in Ham’s heart eventually came out...He couldn’t hide it forever.
And the same is true for us.
He couldn’t hide it forever.
What is in our heart will come out.
45 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.
Before we move on, notice how Ham’s brother’s responded compared to him.
Gen. 9:
23 But Shem and Japheth took a garment, laid it on both their shoulders, and went backward and covered the nakedness of their father. Their faces were turned away, and they did not see their father’s nakedness.
Instead of looking on their father & dishonoring him…they covered their father & still honored him.
They still respected Noah & honored his position as their father even though he had failed.
They loved him & covered his nakedness…rather than mock & shame him.
Through their actions of covering him I am reminded of the verse in
8 And above all things have fervent love for one another, for “love will cover a multitude of sins.”
Prov. 10:12
12 Hatred stirs up strife, But love covers all sins.
To “cover” sin is to forgive it, and forgiveness is associated with love.
The best example of a love that covers sin is Jesus’ sacrificial death on our behalf.
Jesus’ prayer from the cross, “Father, forgive them,” says it all ().
NOTE: We need to be more like Shem & Japheth than Ham.
We need to love & be forgiving & gracious towards people that have fallen…instead of exposing their faults & flaws.
Would you want everyone exposing your failures for the world to critique & talk about?
4) SIN HAS A PRICE
4) SIN HAS A PRICE
Gen. 9:24-
24 So Noah awoke from his wine, and knew what his younger son had done to him.
25 Then he said: “Cursed be Canaan; A servant of servants He shall be to his brethren.”
26 And he said: “Blessed be the Lord, The God of Shem, And may Canaan be his servant.
27 May God enlarge Japheth, And may he dwell in the tents of Shem; And may Canaan be his servant.”
Ham sinned but Canaan, his son, is the one that is cursed.
You may think that's unfair…and you're asking yourself - Why is Ham's son, Canaan, predicted to be the father of a cursed people instead of Ham?
In other words, why was Canaan cursed and not Ham himself?
All kinds of reasons have been suggested by various commentators, but the truth seems to lie in the following.
First, Canaan was already walking in the footsteps of his father, living a sensual life and denying the faith of the God of Noah.
Scripture teaches that a man sows what he reaps () and that the sins of the fathers are passed on down through generation after generation
5 you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me,
NOTE: Life demonstrates this truth time and again.
Unfortunately, a father sins and falls.
And even though he might regret his sin and even repent...his son still follows in his sinful footsteps and never repents.
NOTE: The influence of parents on their children is undeniable.
Often sons & daughters want to grow up to be just like their father & mother.
inherits the genes of their parents.
You can often see little children mimic the behaviors of their parents.
And usually children become a product of there environment.
This doesn't mean that a child can't break the behavioral pattern of a bad parent - they can.
They can choose to act differently, behave properly, to live a good and moral life.
But many times that doesn’t happen.
Most continue on in the kind of immoral life their parents lived.
For example, if the father is an alcoholic…there is a good chance that the son will be an alcoholic.
Apparently, Canaan followed a sinful path in life, following in the footsteps of his father, Ham.
Noah observed his evil, and under the inspiration of God's Spirit, Noah prophetically uttered the course of Canaan's life.
Also, Noah saw that the impact of a father's influence upon his son was to be demonstrated time and again down through history in the seed of Canaan.
Second, the very name "Canaan" means the submissive one.
It comes from the Hebrew meaning to stoop, submit, or bend.
Why would Ham give his baby son such a name?
Ham had to be thinking of obedience, of the submission a son owed to his father.
Perhaps Ham was a tyrannical—abusive—father?
Now, having said all that, notice what the verse says: "A servant of servants he shall be to his brethren."
The phrase means the lowest of servants or slaves.
Ham’s descendants through Canaan would be enslaved & serve the descendants of Shem & Japheth.
Eventually, they would be conquered by the Jews under the leadership of Joshua (; cp. ) and of Solomon ().
Lesson
Sin will cost you something.
Ham’s son is cursed while Shem & Japheth are blessed.
Imagine that you are Canaan & you know that you are going to end up being a slave to your descendants…b/c of your father’s sin.
But that’s the nature of sin.
NOTE: Our sin can create problems for others.
Our sin never just affects us…It affects others as well.
Others may suffer b/c of our sin.
For example, the alcoholic who decides to drink & drive…and runs into someone.
Adultery doesn’t just involve the two committing the adultery…It will affect both families.
Sin has consequences & a price…It has a cost & some times it’s more than you want to pay.
Let me ask you this - If Noah had known the outcome of his drunkenness, do you think he would have gotten drunk? Probably not.
NOTE: If most people knew ahead of time what it would cost them to give in to sin…they wouldn’t give in to it.
But we are impulsive & we live for the moment…and we usually never look ahead to the outcome.
Or we think we can handle it.
NOTE: Sin will enslave us & master us if we don’t master it.
Sin has a price…and it could cost everything.
It will certainly cost you an eternity separated from God.
23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
CONCLUSION:
CONCLUSION:
I want to close with some points of application…I know that I have pointed out some lessons for us but let me give you some application.
A. Be careful not to allow a family member’s sin to trigger sin in you!
A. Be careful not to allow a family member’s sin to trigger sin in you!
Noah’s sin triggered Ham’s sin, which triggered Canaan’s sin, which can be traced to a corrupt nation centuries later.
Sin is a lot like a nuclear chain reaction.
One person’s sin leads to the next person’s sin, etc., until there is a trail of devastation.
For example - you wrong me & now I wrong you…and on and on it goes.
So, we have to be careful not to continue the chain reaction of sin.
B. Give honor to those in positions of authority recognizing they aren’t perfect.
B. Give honor to those in positions of authority recognizing they aren’t perfect.
Ham didn’t respect his father.
Noah sinned but Ham still had no right to dishonor & shame his father.
NOTE: We are to honor those that God has placed over us even though they aren’t perfect.
We may know that the person has flaws & faults…but we honor the position that God has given them b/c God has given them that position & authority.
Children are to honor their parents
1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.
2 “Honor your father and mother,” which is the first commandment with promise:
3 “that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth.”
Eph.
Churches should honor their leaders.
12 And we urge you, brethren, to recognize those who labor among you, and are over you in the Lord and admonish you,
13 and to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake. Be at peace among yourselves.
17 Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and doctrine.
12 Now also we beseech you, brethren, get to know those who labor among you [recognize them for what they are, acknowledge and appreciate and respect them all]—your leaders who are over you in the Lord and those who warn and kindly reprove and exhort you.
Citizens of a country should honor & recognize the governing authorities.
7 Remember your leaders who taught you the word of God. Think of all the good that has come from their lives, and follow the example of their faith.
1 Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God.
7 Render therefore to all their due: taxes to whom taxes are due, customs to whom customs, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor.
Rom. 13:
NOTE: We should never do anything that contradicts God’s Word…but as long as those over us aren’t asking us to disobey God’s Word, we should give them honor.
I want to close with this - Sin is still present today…The problem hasn’t gone away…
Sin is still present today…The problem hasn’t gone away.
But through JC, we can overcome.
In fact, it’s just as bad as it was in the days of Noah.
37 But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.
The problem of sin isn’t going away until JC comes back & we leave this world.
Until then, we need to pray…we need to witness…and we need to be ready to go at any moment.
Let’s pray!
"The father, when he gave him this name, thought only of submission to his own commands" (Keil and Delitzsch. Commentary on the Old Testament, Vol.1, p.157-158).