Genesis 9:18-29 The Origin of Nations CLICK TITLE FOR AUDIO
In this lesson we will study the origin of nations, the effects of drunkenness, the first act of sodomy, and prophecies concerning three major nationalities in the world. This is one of those “sensitive” areas in the scriptures that scholars and preachers generally like to avoid to keep from offending anybody.
National Origins
Generally, Japheth’s descendents are European, Shem’s descendents are Asian and Ham’s descendents are African. In the study of Gen. 10, we will detail where their offspring actually settle. The different characteristics of these three groups are most notable in physical appearance, language, music, food, culture, art, and religion. Where these groups mix and intermarry, the distinctions are less notable. With the increase in communication and transportation has come a blend in these national distinctions.
The Effects of Drunkenness
Apparently, there was an atmospheric change as a result of the flood. When Noah bottled his grape juice, it fermented and turned into wine. So, when he drank too much of it, he got drunk. This is the first occurrence of the word “wine” in the Bible and its context is horrible. It is connected with “drunkenness” (Prov. 20:1; 23:29-35), “nakedness” (Hab. 2:15), “sodomy” (9:24), and a “curse” (9:25).
There are other times in the Bible where the word “wine” is not a reference to fermented juice but to fresh juice, called “new wine”, or “the fruit of the vine” (Is. 65:8, Gen. 40:11, Matt. 26:29). So, if you were going to figure out what to use at the Lord’s Supper to represent the blood, which would you use? Would you use grape juice, like Jesus did in Matt 26:29? Or would you use wine, as Noah did in Gen. 9?
The First Act of Sodomy
In Gen. 9:22, Ham “saw” the nakedness of his father, but in verse 24, Ham had “done” something to him. It wasn’t just a look. To discover what Ham did, we compare Lev. 20:11 with 20:17 and find that to “see the nakedness of” and “uncover the nakedness of” someone is the same as “to lie with” them. So, Ham committed the first act of sodomy.
In Lev. 18:6-7, incest and sodomy were prohibited. In Gen. 10:19, we find that Canaan’s descendants settled in various places including Sodom and Gomorrah. When the angels went to rescue Lot from the destruction in Sodom and Gomorrah, the men of the city attempted the same sin that their great ancestor committed (Gen. 19:4-11; Lev.20:13). And this sin was going on in Canaan before the Jews got there (Lev. 18:22-30).
Noah “cursed” Ham’s son as a result of Ham’s actions. Ham would have been cursed but God had already blessed him in Gen.9: 1.
Prophecies Concerning Noah’s Sons and Their Descendants
Noah prophesied about the future of his sons and their descendants. His prophecies about their futures hold true even until today. Shem and his descendants would be religious. Japheth and his descendants would enlarge. Canaan and his descendants would be servants.
Shem
Noah said, “Blessed be the Lord God of Shem.” Shem’s descendants are Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, David, and Jesus Christ, to name a few. They are all Jews. The Jews have two religions: the Old Testament Jewish religion and New Testament Christianity (Jn. 4:22). Also, Shem’s descendants are responsible for the spiritual religions of Buddhism, Hinduism, Shinto’s, Confucianism, Brahmanism, and their offshoots, Rosicrucian’s, Theosophy, Unitarianism, etc. Japheth’s religions (7th Day Adventist, Jehovah’s Witness, Mormon, etc.) and Ham’s religions (Pentecostal, Apostolic Holiness, Voodoo, etc.) are counterfeits of these other religions.
Japheth
Noah said, “God shall enlarge Japheth.” Japheth’s descendants are the explorers and inventors. They have traveled the globe in search of new territories and they mapped out their discoveries. All of the major explorers to the Americas were European, for instance. Once they found all they could down here, they traveled to the moon. In addition, they developed all of the major communication and transportation innovations. Noah also said, “He shall dwell in the tents of Shem.” So, when Japheth’s descendants arrived inAmerica, they found Shem’s descendants (the Native Americans) dwelling in tents. And now Japheth dwells where Shem once lived.
Canaan
Noah said, “Cursed be Canaan; a servant of servants shall he be unto his brethren.” And sure enough, as soon as the Jews left Egypt and conquered the land of Canaan, the descendants of Canaan were made to serve the Jews (Jos. 9:27; Jud. 1:28; 1 Ki. 9:20-21). Initially, his descendants were made to serve in this country under slavery. On the international scene, we find today that Nelson Mandela has admitted that the conditions in South Africa are now worse under the ANC than they were under apartheid. And so it is wherever Canaan’s descendants refuse to serve.