28 May 2023 (am) – Genesis 9:18-28

Andy Bruins preaching from Genesis on Sunday 28th May 2023.

This story completes the Noah saga; and it’s not one that puts him in a brilliant light! Here is an account of Noah’s family, ‘warts and all’.
We must remember that Moses is writing for the Israelites as they are on the way to the promised land, and so he is simply joining the dots to let them know how we got from creation to the days in which they are living – and this story is an important part of that one.

Q Can you think of actions people have taken that have let to consequences (good and bad) in the generations that have followed them?

Q Read v18-22. How did Noah sin? How did Ham sin? Why was Ham’s sin so serious?

Q Look up Exodus 20:12, Deuteronomy 27:16 and Matthew 15:1-6. Why do you think Ham’s sin doesn’t seem so serious to us? Why is it such a big deal to dishonour your parents?

Q Are there circumstances that might negate this command, or an age at which we no longer need to honour our parents
(see Proverbs 23:22)?

Q Read v23. How do Ham’s brothers handle the situation? What might be the equivalent for us today?

Q Read v24-27. Why do you think Canaan cursed rather than Ham? What does this tell us about the consequences of our actions?

Q How does the Gospel bring help and peace to those who have sinned in this way? (Romans 8:1, Hebrews 10:15-18)