- Scripture: Genesis 9:18–9:29
- The Anchor: “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.” – Genesis 9:23
After the flood, Noah became a farmer, and he became drunk from the wine that he produced. He fell asleep naked and drunk, and Ham saw his father naked. Ham told the other two brothers, and they covered up their father without seeing him naked. When Noah woke up, he cursed Canaan, Ham’s son, but blessed Shem and Japheth.
Most commentaries suggest that something else happened involving Ham and Canaan, which sparked Noah’s anger at them—especially since Noah cursed Canaan instead of Ham. But I don’t want to read into the text too much, and the text clearly doesn’t say anything else specifically. It isn’t safe to assume anything.
But we do know that Shem and Japheth protected the honor of their father, and they were rewarded. The lesson in this story is to protect the honor of others, especially if the person is in your own family. There will definitely be even weirder stories in Genesis about this sort of stuff, where the honor of family is not kept, and there will be consequences, but also God will use those situations for good. This was part of God’s plan, and this definitely has something to do with Israel’s future arrival into the promised land, which was the land of the Canaanites.
Reflection
- Shem and Japheth went out of their way to protect their father’s dignity when he was at his weakest. When someone in your family or friend group makes a mistake or messes up, is your first instinct to talk about it with others like Ham did, or do you try to protect their honor?
- Even in a messy, strange family situation, God was already laying the groundwork for His bigger plan for the nation of Israel. When things in your own life or family feel complicated, how can you practice trusting that God is present and still working out His long-term plans for good?
Prayer
Lord, give me the integrity to protect the honor of the people around me, especially within my own family, rather than exposing their flaws. Thank You for Your constant presence in my life and for working all things together according to Your perfect plan. Amen.