The SIGNIFICANCE OF INDISCRETION-II—Genesis 9:18-29
Attention:
Discreet— ‘Careful & circumspect in one's speech or actions, esp. in order to avoid causing offense or to gain an advantage.’ M-W—1) Having or showing discernment or good judgment in conduct & especially in speech : Prudent; especially : capable of preserving prudent silence; 2)Unpretentious, modest; 3)Unobtrusive, unnoticable.
Discretion—1) The quality of behaving or speaking in such a way as to avoid causing offense or revealing private information. M-W—1)The quality of having or showing discernment or good judgment : the quality of being discreet : circumspection; especially : cautious reserve in speech; 2)Ability to make responsible decisions
Indiscretion—Behavior or speech that is indiscreet or displays a lack of good.’ M-W—1)b An act at variance with the accepted morality of a society.— Godly or Christian society
Need:
American society, as a whole, is continually drifting away from Christian moralities. What was at one time unacceptable in ‘polite society’ is not only acceptable but promoted! Christians are backers of ‘polite American society’ because the very politeness of it is built upon God’s influence thru Christianity.
America & individual Americans are loosing our moral moorings & thereby despising God.
Genesis records the significance of the indiscretion of Noah’s younger son, Ham.
Understanding the significance of indiscretion imparts wisdom/ is instructive to God’s people.
How/Why is indiscretion significant for God’s people?
Indiscretion holds significance for...
Indiscretion holds significance for...
1. The INFLUENTIAL(:18-19) Pace-setters(Progenitors)
2. The FALLEN(:20-21, 24) Victims of sin’s charms(Noah)
3. The PERPETRATORS(:22)Consciously enter into sin(Ham)
4—Indiscretion holds significance for...
The REVERENT(:23)
Explanation: (:23) Those seeking to live their lives in Christ.
:23—“But Shem & Japheth took a garment, laid it on both their shoulders, & went backward & covered the nakedness of their father. Their faces were turned away, & they did not see their father’s nakedness.” ”
“But”—signals a differing attitude between Ham & his brothers. Rather than exacerbate the problem, Shem & Japheth sought to fix it or rather lessen its effects.
Shem & Japheth “covered” their father because he had become drunk & inappropriately disrobed. They took particular pains to ensure that neither of them would observe their father’s nakedness. Thus they walked backward to “cover” their father by placing “a garment” upon Noah.
The Scripture reiterates this scenario because we need to know that both sons were totally innocent regarding Noah’s sin, in comparison to Ham.
They did not even “see” their father’s incapacitated state much less gawk at him & openly ridicule him as did Ham.
It is a statement to their reverence in comparison to Ham’s irreverence.
“Garment”—hlms sim-law'—1) Wrapper, mantle, covering garment, garments, clothes, raiment, a cloth. Strong—perhaps by permutation for the feminine of lmo seh'-mel(through the idea of a cover assuming the shape of the object beneath); A dress, especially--A mantle.
“Went”—Kly yaw-lak'—Qal Imperfect—1) To go, walk, come. Strong—a primitive root ; To walk(literally or figuratively); causatively--To carry(in various senses).
“Backward”2X(& “Turned away”)—tynrxa akh-o-ran-niyth'—Adv.—1) Backwards, back part, the rear. Used 7X.
“Covered”—hok kaw-saw'—Piel Imperfect—1) to cover, conceal, hide—1c) (Piel)—1c1) To cover, clothe, 1c2) To cover, conceal, 1c3) To cover (for protection), 1c4) To cover over, spread over, 1c5) To cover, overwhelm. Strong—a primitive root; properly--To plump, i.e. Fill up hollows; by implication--To cover(for clothing or secrecy).
“Did not see”(See :22—“Saw”)—war al—har raw-aw'—Qal Perfect—1) To see, look at, inspect, perceive, consider—1a) (Qal)—1a1) To see, 1a2) To see, perceive, 1a3) To see, have vision, 1a4) To look at, see, regard, look after, see after, learn about, observe, watch, look upon, look out, find out, 1a5) To see, observe, consider, look at, give attention to, discern, distinguish, 1a6) To look at, gaze at. Strong—a primitive root; To see, literally or figuratively(in numerous applications, direct & implied, transitive, intransitive & causative).
Argumentation:
Ex. 20:12—““Honor your father & your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the LORD your God is giving you.”
Lev. 19:2-3—““Speak to all the congregation of the children of Israel, & say to them: ‘You shall be holy, for I the LORD your God am holy. ‘Every one of you shall revere his mother & his father, & keep My Sabbaths: I am the LORD your God.”
Deut. 27:16—“‘Cursed is the one who treats his father or his mother with contempt.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen!’”
Deut. 21:18-21—““If a man has a stubborn & rebellious son who will not obey the voice of his father or the voice of his mother, & who, when they have chastened him, will not heed them, “then his father & his mother shall take hold of him & bring him out to the elders of his city, to the gate of his city. And they shall say to the elders of his city, ‘This son of ours is stubborn & rebellious; he will not obey our voice; he is a glutton & a drunkard.’ “Then all the men of his city shall stone him to death with stones; so you shall put away the evil from among you, & all Israel shall hear & fear.”
Eph. 6:1-3—“Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honor your father & mother,” which is the first commandment with promise: “that it may be well with you & you may live long on the earth.””
Prov. 30:11-14—“There is a generation that curses its father, And does not bless its mother. There is a generation that is pure in its own eyes, Yet is not washed from its filthiness. There is a generation--oh, how lofty are their eyes! And their eyelids are lifted up. There is a generation whose teeth are like swords, And whose fangs are like knives, To devour the poor from off the earth, And the needy from among men.”
Prov.—30:17—“The eye that mocks his father, And scorns obedience to his mother, The ravens of the valley will pick it out, And the young eagles will eat it.”
Mk. 7:5-13—“Then the Pharisees & scribes asked Him[Jesus], “Why do Your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashed hands?” He answered & said to them, “Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written: ‘This people honors Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me. And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’ “For laying aside the commandment of God, you hold the tradition of men--the washing of pitchers & cups, & many other such things you do.” He said to them, “All too well you reject the commandment of God, that you may keep your tradition. For Moses said, ‘Honor your father & your mother’; &, ‘He who curses father or mother, let him be put to death.’ “But you say, ‘If a man says to his father or mother, “Whatever profit you might have received from me is Corban”--’(that is, a gift to God), then you no longer let him do anything for his father or his mother, making the word of God of no effect through your tradition which you have handed down. And many such things you do.””
1Tim. 5:8—“But if anyone does not provide for his own, & especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith & is worse than an unbeliever.”
How could this person be worse than an unbeliever: He is an Arrogant unbeliever(who had turned from the faith).
Illustration:
The person who in true reverence to the US flag is offended by those who seemingly proudly fly it but take no care to maintain it, keeping it tattered & faded/OR Those who do not hold their hands over their hearts as the National Anthem is played/Offensive to The REVERENT
*A teenager given a car by his-her poverty-stricken parents/He/She treats it badly, driving poorly—Driving over curbs, Parking indiscriminately, Leaving the windows down in bad weather, Letting their friends borrow it, Using it like an ATV/Offensive to The REVERENT
—Same scenario with opposite result: Appreciative of the gift/Originates from reverence for parent’s sacrifice as an expression of love/The REVERENT
Application:
?Are The REVERENT effected by Indiscretion?
?Does Indiscretion hold significance for YOU?
5—Indiscretion holds significance for...
OTHERS(:25-27)
Explanation: (:25-27) Far & Near/Present & Future
:25—“Then he said: “Cursed be Canaan; A servant of servants He shall be to his brethren.”
As a result of Ham’s callous indiscretion & disregard for his father, Noah, issued/pronounced a “curse” upon his younger(est) son, thru his grandson Canaan(10:6).
Likewise, the record “of Jacob & Esau foreshadow the affairs of Israel & Edom.”.....as do “the Lot narratives foreshadow Israel’s relationship to the Ammonites & Moabites.”....the relationships between “Joseph & Judah anticipate...relationships between” “the kingdoms of Israel & Judah.
*In fact, “Noah’s word’s anticipate a central theme of the following narratives—separation of the chosen seed from the seed of the Canaanites.”—John Sailhamer
This “curse” is not a one produced by fleshly emotional whim as you or I might act in anger toward someone. This curse carries weight & power to declare as it is rather obviously Divinely directed.
“Noah’s words evidently have divine authority & affect the future.”—Gordon Wenham
Thus Noah actively “cursed” his own grandson & thereby particularly the people(s) who would arise thru him.
Gen. 10:6, 18-19—“The sons of Ham were Cush, Mizraim, Put, & Canaan.”.....“Canaan begot Sidon his firstborn, & Heth; the Jebusite, the Amorite, & the Girgashite; the Hivite, the Arkite, & the Sinite; the Arvadite, the Zemarite, & the Hamathite. Afterward the families of the Canaanites were dispersed. And the border of the Canaanites was from Sidon as you go toward Gerar, as far as Gaza; then as you go toward Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, & Zeboiim, as far as Lasha.”
*It must be remembered that Moses is recounting these events to a people(Israel), who will imminently enter the ‘land of Canaan.‘ At the time of this very writing(Moses’ time & after the historical fact) the Canaanites are a perversely pagan people who live in a depravity afforded by a chosen separation from spiritual truth. Their fleshly indulgences in sin have colored & driven the entirety of their cultures to the point that their sin has been completed, warranting their supplantation by the people of God.
Deut. 18:9-15—““When you come into the land which the LORD your God is giving you, you shall not learn to follow the abominations of those nations. There shall not be found among you anyone who makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire, or one who practices witchcraft, or a soothsayer, or one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer, “or one who conjures spells, or a medium, or a spiritist, or one who calls up the dead. For all who do these things are an abomination to the LORD, & because of these abominations the LORD your God drives them out from before you. You shall be blameless before the LORD your God. For these nations which you will dispossess listened to soothsayers & diviners; but as for you, the LORD your God has not appointed such for you. The LORD your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from your midst, from your brethren. Him you shall hear,”
Noah declares that Canaan will indeed be “a servant of servants” to his own brothers. The Canaanites would indeed fall before the Israelites, though many would remain in the land, becoming hindrances to their progress in God(Christ).
Num. 33:55-56—“‘But if you do not drive out the inhabitants of the land from before you, then it shall be that those whom you let remain shall be irritants in your eyes & thorns in your sides, & they shall harass you in the land where you dwell. ‘Moreover it shall be that I will do to you as I thought to do to them.’””
“Cursed”—rra aw-rar'—Qal Participle Passive—1) to curse—1a) (Qal)—1a1) To curse, 1a2) Cursed be he (participle used as in curses). Strong—a primitive root; To execrate.
“Servant”—dbe eh'-bed—1) Slave, servant—1a) Slave, servant, man-servant, 1b) Subjects, 1c) Servants, worshippers (of God), 1d) Servant (in special sense as prophets, Levites etc), 1e) Servant (of Israel), 1f) Servant (as form of address between equals).
: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.””
Noah declared the YahWeH is to be “blessed”
YahWeH is the God of Shem, i.e., Shem recognized YaHWeH as God. Shemites eventually became the people known as Hebrews(11:10-31). God’s blessing of election will come thru Shem’s progeny as Abraham(Abram) would be produced thru him(10:10ff, 26).
Because of Ham’s callous indiscretion, his entire progeny—beginning with Canaan, & the Canaanites arising from him—is destined to a life of servitude under the very people produced thru his own brothers.
Ham had an obvious character flaw which would be carried thru in his progeny. This would doom them as a people to become a “servant” under the combined houses of both Shemites & Japhethites(10:21-31) —the people of God, Israel.
Japheth(enlarge) also receives a blessing & is destined to “enlarge/grow.” His growth would occur within the very “tents of Shem.” Thus both peoples from Shem & Japheth would intersect though Shem would retain predominance as Abraham arises from Shem(11:10-26ff.).
It is entirely possible that the curse’s fulfillment will be experienced in the very distant future(from Noah) in anticipating the ministry of Christ. There would be those who disregard the Christ of God(as did Canaanites) & thus never experience salvation by faith. “Blessed”—Krb baw-rak'— Qal Participle Passive —1) To bless, kneel; 2) (TWOT) to praise, salute, curse. Strong—a primitive root; To kneel; by implication--To bless God(as an act of adoration), & (vice-versa) man(as a benefit); also, by euphemism--To curse(God or the king, as treason).
“Enlarge”—htp paw-thaw'—Hiphil Imperfect—1) To be spacious, be open, be wide——1b) (Hiphil) To make spacious, make open; 2) To be simple, entice, deceive, persuade. Strong—a primitive root; To open, i.e. Be(causatively, make) roomy; usually figuratively(in a mental or moral sense)--To be(causatively, make) simple or (in a sinister way)Delude.
“Dwell”—Nkv shaw-kan'—Qal Imperfect—1) To settle down, abide, dwell, tabernacle, reside. Strong—a primitive root [apparently akin (by transmission) to bkv through the idea of lodging; compare Nko, Mkv]; To reside or permanently stay(literally or figuratively).
Argumentation:
Heb. 11:39-40—“And all these, having obtained a good testimony through faith, did not receive the promise, God having provided something better for us, that they should not be made perfect apart from us.”
All in the past will never be ‘made perfect’ without those in their future(“us”). Until we are perfected in Christ & the time is ended on earth, none can be perfected. Thus OTHERS depend upon our faith! & thereby our personal & corporate Indiscretion holds significance for OTHERS!
Rev. 6:9-10—“When He opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God & for the testimony which they held. And they cried with a loud voice, saying, “How long, O Lord, holy & true, until You judge & avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?””
Rev. 7:1-14—“After these things I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, on the sea, or on any tree. Then I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God. And he cried with a loud voice to the four angels to whom it was granted to harm the earth & the sea, saying, “Do not harm the earth, the sea, or the trees till we have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads.” And I heard the number of those who were sealed. One hundred & forty-four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel were sealed: of the tribe of Judah twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Reuben twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Gad twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Asher twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Naphtali twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Manasseh twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Simeon twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Levi twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Issachar twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Zebulun twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Joseph twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Benjamin twelve thousand were sealed. After these things I looked, & behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, & tongues, standing before the throne & before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands, & crying out with a loud voice, saying, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, & to the Lamb!” All the angels stood around the throne & the elders & the four living creatures, & fell on their faces before the throne & worshiped God, saying: “Amen! Blessing & glory & wisdom, Thanksgiving & honor & power & might, Be to our God forever & ever. Amen.” Then one of the elders answered, saying to me, “Who are these arrayed in white robes, & where did they come from?” And I said to him, “Sir, you know.” So he said to me, “These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, & washed their robes & made them white in the blood of the Lamb.”
How did these Jews know of the Gospel of Christ?—Others before them spoke to their remembrance! Scripture, Orally, Relationships, etc.
Rom. 1:16-17—“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first & also for the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.””
Illustration:
I was acquainted with the person who led me to Jesus/It was Bob Barlow/He accomplished it thru a local Savannah, TV Bible Study—much like Les Feldick’s program/However, if indiscretion had colored Bob’s life, I would not have come to saving faith thru him/Indiscretion thus holds significance for those in our future/Indiscretion holds significance for OTHERS
But what a bout the past? Our Indiscretions effect that too!....By circumventing the truth shared of those in the past, the salvation of untold numbers of people is thwarted/Indiscretion holds significance for OTHERS
Application:
?Are OTHERS(Far & Near/Present & Future) effected by Indiscretion?
?Does Indiscretion hold significance for YOU?
6—Indiscretion holds significance for...
The REMAINDER(:28-29)
Explanation: (:28-29) Time Remaining/Our Life
:28—“And Noah lived after the flood three hundred & fifty years.”
Following the Flood, Noah lived 350 more years. This would have given him a window to minimally observe the progress of the curse he had pronounced.
It would also color the remainder of his years as he would experience the heartbreak of his own son’s fleshly decisions.
:29—“So all the days of Noah were nine hundred & fifty years; & he died.” ”
Noah lived a total of 950 years. Though he had lived an exceptional life, Noah “died” as any other does.
Noah very possibly had over 300 years to bear with his own son who had levied such a character of indiscretion against him. He had to witness his own son’s failed relationship with the God who had rescued the entire family from catastrophic death, brought by the Flood. Noah, no doubt, witnessed Ham’s failure to raise his own family in the nurture & admonition of the Lord.
Living with such Indiscretion—& its results— can either make us ‘bitter or better’(Charles Stanley).
Argumentation:
Live with our decisions—sin & consequences
If we let the Lord Himself determine out decisions then we will not get despondent or depressed regarding them. The outcome becomes an outcome based on God’s desire rather than ours so we do not personally acquire guilt in them. Thus the weight is removed & we are free. Our responsibility then is to live out God’s desire faithfully, free from the encumbrance of ‘making something happen’ as it were. That is God’s business.
Thereby, if our children fail, our hearts may break but our spirit does not, because we have been faithful to raise them correctly by God in Christ.
Ps. 91:1-2—“He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge & my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust.””
Acts 21:10-15—“And as we stayed many days, a certain prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. When he had come to us, he took Paul’s belt, bound his own hands & feet, & said, “Thus says the Holy Spirit, ‘So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man who owns this belt, & deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.’” Now when we heard these things, both we & those from that place pleaded with him not to go up to Jerusalem. Then Paul answered, “What do you mean by weeping & breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.” So when he would not be persuaded, we ceased, saying, “The will of the Lord be done.” And after those days we packed & went up to Jerusalem.”
2Cor. 1:8-12—“For we do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, of our trouble which came to us in Asia: that we were burdened beyond measure, above strength, so that we despaired even of life. Yes, we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead, who delivered us from so great a death, & does deliver us; in whom we trust that He will still deliver us, you also helping together in prayer for us, that thanks may be given by many persons on our behalf for the gift granted to us through many. For our boasting is this: the testimony of our conscience that we conducted ourselves in the world in simplicity & godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom but by the grace of God, & more abundantly toward you.”
We can whine about our sorrows, as did Job...
Job 30:26-27—“But when I looked for good, evil came to me; And when I waited for light, then came darkness. My heart is in turmoil & cannot rest; Days of affliction confront me.”
OR—We can come to our senses drawing strength to remain faithful in such an atmosphere—as did Job...
Job 19:23-27—““Oh, that my words were written! Oh, that they were inscribed in a book! That they were engraved on a rock With an iron pen & lead, forever! For I know that my Redeemer lives, And He shall stand at last on the earth; And after my skin is destroyed, this I know, That in my flesh I shall see God, Whom I shall see for myself, And my eyes shall behold, & not another. How my heart yearns within me!”
1Chron. 4:9-10—“Now Jabez was more honorable than his brothers, & his mother called his name Jabez(‘Sorrow’), saying, “Because I bore him in pain.” And Jabez called on the God of Israel saying, “Oh, that You would bless me indeed, & enlarge my territory, that Your hand would be with me, & that You would keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain!” So God granted him what he requested.”
Col. 4:5-6—“Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time. Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.”
Despite the damage Noah brought on himself & despite the damage wrought by Ham, Noah still had to live righteously before God & his sons & those who would come from His sons.
Illustration:
*Olympics this summer(2012) in London/Michael Phelps(US olympic swimmer) had dominated the 200M butterfly event for 10yrs./From 2002 to 2010 he had never lost the race/The 27 yr. old Lost to South African Chad le Clos by .05 sec!/Devastating loss!, But Quitters never win & Winners never quit!/He went on to earn his 18th gold & 4 lesser medals becoming the most decorated olympian of all time!/He got beat early on/But he stayed with it/The REMAINDER
What to do after initial success—Losing weight...Saving cash...Washing the car...Feeding the dog?/You don’t do what everybody else is doing/You do not do what you did before the transformation/Do you quit & go back to your old ways?—No!/You maintain & continue what got you to where you are now!/The REMAINDER
*Faithful older people/They remain faithful/Its what makes them recognized for being faithful in the first place!/The REMAINDER
Application:
?Is your LIFE effected by Indiscretion?
?Does Indiscretion hold significance for YOU?
CONCLUSION:
Visualization:
Action:
Indiscretion holds significance for...
4. The REVERENT(:23) Those seeking to live in Christ
5. The OTHERS(:25-27) Far & Near/Present & Future
6. The REMAINDER(:28-29)Time Remaining
1. The INFLUENTIAL(:18-19)Pace-setters
2. The FALLEN(:20-21, 24)Victims of sin’s charms
3. The PERPETRATORS(:22) Consciously enter into sin(Ham)
Presented 08/12/2012am to:
Needmore Baptist Church
1620 Mt. Vernon Rd.
Woodleaf, NC 27054
