Genesis 9:20-29; 11:1-9 NKJV
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. 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.
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.”
28 And Noah lived after the flood three hundred and fifty years. 29 So all the days of Noah were nine hundred and fifty years; and he died.
The first part of today’s reading depicts a Fourth Commandment violation. Noah’s son Ham dishonored his father by not covering up Noah’s nakedness, but instead blabbed about it to his brothers. But Shem and Japheth honored their father, turning their faces away and covering up Noah’s nakedness. For dishonoring his father, Ham was sentenced to a life of serving his brothers.
Here we are remined of Luther’s meaning to the Fourth Commandment: “We should fear and love God so that we do not despise or anger our parents and other authorities, but honor them, serve and obey them, love and cherish them.” Then in the Large Catechism, Fourth Commandment, Luther writes, “Young people must therefore be taught to revere their parents as God’s representatives, and to remember that however lowly, poor, feeble, and eccentric they may be, they are their own father and mother, given them by God. They are not to be deprived of their honor because of their ways or their failings” (LC 1:108). The authorities God has placed over us – in this case, in the home – must be honored as God’s representatives, given to us for our good. God is glorified, parents are honored, and we are blessed by obeying this commandment
The second part of the reading recounts the arrogance and disgusting human pride which led to the building of the Tower of Babel. Here mankind boasts of his efforts and achievements to build the tower and make a name for himself. This effort to keep from being scattered abroad served only to magnify man’s achievements and ignore the very God who gave them certain abilities. So, God confused their language, scattered them, and in so doing, exalted His name.
We do well to heed the warnings and teaching of Genesis 9. To defy God’s Word and commands brings grief; but to obey God’s Word, by the very faith He gives, brings blessings. Cling to God’s Word and receive His preaching and Sacraments which deliver Christ’s forgiveness and strength.
Let us pray: Lord, keep us humble and always looking to You for strength and peace; in Jesus’ name. Amen.