The Rebellion of Ham

Pastor Ken Foreman

Text: Genesis 9:20-29
22 And Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father, and told his two brethren without.

God desires a Spirit of Unity among His people

• love, submission, one accord, one purpose, in honor preferring one another
• unity assists the goals of both good and evil
• good - unity on the Day of Pentecost
• evil - unity at the tower of Babel
• "rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft"
• it goes hand in hand with disobedience

Shem, Ham, and Japheth ALL got on the ark. Noah was a hero - in following God's instructions to the letter, he testified to the world how God brings victory to those who obey Him. He'd gone from being a shipbuilder and a sailor to being a farmer (planted a vineyard). Note: farming did not diminish Noah's position - he was still a great leader.

Noah's big mistake/s:

• excess - he got drunk [beside himself] (See Ephesians 5:18; Proverbs 20:1.)
• exposed - he was naked [unclothed] (See Matthew 18:7 - woe to offenders.)

Noah's younger son, Ham, was the father of Canaan. The command is, "Honor thy father and mother." Instead of honoring, Ham drew attention to his dad's error. He exploited his father's shame. His "flesh" rejoiced in Noah's defects and errors, probably because he felt they justified his own errors. (Two wrongs do not make a right!) A rebellious spirit's intent is defiant; it means to bring harm; (family, church, leadership,) reduces influence, (overthrows,) and brings selfish change.

Always treat others the way you want to be treated. Shem and Japheth took a garment, laid it over their shoulders, and backed into the tent (room) to cover their father without looking at him.

• Led by the Spirit of God
• Sought to make a way for redemption
• Love covers a multitude of sins
• Showed love (respect, honor,) in action
• Grieved, they had compassion
• Demonstrated the Spirit of Restoration
• Able ministers of Reconciliation
• build up, not tear down

"Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the Spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. For if a man thinketh himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself." (Galatians 6:1-3)