Sin Never Left

 

    The flood cleansed the earth and allowed life to start over, but sin had a grip on people's hearts.  It still made it's way on the ark.  In dealing with the massive loss of life, their lives, and facing the future caused Noah's family to loose focus on God.  Loss can can cause a person to become self-focused and slowly walk away from God.

    Noah did not walk away from God, but he allowed sin to still have some power on his life.  He allowed himself to get drunk and humiliate himself.  His sons had to take the role of authority and this was the beginning of division of the three brothers.  Eventually they went their own way and made their own nations.

    Ham was the father of Canaan.  He was declared righteous due to his faith in God.  He saw how God had reshaped the world and comprehended that it was due to judgment.  He had a healthy fear of God.  However, when he saw his father naked, he sinned.  He did not close his eyes and cover him.  Instead he went to his brothers and spread the news.  

    It was Shem and Japheth that took a robe, entered the tent backwards so not to see their father, and covered him up.  Ham sinned because he did not protect his father.  He allowed the sin of pride to take hold and had to share the news (gossip).  

    In return, Noah cursed Ham and all his descendants to be servants.  Noah was not innocent.  He allowed himself to get frunk and loose control.  He had to face God for his part, but Ham made it worse instead of better.  That is why he was cursed.

    When we allow sin into our lives, it impacts our family and even our nations.  No one wins when it comes to sin.  It defeats us all and devastates people's lives.  That is why we need Jesus, so that it will no longer control us, but we can get away from sin.

    The name Ham means hot.  He led his family (nation) to the hot region of the world.  Shem went to the middle east.  Japheth went to what is now Europe. His family took to the sea.  No matter the nation, we all still have the same forefather: Noah.  That means we still all have a sin nature that stains our best intentions.  Salvation through Jesus is the only way to become truly clean from sin.

    Noah was a preacher and a farmer.  He was righteous.  He lived a long life and learned many lessons.  He saw and did things that no one else ever did, but he still had a sin nature.  He was 600 when he got drunk.  That proves that no one is immune to sin.  Allowing sin in your heart can give you the tendency to be critical, bitter, and unforgiving as you get older.

    Noah was the first mention of being drunk.  Maybe no one had ever been drunk before, but that is unlikely.  I am sure he did not invent the first alcoholic beverage.  It was mentioned because he had a clean slate and still went to something other than God to feel better.  

    Wine (alcohol) is a mocker of "good people".  It makes fools of anyone who uses it to feel better.  It brought shame to Noah.  You are not immune to the same shame.  It is wise to avoid alcohol to avoid disgrace.  It is wise to avoid and run from all sin.

Genesis 9:18-10, Colossians 3:22-25, James 4:13-17, & 1 John 1:8-10