Godly fathers-ungodly sons-7

Fathers are to play a very important role in the raising of their children, especially the male children. Unfortunately the Bible is full of the failures, or so it would appear, that fathers failed in this responsibility. We will now study the family of Noah. But, first we will begin with the context.

Genesis 6:1  Now it came about, when men began to multiply on the face of the land, and daughters were born to them, 6:2  that the sons of God saw that the daughters of men were beautiful; and they took wives for themselves, whomever they chose. 

6:3  Then the LORD said, "My Spirit shall not strive with man forever, because he also is flesh; nevertheless his days shall be one hundred and twenty years." 

Noah was born about 1100 years after Adam. Yet, from Cain and others the earth became populated with sinful, ungodly people. Estimates say that there were easily millions of people by this time.

6:4  The Nephilim were on the earth in those days, and also afterward, when the sons of God came in to the daughters of men, and they bore children to them. Those were the mighty men who were of old, men of renown. 

Sons of God gets a lot of attention, but most are now agreeing that they were angels, fallen angels, that came down to earth to pair up with women.

6:5  Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great on the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. 6:6  The LORD was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart. 6:7  The LORD said, "I will blot out man whom I have created from the face of the land, from man to animals to creeping things and to birds of the sky; for I am sorry that I have made them." 

Evil intents and actions filled the earth, much like today. Only a very small remnant of godly men and women are on the earth today. Back then, only Noah was found to be righteous. No mention of his wife or daughters-in-law being righteous.

6:8  But Noah found favor in the eyes of the LORD. 

We will fast forward to his three sons.

Genesis 6:9  These are the records of the generations of Noah. Noah was a righteous man, blameless in his time; Noah walked with God. 6:10  Noah became the father of three sons: Shem, Ham, and Japheth. 

Gen 6:11  Now the earth was corrupt in the sight of God, and the earth was filled with violence. 

We know that Abraham came from the line of Shem. What became of the lines of Ham and Japeth, who were not blameless, godly, or righteous?

9:18  Now the sons of Noah who came out of the ark were Shem and Ham and Japheth; and Ham was the father of Canaan. 9:19  These three were the sons of Noah, and from these the whole earth was populated. 

9:20  Then Noah began farming and planted a vineyard. 

9:21  He drank of the wine and became drunk, and uncovered himself inside his tent. 

9:22  Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father, and told his two brothers outside. 9:23  But Shem and Japheth took a garment and laid it upon both their shoulders and walked backward and covered the nakedness of their father; and their faces were turned away, so that they did not see their father's nakedness. 

9:24  When Noah awoke from his wine, he knew what his youngest son had done to him. 9:25  So he said, "Cursed be Canaan; A servant of servants He shall be to his brothers." 

9:26  He also said, "Blessed be the LORD, The God of Shem; And let Canaan be his servant. 9:27  "May God enlarge Japheth, And let him dwell in the tents of Shem; And let Canaan be his servant." 

We will conclude with this curse on Ham and Canaan. We know from our biblical history that Israel had continual problems and wars with the kingdoms in Canaan. From one righteous father came one unrighteous son and a vast history of ungodly, unholy nations followed.

More next Saturday.