Walk Backwards

Genesis 9:20-23 (KJV) Says, "And Noah began to be an husbandman, and he planted a vineyard:  And he drank of the wine, and was drunken; and he was uncovered within his tent. And Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father, and told his two brethren without, And Shem and Japheth took a garment, and laid it upon both their shoulders, and went backward, and covered the nakedness of their father; and their faces were backward, and they saw not their father's nakedness."

After Noah and his family exited the ark Noah planted a vineyard, and as the above scripture tells us he drank wine from that vineyard and got drunk. He winds up drinking so much he passes out, naked in his tent. We all make mistakes because we are only human. It is our  hope that those around us can be trusted to help us when we fall short, and that they will do so discreetly without broadcasting the situation for no other reason than to spread gossip. With that said,  how do we handle a situation where we learn of a mistake that someone else has made?

Noah's son Ham discovered him passed out drunk and naked in his tent before anyone else knew about it. He could have easily covered his father up, exited the tent, and kept what he had seen to himself. Instead, Ham leaves his father uncovered, and rushes out to share what he had seen with his two brothers, Shem and Japheth. Upon learning of their father's  state, Shem and Japheth walked backwards into the tent with a garment over their shoulders, and covered their father up without ever seeing him naked. It was a matter of respect for their father, and it was the right thing to do. They unlike Ham had no desire to run out and tell everyone what their father had done and how they had seen him naked. In fact, they never considered doing that. Without hesitation, they took the action necessary to protect their fathers pride, reacting in a manner that demonstrated the respect and love they had for him.

When Noah awoke and learned of all that had occurred he blessed Shem and Japheth, and cursed Ham to be a servant unto his brothers. I imagine Ham's behavior and reaction to discovering his father drunk and naked was very disappointing to Noah. I further imagine that it was embarrassing to Noah to learn that Ham had seen him not only drunk and passed out, but naked.

It is important that we remember we are not perfect, and that we all make mistakes. As Romans 3:23 (KJV) reminds us "All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God." It is inevitable that we will be caught committing a sin, making a mistake, or involved in some embarrassing situation more than once in our lives. It happens to all of us. Here's the thing, when it happens to you how do you hope people that learn of your mistake handle it? Do you want them to handle it like Ham who was content to tell all? or Do you want them to handle it like Shem and Japheth, in a Christian manner, with love, forgiveness, respect, and confidentiality?

After considering how you hope others would handle a mistake they caught you in, ask yourself how you react when you learn of someone making a mistake. Be honest with yourself. Do you react like Ham, eager to run out and spread the news gossiping to the first person you come in contact with? Or do you respond like Shem and Japheth and walk backwards? Do you react in a Christian manner helping in any way you can, showing love, understanding, forgiveness, and keeping what you learned to yourself? I encourage you to respond in the latter manner as it is pleasing to God, it is the right thing to do, and who knows when the shoe will be on the other foot, and it will be you that needs help, love, and understanding.

If you have a prayer request and would like me to pray for you, leave me a message and I will be more than happy to do so. May God bless you.