Word for the day by Christian Education Forum
Life: For the Glory of God
Bible portion: Genesis 9:18-27. These were the three sons of Noah, and from them came the people who were scattered over the whole earth.
The Biblical story of Noah building the Ark is so famous that movies were made about it, and scientific research is ongoing to figure out the final resting place of the Ark. Many cultures have versions of the great flood and how their ancestors survived the flood
For a casual reader Genesis 9:18 – 27 would appear to be a series of unfortunate events in Noah’s family. The scripture tells us that Noah got drunk to the point that he was lying naked in his tent. Based on Ham’s behavioral response, with good confidence, we can believe that Ham and Noah were not on good terms. He must have seen this as an opportunity to belittle Noah to his brothers Shem and Japheth, but they had respect for their father and did what was right in Noah’s eyes. Notice that Noah does not curse Ham, rather he curses Ham’s son Canaan. That could be because Ham must be very attached to Canaan, unlike he is to Noah and Noah knew what would hurt Ham the most. Noah was just as ordinary as anyone else, so why did God pick him to save mankind.
Genesis 6:8 says Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord. It makes us wonder how Noah can find favor in the eyes of the Lord, while others are corrupt? Now comes the bigger question, why do people behave this way? if God’s creation is perfect, then why are there so many corrupt people? How/where did this start?
Now…this we do know, with Adam. When Adam showed disobedience, he was spiritually separated from God, resulting in a sinful nature (Romans 5:12). This sinful nature is transferred from Adam to every human being born of a human father. Romans 3:23-24: "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus." When Apostle Paul says “all have sinned”, he means everyone starting with Adam. It is this sinful nature that causes us to sin or do what is not acceptable to God.
Genesis 6: 9 says Noah was a righteous man and he walked faithfully with God. Hall of Faith Chapter Hebrews 11:7 says- “by faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear, built an ark to save his family. By his faith, he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that is in keeping with faith”. God made Noah the heir of righteousness, because of his faith, which means, taking God by his word. Noah proved it by building the Ark, because God asked him to and he believed God’s word and built the ark. Not because of any good deeds or any offerings he made.
Unless this problem of spiritual separation is fixed through reconciliation with God, we will have an everlasting separation from him after this life. On earth we will not belong among his people who have submitted to him. We will not stand right with him or as apostle Paul says we will be in enmity with him.
At the present time what is the risen Christ asking of us through Apostle Paul? He is asking us to believe with our heart that Jesus was crucified (the perfect sacrifice, he removed all our sins past, present and future), he was buried and was resurrected. The moment when we believe this with our heart, we will stand right with the Father and become his family for eternity.
God also disciplines only those who are His and only His, as a Father should, which is a Father’s right. It is written that Noah lived 350 years after the flood but nothing is written about him after this event, which I see as God the father disciplining Noah for his behavior. That does not change Noah’s title the as heir of righteousness, it is there to stay for eternity.
PRAYER
Dear Heavenly Father, we thank you for the grace and blessing though your Son our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We thank you for the scriptures and the way they help us understand through the light that it shines on us. Over the years there have been men and women who have gone before us, relied on your word, and have become examples for us. We thank you for them. We ask that you open our eyes so that we can understand and respond to the Word of God which the Holy Spirit teaches us. We ask this in the name of your Son and our Savior, Jesus Christ, Amen.
Thought for the Day
Psalm 100:5: "For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations."
Ranjith Thomas
Carmel Mar Thoma Church, Boston.
For a casual reader Genesis 9:18 – 27 would appear to be a series of unfortunate events in Noah’s family. The scripture tells us that Noah got drunk to the point that he was lying naked in his tent. Based on Ham’s behavioral response, with good confidence, we can believe that Ham and Noah were not on good terms. He must have seen this as an opportunity to belittle Noah to his brothers Shem and Japheth, but they had respect for their father and did what was right in Noah’s eyes. Notice that Noah does not curse Ham, rather he curses Ham’s son Canaan. That could be because Ham must be very attached to Canaan, unlike he is to Noah and Noah knew what would hurt Ham the most. Noah was just as ordinary as anyone else, so why did God pick him to save mankind.
Genesis 6:8 says Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord. It makes us wonder how Noah can find favor in the eyes of the Lord, while others are corrupt? Now comes the bigger question, why do people behave this way? if God’s creation is perfect, then why are there so many corrupt people? How/where did this start?
Now…this we do know, with Adam. When Adam showed disobedience, he was spiritually separated from God, resulting in a sinful nature (Romans 5:12). This sinful nature is transferred from Adam to every human being born of a human father. Romans 3:23-24: "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus." When Apostle Paul says “all have sinned”, he means everyone starting with Adam. It is this sinful nature that causes us to sin or do what is not acceptable to God.
Genesis 6: 9 says Noah was a righteous man and he walked faithfully with God. Hall of Faith Chapter Hebrews 11:7 says- “by faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear, built an ark to save his family. By his faith, he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that is in keeping with faith”. God made Noah the heir of righteousness, because of his faith, which means, taking God by his word. Noah proved it by building the Ark, because God asked him to and he believed God’s word and built the ark. Not because of any good deeds or any offerings he made.
Unless this problem of spiritual separation is fixed through reconciliation with God, we will have an everlasting separation from him after this life. On earth we will not belong among his people who have submitted to him. We will not stand right with him or as apostle Paul says we will be in enmity with him.
At the present time what is the risen Christ asking of us through Apostle Paul? He is asking us to believe with our heart that Jesus was crucified (the perfect sacrifice, he removed all our sins past, present and future), he was buried and was resurrected. The moment when we believe this with our heart, we will stand right with the Father and become his family for eternity.
God also disciplines only those who are His and only His, as a Father should, which is a Father’s right. It is written that Noah lived 350 years after the flood but nothing is written about him after this event, which I see as God the father disciplining Noah for his behavior. That does not change Noah’s title the as heir of righteousness, it is there to stay for eternity.
PRAYER
Dear Heavenly Father, we thank you for the grace and blessing though your Son our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We thank you for the scriptures and the way they help us understand through the light that it shines on us. Over the years there have been men and women who have gone before us, relied on your word, and have become examples for us. We thank you for them. We ask that you open our eyes so that we can understand and respond to the Word of God which the Holy Spirit teaches us. We ask this in the name of your Son and our Savior, Jesus Christ, Amen.
Thought for the Day
Psalm 100:5: "For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations."
Ranjith Thomas
Carmel Mar Thoma Church, Boston.