Noah and the Flood, Part 3

I would love to be able to say, honestly, that I am a very calm person, who never gets annoyed! Of course, as anyone who knows me well enough is aware, that is an impossibility! One of the things that annoy me is the way in which that which was (and is) good, has been 'hijacked' by those opposed to the Gospel and, indeed, to the whole idea of a Creator God to Whom we will, each one of us, answer.

As we continue to look at the record of the righteous man, Noach, we reach the point at which he and his immediate family - now the only human beings on planet earth - emerge from the ark in which they have sheltered during the world-wide flood. The first thing that they do is an act of worship and thanksgiving, as they offer to YHWH a sacrifice of the 'clean' animals that had been carried in the ark for that very purpose.

YHWH then makes a promise: "Adonai smelled the sweet aroma, and Adonai said in His heart, “I will never again curse the ground because of humankind, since the imaginings of a person’s heart are evil from his youth; nor will I ever again destroy all living things, as I have done. So long as the earth exists, sowing time and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, and day and night will not cease.” "(Gen.8:21-22; CJB - emphasis added).

As a sign of this promise/covenant, YHWH then sets a rainbow in the sky: "I am putting My rainbow in the cloud — it will be there as a sign of the covenant between Myself and the earth. Whenever I bring clouds over the earth, and the rainbow is seen in the cloud; I will remember My covenant which is between Myself and you and every living creature of any kind; and the water will never again become a flood to destroy all living beings. The rainbow will be in the cloud; so that when I look at it, I will remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of any kind on the earth." (9:13-16; CJB).

That is the true significance of that particular phenomenon! It has nothig to do with sexual deviancy, any more than has the use of the lovely old word 'gay'! Actually, I take the latter personally. I was taught, at an early age, the old poem concerning the day of the week on which a person was born. I'll not print it all here, but it ends: "But the child who's born on the Sabbath Day is bonny, and blithe, and good, and gay"! You've guessed it - I was born on a Sunday!

Anyway, back to Noach. A righteous man he was; perfect, he was not! After leaving the ark, he plants a vineyard. In time, sadly, that results in him becoming drunk, and he is found by his second son, Ham, passed out naked in his tent. You know, that is one of the amazing things about the Word of God - it is transparently honest about even its finest characters! That's just one reason why it may be trusted! Ham, it should be noted, was the father of Kena‘an (Canaan - ring any bells?!).

Noach blesses his other two sons, Shem and Yefet (Japheth) because they walk in backwards, carrying a cloak, and cover their father without looking at him. There is an important lesson here! Although Noah's entire family is saved physically, each one still has to choose the way of spiritual salvation — a transformation of the heart.  Shem and Yafet show a right heart and right spirit, while their brother Ham, shows that his heart needs to be regenerated.

This curse over Ham did not end with him, but carried on down the generations: "When Noach awoke from his wine, he knew what his youngest son had done to him. He said, “Cursed be Kena‘an; he will be a servant of servants to his brothers.” Then he said, “Blessed be Adonai, the God of Shem; Kena‘an will be their servant. May God enlarge Yefet; he will live in the tents of Shem, but Kena‘an will be their servant.”" (9:24-27; CJB).  There are many who would claim that any of us, today, may unknowingly carry curses upon our lives from a previous generation. Certainly, the Second of the Ten Words (commandments) indicates that children suffer because of the sins of their parents and grandparents, and even earlier generations. We may be truly thankful, therefore that the atoning blood of Yeshua HaMashiach paid the price for all our sins. The aged apostle John wrote: "... if we are walking in the light, as He is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of His Son Yeshua purifies us from all sin." (I John 1:7; C.J.B.). Therefore, there is no longer any condemnation awaiting those who are in union with the Messiah Yeshua." wrote rabbi Paul to the Roman disciples of Jesus (8:1; C.J.B.). If there are, indeed, such "generational curses", then He has the power to break them. However, we must receive, proclaim, and walk in the freedom that He offers to each and all.

We must also realise that we are not the masters of our own time. Speaking through His prophet, Isaiah, YHWH declares to His chosen people, Isreal: " 'For Me this is like Noach’s flood. Just as I swore that no flood like Noach’s would ever again cover the earth, so now I swear that never again will I be angry with you or rebuke you. For the mountains may leave and the hills be removed, but My grace will never leave you, and My covenant of peace will not be removed,' says Adonai, Who has compassion on you." (54:9-10).

Almghty God so loved Israel that He sent them a righteous, yet suffering, Servant so that a right relationship with Him could be restored, and eternal salvation be guaranteed to all, Jew and Gentile, who submit their lives to Yeshua, Who, Himself, is God. While Noach was used to save himeslf and his family physically; Yeshua HaMashiach is the Saviour of all who place their trust, unreservedly, in Him.

Just like the floood in the days of Noach, in the end times - and many, myself included, are convinced that that is when we are now living - judgment will come suddenly and swiftly (see Matt.24:36-41). But those who know the Lord Jesus need not fear, for He is, Himself, our safe shelter from the raging storm of tribulation, just as the ark sheltered Noach and his family. Isaiah wrote: "Come, My people, enter your rooms, and shut your doors behind you. Hide yourselves for a little while until the wrath is past." (26:20; C.J. B.).

May we emerge from the Ark of God's shelter, in the unity of faith, to establish the new heavens and the new earth of peace and righteousness and justice, under the perfect rule of the Messish - Yeshua,