The Bible is just weird sometimes. Here you have the ending of one of the most powerful stories ever told…probably one of the most widely-known stories in history. Everyone exits the ark. God gives some instructions and makes a covenant with them. What happens next? How does the Bible follow this epic tale? What does Noah do with his newfound freedom and vision? He plants a vineyard and gets sloppy naked drunk. And, this is the only story of post-flood Noah the Bible leaves us with: a short story about one of his kids seemingly laughing at his drunken nudity—trying to talk his brothers into joining him in the mockery. In case you thought humanity being a trainwreck was sort of a modern thing, the biblical worldview is that we all come from a long line of depravity. Anyhow, stories like this are actually one of the reasons I believe the Bible to be true…because, if you were trying to invent a fable or epic tale, you wouldn’t throw weird stories like this into the middle of it. You’d continue the narrative with more great story-telling.
This story does beg the question: how in the world did this story make the cut to be included in the Bible? I mean, I do see the irony in Genesis 3 of Adam eating the forbidden fruit of a tree and realizing he’s naked. And then Noah—sort of like a second Adam—drinking the nonforbidden fruit of the vine and not realizing he’s naked.
I think there are some moderately disturbing things to ponder there, but here’s what stands out to me this week…and, I feel it is sort of a cautionary tale for our modern era.
The story gives a pretty good picture of the problem with Canaan throughout history. It’s a story of knee-jerk mockery. It’s a story of trying to gather the masses to attack, belittle, and demean God’s people—both when they make mistakes and when they don’t. It’s a story of trying to shame people. I think many Christians have felt the shame of Noah. We do something stupid only to have said act of stupidity highlighted by our enemies…or worse, our friends. We’re shamed behind our backs. We’re shamed on social media. We’re shamed in the form of gossip-y prayer requests. It’s a frustrating place to be: drunk and naked…metaphorically speaking.
Here’s the lesson I feel like I needed to learn from this story: it’s quite easy for me as a Christian to assume the posture of Ham. To try to use people’s bad decisions to heap public disgrace upon them. Social media algorithms even reward that behavior. I think this story serves as a warning for that type of thing though. We’re to be people who clothe others with humility (1 Peter 5:5), comfort, and grace rather than expose with mockery and disgrace. If social media is a barometer, I would say that we really aren’t all that great at that…especially in the comments section of political posts. Speaking of trying to be people who clothe ourselves and others in comfort and grace rather than mockery and disgrace…I’ll leave you with a few reminders…a few verses where the Bible talks about what things we are to be “clothed” in.
Proverbs 31:25 “She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come.”
Galatians 3:27 “for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.”
Ephesians 6:11 “Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.”
Colossians 3:12 “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.”
2 Corinthians 5:2-4 “Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling, 3 because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked. 4 For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life.”
That’s my takeaway from this week: trying to be a person who focuses more on clothing others with grace and dignity and things like gentleness and kindness—rather than mockery and shame.
It appears I’m not the only one appreciating AI rap summaries. Here’s this week’s:
Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com The “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™sun
Well said Josh. Definitely one of the stranger passages of the Bible. I like your application and takeaway.