Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions

Today’s devotion comes from Genesis 9:19-29.

“Then Noah began farming and planted a vineyard.  He drank of the wine and became drunk, and uncovered himself inside his tent.  Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father, and told his two brothers outside.  But Shem and Japheth took a garment and laid it upon both their shoulders and walked backward and covered the nakedness of their father; and their faces were turned away, so that they did not see their father’s nakedness.  When Noah awoke from his wine, he knew what his youngest son had done to him.  So he said,

“Cursed be Canaan;
A servant of servants
He shall be to his brothers.”

He also said,

“Blessed be the Lord,
The God of Shem;
And let Canaan be his servant.
“May God enlarge Japheth,
And let him dwell in the tents of Shem;
And let Canaan be his servant.”

Noah lived three hundred and fifty years after the flood.  So all the days of Noah were nine hundred and fifty years, and he died.”  Genesis 9:19-29.

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Consider that of all the stories about Noah, whom God called a righteous man, that God could have told about Noah and his actions in the three hundred and fifty years after the flood, God chose this one.  So, let us sit up straight, meditate on today’s Scripture, and learn the lesson.  

We are not commanded to only honor our parents if they do things that we think are wise in our own eyes.  

Many times our parents will do things that we think are not wise in our own eyes, but are in fact wise things to do.

But, there are also times as shown in today’s Scripture when our parents will do things that are in fact not wise.

“Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler,
And whoever is intoxicated by it is not wise.” Proverbs 20:1.

Noah was not wise in getting drunk, but today’s Scripture teaches that we as children still have the duty to honor our parents.  Shem and Japeth honored their father Noah, even though Noah was drunk, by covering Noah’s nakedness and not looking on his nakedness, and Noah blessed them.  Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father, and told his two brothers outside, and Noah cursed Canaan. 

 But, even more important than Noah’s knowledge of what each of his children had done and his blessing or curse of each one, God sees everything, even our secrets hidden in the deepest part of our hearts, and God will reward or punish us.

Throughout Scripture, we see examples of how God will reward us or punish us in how we treat our parents.  I present only two examples.

In the Old Testament, it is shocking, but we see that God called for the death of children who “only” cursed their parents.  Although that law is certainly not applicable today, it shows how strongly God views our duty to honor our parents. “He who curses his father or his mother shall surely be put to death.” Exodus 21:17. “If there is anyone who curses his father or his mother, he shall surely be put to death;  he has cursed his father or his mother, his bloodguiltiness is upon him.”  Leviticus 20:9. 

In the New Testament, we see the general and applicable law, even one of the Ten Commandments.  “Honor your father and mother (which is the first commandment with a promise), SO THAT IT MAY BE WELL WITH YOU, AND THAT YOU MAY LIVE LONG ON THE EARTH.”  Ephesians 6:2.   

The world may belittle and make fun of our parents.  As one example, we see the Progressive Insurance TV marketing campaign with so many commercials of a man teaching others to not be like their parents. 

But, God takes very seriously the duty of children to honor their parents even making it one of the Ten Commandments.  

“Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be prolonged in the land which the LORD your God gives you.”  Exodus 20:12.

“Honor your father and your mother, as the LORD your God has commanded you, that your days may be prolonged and that it may go well with you on the land which the LORD your God gives you.”  Deuteronomy 5:16.