There are stories that when you read them you just want to cry out, “Oh no! Say it isn’t so!” Sadly, Genesis 9 is one of those stories. We have just gone through Genesis 6, 7, and 8 where we met Noah, the hero of the story and the man God chose to save the human race.

And now, in the very next Chapter, we learn that he is human, just as we are; and, that he has weaknesses, just as we do. It is true… “The best of men are just men at best.” Sad. Noah was indeed a super man, but he was not “Superman” after all.

It has been well and often said that God only uses ordinary men because HE only has ordinary men from whom to choose! I am not so sure about that, but the Bible is certainly filled with the stories of famous men whom God used only to fail later. We think of Adam, Samson, David, Solomon, Simon Peter, and on and on. I suppose that this reality should give Christian men and women everywhere hope that if God can use broken people like these – maybe HE can use me!

Of course, we also learn that Ham, the youngest son of Noah, also lets us down in this story. We are not exactly what he did when he went into his father’s tent, (other than look at his drunk and naked father lying on his bed) but whatever it was it was enough to incur Noah’s anger and a curse upon Ham’s son, Canaan. So Noah lets us down and his son lets him down. Sad.

Key to the story is that God never lets us down! HE is a promise making and promise keeping God! He makes a covenant with the world that HE has kept to this day. Today, in the beauty of every rainbow we see and remember the faithfulness of God to HIS covenant.

We also learn about God that HE is a serious Being Who is serious about sin! HE not only drowns 99.999999999% of the people on earth; HE also brings judgment upon those who continue in sin even after their deliverance from the Flood. If fact, HE imposes and demands the death penalty on those who would – without legal sanction – take away a human life.

Noah teaches us that good men can be sinful and stupid. He was and too many times we are as well.

Genesis 9 is a Chapter filled with disappointment and failure. It does testify to God’s faithfulness; but, it also testifies to HIS unwillingness to tolerate sin in the life of HIS people; even those of HIS people whom HE has used greatly in the past.

And, of course, we are reminded again that all humans are mortal.

I hope you will take the time to read through this Chapter. I hope you will think through and pray though what it reveals to us about God and about men.

As my dear friend, Tom Rains always says…

“I hope to see you Sunday with a smile on your face, your Bible in your hand, and your friends and family by your side!”

Soli Deo Gloria!

Pastor Lanny