After Noah and the crew of people and animals leave the ark we come across a part of the story that is highly significant for the future of Israel but it comes from a seemingly strange place.

Noah, a man of the soil, proceeded to plant a vineyard. When he drank some of its wine, he became drunk and lay uncovered inside his tent. Genesis 9:20-21

Ham, one of his sons, sees him lying there uncovered and goes outside to tell his brothers. This is how they respond

But 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

Its clear that their response is different than Hams. It was highly disrespectful to see an elder naked in ancient Hebrew culture and whilst it ‘seems’ like Ham accidentally walked in on Noah his reaction to what he saw causes trouble for his descendants.

When Noah awoke from his wine and found out what his youngest son had done to him, he said,“Cursed be Canaan! The lowest of slaves will he be to his brothers. ” Genesis 9:24-25

Canaan was the son of Ham. Noah had cursed Hams descendants because of what Ham did or didn’t do. The focus of this post isn’t to describe the rights and wrongs of Ham’s punishment but to look at what happened from there onwards.

In Genesis 10 we read about the descendants of Noahs sons. It’s interesting to note the people that came from Ham and where they settled and served.

• Canaan
• Egypt
• Babylon
• Shinar
• Assyria (Ninevah)
• Philistines
• Sodom and Gomorrah

This isn’t a complete list of his descendants, I picked out the ones that pop up throughout scripture. Every one of these nations prove to be opponents and agitators of the Israelite people who were descended through Ham’s brother Shem.

I find it fascinating how this one act of Ham has such long reaching and significant consequences for the people of God. I don’t have time in this post to fully flesh that out but I’d encourage you to keep an eye out for the nations as you read through the scriptures.

The main thing I want to highlight personally is how it makes me more and more aware of how my actions today have such an effect on the generations to come, both positively and negatively. It also makes me aware of the fact that generations have gone before me. What am I carrying from past generations? What do I need to break off? Of course, the great news is that we can do that, because Jesus has broken the power of sin over our lives but we must partner with Him in that.

We are not an island, God is a God of the generations, and I want to be someone who lives increasingly aware of this truth.