Lent Day 3 - Noah
Parents of the Bible: From Adam & Eve to Mary & Joseph
Lent Day 3: These are short meditations on 40 Parents of the Bible we will be sharing for Lent.
Noah
When Ham intentionally tried to humiliate his father, Noah, to Noah’s other sons, Noah’s response was to lash out. Perhaps unreasonably so. The idea of cursing Canaan because of Ham’s deed is a seemingly impetuous choice that came from more than humiliation. It almost seems like Noah and Ham had a broken relationship going into this event—years of building the ark, living on the ark, and then rebuilding society after the ark had apparently left a mark on the two of them.
Unfortunately, Noah’s response was to take the youngest of Ham’s sons—perhaps a favored son?—and curse him. From the first time I heard this story, it has troubled me. It seems Noah allowed the shame of his drunkenness and nakedness to combine with his animosity toward Ham to lead him into a regrettable act.
All parents can relate to making a bad decision in a moment of anger. The trick is to recognize it in the moment and repent as quickly as possible. God makes a path for us if we will take it. We just need to have eyes to see and ears to hear what he is calling us to do.