"And Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father, and told his two brothers outside. 23 But Shem and Japheth took a garment, laid [it] on both their shoulders, and went backward and covered the nakedness of their father. Their faces [were] turned away, and they did not see their father's nakedness." -Genesis 9:22-23
After the flood waters fully receded the ground became ripe for planting. Noah planted a vineyard, drank of it, and became drunk. By doing so he somehow ended up naked and exposed in his tent. (9:20-21) The bible then goes on to say that his son Ham saw his nakedness and went and told on him. While there may be some disagreement among scholars as to what it means that Ham saw his father's nakedness, that is if there was some other indecency implied or not, what is obvious is that Ham left his father exposed and ran to tell others about it. The Hebrew word for told used here is נָגַד nâgad and it means to "announce, declare, publish, or proclaim". The first time this word is used is in Genesis 3:11, after Adam and Eve had sinned and became aware of their "nakedness", God said to Adam "who told [nâgad] you that you were naked?", that is to say who exposed you or announced this to you? So then Ham wasn't simply telling on his father he was further exposing him by ridiculing him before others. (something Satan does by the way, Zech 3:1-2, Rev 12:10)
While Ham is an example of a person who points the finger instead of addressing his/her own sin. Ham's brother's are an example of love in action, by not seeking to expose another's sin but to cover it. They walked backwards so as not to see and they covered their father's nakedness.
Likewise our job is not to condemn, gossip about, or ridicule a person in sin but to help them out. Prov 10:12 says “Hatred stirs up strife, But love covers all sins.”, 1 Pet 4:8 says “And above all things have fervent love for one another, for "love will cover a multitude of sins." Love covers sin but hatred publishes it!
While Ham is an example of a person who points the finger instead of addressing his/her own sin. Ham's brother's are an example of love in action, by not seeking to expose another's sin but to cover it. They walked backwards so as not to see and they covered their father's nakedness.
Likewise our job is not to condemn, gossip about, or ridicule a person in sin but to help them out. Prov 10:12 says “Hatred stirs up strife, But love covers all sins.”, 1 Pet 4:8 says “And above all things have fervent love for one another, for "love will cover a multitude of sins." Love covers sin but hatred publishes it!
- WHAT'S A GOOD WAY TO AVOID BEING A PART OF GOSSIP AT WORK OR IN THE FAMILY?
- "Judging a person does not define who they are. It defines who you are." -Unknown