Genesis 9:18-29
This verse is an odd story of what seems to be Noah’s fall from grace. Alcohol is involved, as are many falls from grace, and a curse that I wonder, is it a prophesy or just an angry rant? I guess I will learn more as I continue reading the Bible…
It was also interesting to learn that wine was created in the Early World.
Summary
Noah had three sons, Shem, Ham and Japheth. The Bible points out twice in this verse that Ham is the father of Canaan. Noah became a farmer and grew a vineyard. He drank wine made from his grapes, then he became drunk and lay naked in his tent. His son Ham saw his father naked in his tent and told his brothers. Shem and Japheth got a coat and walked backwards to the tent to cover their father, being careful not to see their father without his clothes. When Noah woke up, he learned what Ham, his youngest son, had done to him. Noah became angry and cursed Ham, by stating that Canaan would be the lowest slaves to his brothers and uncles. Noah lived another 350 years and died when he was 950 years old.
Sidebar
About 10% of families have dealt with some sort of variation of this scene with Noah and his sons. It’s hard to witness your parent under the influence, whether it is alcohol or drugs. In this case, one of the children seemed to laugh it off while the other two took the responsible approach and covered their father up. Not ironically, the youngest child took the more immature approach. According to Alfred Adler, a 20th century Austrian psychiatrist who introduced the idea of personality by birth order, the last born tend to be outgoing and rebellious. The first born adopts a sense of responsibility, and the middle born has a desire for attention. Ham, the youngest son, was definitely engaging in some rebellion. He found his father naked in a tent and gossiped to his brothers.
Noah gets angry at Ham, no doubt in his state of hungover, but is it really Ham’s fault? It’s disappointing that the righteous Noah engaged in embarrassing behavior in front of his sons, but many of us know that alcohol can lead to shameful behavior at times. We all make mistakes, even the most rule-following citizens. Drinking-related consequences can include injuries, falls, violence, hangovers, irritability, and negative mood states. Was it wrong that Ham told his brothers or was it in the way that he told them? Siblings tend to confide in each other when it comes to the bad behavior of their parents. Or perhaps, Noah was ashamed and took it out on Ham in his negative, hungover mood.
Have you ever heard of hangxiety? I have not until I did some research for this verse. I love this term! Besides the obvious physical symptoms, such as headaches, nausea, and dehydration, you can also experience unusually higher anxiety after drinking. My friends and I would identify these feelings as “Sad Sundays” because that was when we stopped partying for the weekend, and we allowed the hangovers to set in. Hangxiety is real! To avoid hangxiety, moderate your alcohol intake to one or two standard drinks per occasion. Drinks with higher alcohol percentages can make hanxiety worse.
Intention
Be aware of your alcohol intake. Remember alcohol can disrupt your sleep patterns and decrease sleep quality. Reduce alcohol consumption to improve your energy levels, sleep, and immune system. Give yourself the gift of better clarity, reduced anxiety, and a general sense of better wellbeing.
