Lessons from Noah’s drunkenness:

Noah, a man of the soil, proceeded to plant a vineyard. When he drank some of its wine, he became drunk and lay uncovered inside his tent. Ham, the father of Canaan, saw his father’s nakedness and told his two brothers outside. But Shem and Japheth took a garment and laid it across their shoulders; then they walked in backwards and covered their father’s nakedness.  Their faces were turned the other way so that they would not see their father’s nakedness.

When Noah awoke from his wine and found out what his youngest son had done to him, he said,

“Cursed by Canaan!

The lowest of slaves

will he be to his brothers.”

He also said,

“Blessed be the LORD, the God of Shem!

May Canaan be the slave of Shem.

May God extend the territory of Japheth;

may Japheth live in the tents of Shem,

and may Canaan be his slave.” – Genesis 9:20-27

Noah, the great hero of faith, god drunk – – a poor example of godliness to his sons. Perhaps this story is included to show us that even godly people can sin and that their bad influence affects their families.  Although the wicked people had all been killed, the possibility of evil still existed in the hearts of Noah and his family.  Ham’s mocking attitude revealed a severe lack of respect for his father and for God.

(9:25 This verse has been wrongfully used to support racial prejudice and even slavery.  Noah’s curse, however, wasn’t directed towards any particular race, but rather at the Canaanite nation – a nation God knew would become wicked.  The curse was fulfilled when the Israelites entered the promised land and drove the Canaanites out (see the book of Joshua)).

(Then God said to Noah and to his sons with him: “I now establish my covenant with you and with your descendants after you and with every living creature that was with you – the birds, the livestock and all the wild animals, all those that came out of the ark with you – every living creature on earth. I establish my covenant with you: Never again will all life be cut off by the waters of a flood; never again will there be a flood to destroy the earth.”  And God said, “This is the sign of the covenant I am making between me and you and every living creature with you, a covenant for all generations to come: I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth.  Whenever I bring clouds over the earth and the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will remember my covenant between me and you and all living creatures of every kind. Never again will the waters become a flood to destroy all life.  Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures of every kind on the earth.”  So God said to Noah, “This is the sign of the covenant I have established between me and all life on the earth.”  – Genesis 9:8-17 Noah stepped out of the ark onto an earth devoid of human life.  But God gave him a reassuring promise.  This covenant had three parts: (1) never again will a flood cause such destruction; (2) as long as the earth remains, the seasons will always come as expected; (3) a rainbow will be visible when it rains as a sign to all that God will keep his promises.  The earth’s order and seasons are still preserved, and rainbows still remind us of God’s faithfulness to his word.)

Affected Xerxes’ decisions:

“   On the seventh day, when King Xerxes was in high spirits from wine, he commanded the seven eunuchs who served him – Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, Abagtha, Zethar and Carcas – to bring him Queen Vashti, wearing her royal crown, in order to display her beauty t the people and nobles, for she was lovely to look at.  –  Est 1:10-11

Xerxes made a rash, half-drunk decision, based purely on feelings.  His self-restraint and practical wisdom were weakened by too much wine.  Poor decisions are made when people don’t think clearly.  Base your decisions on careful thinking, not on the emotions of the moment.  Impulsive decision making leads to severe complications.

(1:10 Some advisers and government officials were castrated in order to prevent them from having children and then rebelling and trying to establish a dynasty of their own.  A castrated official was called a eunuch).  [Eunuch = Can you spell that word properly???]

(“ But when the attendants delivered the king’s command, Queen Vashti refused to come.  Then the king became furious and burned with anger.  – Esther 1:12 Queen Vashti refused to parade before the king’s all-male party, possibly because it was against Persian custom for a woman to appear before a public gathering of men.  This conflict between Persian custom and the king’s command put her in a difficult situation, and she chose to refuse her half-drunk husband, hoping he would come to his senses later.  Some have suggested that Vashti was pregnant with Artaxerxes, who was born in 483 B.C., and that she did not want to be seen in public in that state.  Whatever the reason, her action was a breach of protocol that also placed Xerxes in a difficult situation.  Once he made the command, as a Persian king he could not reverse it (see the note on 1.19).  While preparing to invade Greece, Xerxes had invited important officials from all over his land to see his power, wealth, and authority.  If it was perceived [bomb] that he had no authority over his own wife, his military credibility would be damaged – the greatest criterion of success for an ancient king.  In addition, King Xerxes was accustomed to getting what he wanted).

Won’t solve your problems:

“ Who has woe? Who has sorrow?

Who has strife? Who has complains?

Who has needless bruises? Who has bloodshot eyes?

Those who linger over wine,

who go to sample bowls of mixed wine. – Proverbs 23:29-30

Israel was a wine-producing country. In the Old Testament, winepresses bursting with new wine were considered a sign of blessing (3.10).  Wisdom is even said to have set her table with wine (9.2, 5).  But the Old Testament writers were alert to the dangers of wine.  It dulls the senses; it limits clear judgment (31.1-9); it lowers the capacity for control (4.17); it destroys a person’s efficiency (21.17).  To make wine an end in itself, a means of self-indulgence, or as an escape from life is to misuse it and invite the consequences of the drunkard.

Dangers of alcohol:

“It is not for kings, O Lemuel –

not for kings to drink wine,

not for rulers to crave beer,

lest they drink and forget what the law decrees,

and deprive all the oppressed of their rights.

Give beer to those who are perishing,

wine to those who are in anguish;

let them drink and forget their poverty

and remember their mastery no more. – Proverbs 31:4-7

Drunkenness might be understandable among dying people in great pain, but it is inexcusable for national leaders. Alcohol clouds the mind and can lead to injustice and poor decisions.  Leaders have better things to do than anaesthetise themselves with alcohol.

(A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies.  Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value.  She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life. She selects wool and flax  and works with eager hands.  She is like the merchant ships, bringing food from afar.  She gets up while it is still dark; she provides food for her family and portions for her servant girls.  She considers a field and buys it; out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.  She sets about her work vigorously; her arms are strong for her task.  She sees that her trading is profitable, and her lamp does not go out at night.  In her hand she holds the distaff and grasps the spindle with her fingers.  She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy.  When it snows, she has no fear for her household; for all of them are clothed in scarlet.  She makes coverings for her bed; she is clothed in fine linen and purple.  Her husband is respected at the city gate, where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.  She makes linen garments and sells them, and supplies the merchants with sashes.  She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come.  She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue.  She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.  Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: “Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all.”  Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.  Give her the reward she has earned, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.  – Proverbs 31:10-31 Proverbs has a lot to say about women.  How fitting that the book ends with a picture of a woman of strong character, great wisdom, many skills, and great compassion.  Some people have the mistaken idea that the ideal woman in the Bible is retiring, servile, and entirely domestic.  Not so!  This woman is an excellent wife and mother.  She is also a manufacturer, importer, manager, estate agent, farmer, seamstress, upholsterer, and merchant.  Her strength and dignity do not come from her amazing achievements, however.  They are a result of her reverence for God.  In our society where physical appearance counts for so much, it may surprise us to realise that her appearance is never mention.  Her attractiveness comes entirely from her character.  The woman described in this chapter has outstanding abilities.  Her family’s social position is high.  In fact, she may not be one woman at all – she may be a composite portrait of ideal womanhood.  Do not see her as a model to imitate in every detail; your days are not long enough to do everything she does!  See her instead as an inspiration to be all you can be.  We can’t be just like her, but we can learn from her industry, integrity, and resourcefulness.)  *

©Don’t Drink From THE Cup