Noah's Shame and Canaan's Curse
20Now Noah, a man of the soil, proceeded to plant a vineyard. 21But when he drank some of its wine, he became drunk and uncovered himself inside his tent. 22Ham, the father of Canaan, saw his father’s nakedness and told his two brothers outside.
23Then Shem and Japheth took a garment and placed it across their shoulders, and walking backward, they covered their father’s nakedness. Their faces were turned away so that they did not see their father’s nakedness.
24When Noah awoke from his drunkenness and learned what his youngest son had done to him, 25he said,
“Cursed be Canaan!
A servant of servants
shall he be to his brothers.”
This is the first time in the Bible drunkenness is mentioned.
What does the Bible say about drinking wine or spirits?
Proverbs 20:1Wine is a mocker, strong drink is a brawler,
and whoever is led astray by them is not wise.
Proverbs 23:29Who has woe? Who has sorrow?
Who has contentions? Who has complaints?
Who has needless wounds? Who has bloodshot eyes?
30Those who linger over wine,
those who go to taste mixed drinks.
31Do not gaze at wine while it is red,
when it sparkles in the cup
and goes down smoothly.
32In the end it bites like a snake
and stings like a viper.
33Your eyes will see strange things,
and your mind will utter perversities.
34You will be like one sleeping on the high seas
or lying on the top of a mast:
35“They struck me, but I feel no pain!
They beat me, but I did not know it!
When can I wake up
to search for another drink?”
What did Ham do to Noah, did he mock him, did he sexually abuse him? We don’t know and I won’t conjecture. Whatever it was Noah cursed Ham’s son Canaan to be a servant.
Moral of this Bible study, don’t drink wine or spirits. Don’t do it!
Blessings, David
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