READINGS FOR FEBRUARY 15, 2004: GENESIS 9, MATTHEW 9, PSALM 7:1-7                            The first action in this chapter is God’s blessing to Noah and his sons. Why don’t we all stop right now and thank God for the unlimited blessings granted you. God then reiterates much of what He first told Adam, with some new details (which foreshadow Mosaic Law):   

• Animals will fear humankind.
• Animals can now be eaten as food if their blood is first removed.
• A man or animal who kills a human (the image of God) shall be punished with death.

Next God institutes what is known as the Noahic Covenant. God promises never again to destroy the world with a flood. Notice that this is an unconditional or unilateral covenant. God will do this regardless of how humankind behaves. He confirmed this covenant with the sign of the rainbow.  Christians around the world are rightly reminded of God’s faithfulness to all His promises every time they see a rainbow. 

As with the very first family, disfunction soon occurred. Noah got drunk and took off his clothes while in his tent. His son Ham looked in, saw him in this condition, and shared this sensitive information with brothers Shem and Japheth. These two covered Noah up while respectfully not looking at his nakedness. Noah awoke, aware of Ham’s disrespectful behavior, then cursed Cannan, one of Ham’s four sons. 

The story above became known as the “Curse of Ham” and its misinterpretation has caused devastating evil, particularly in the United States. The misinterpretation first appeared in early Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. It reached its greatest popularity in America just prior to the civil war as a biblical justification for slavery. Likely this false belief still exists somewhere. 

Let’s look at how the facts correct the misinterpretations:  

• God did not curse anyone. Noah did the cursing. 
• Ham was not cursed, neither were his other sons—only Ham’s son Canaan.
• The belief that the word “Ham” means “black” or “dark” has been proven incorrect. 
• Canaan was not cursed with or because of skin color, but because of Ham’s actions.                                                                                                                              

This misinterpretation has been a national disgrace! It shows how vital it is to correctly read and interpret the Bible. A particular problem is trying to make the Bible fit our or our culture’s preconceptions instead of what the Bible clearly says. In this case, it was trying to make the Bible support the unbiblical belief of white superiority. Various false teachings were already prevalent in the first century. and the Bible repeatedly warns us to guard against them.  Let’s read the Bible carefully and in context. Allow the Bible to conform us to what it says rather trying to adjust the Bible to fit our agenda! 

READINGS FOR FEBRUARY 15 CONTINUED: MATTHEW 9, PSALM 7:1-7 7:17               MATTHEW 9                                                                                                                                             This chapter has several fast-moving vignettes. Space allows for observations about only tw The Paralyzed Man—A heartwarming aspect is that it was the man’s friends who brought him to Jesus.  What better kindness could friends extend than to a bring a person to Jesus.  Ironically, today people often say they don’t want to offend their friends by mentioning Jesus. Do we have the faith to do this? Notice Jesus said it was the friends’ faith that caused the man’s sins to be forgiven, which Jesus implied is more important than healing.  Finally, notice that the skeptics perceived Jesus was claiming Himself to be equal to God. They were right on that point, but wrong not to worship Him themselves. Tragic mistake.  

The Tax Collector—It seems that Jesus favored busy working people to be his disciples. It shows busyness isn’t a barrier for people with the right priorities. As with his other disciples, when Jesus called, Matthew immediately left his work and followed. Smart choice. As with the friends in the story above, Matthew apparently connected Jesus with his professional colleagues. (See a trend here?)  At the gathering of tax collectors, Jesus made two key statements: 1) He came to call sinners to repentance, and 2) people cannot receive Jesus’s call if they mistakenly think they don’t need to repent. 

We really feel Jesus’s heart at close of this chapter. He noticed that the crowds, just like so many today, were distressed because they had no purpose in life. Because of His compassion, He told His disciples to pray for workers to reap the plentiful harvest, to bring these sheep without a shepherd to Jesus. Let’s pray the same. Maybe we can be the answer to this prayer

PSALM 7:1-7

David told God that he has taken refuge in Him. Perhaps this needs to be done daily, although we think about it more urgently when facing threats. David cried out to God about the threats pursuing him. What kind of threats are we facing today: the challenges of aging, loneliness, health, family problems, or personal disputes? Without taking refuge in God, these forces “can tear the soul.”   

How did David take refuge in God? He asked God to save him from his threats, to examine his own life, and to battle his adversaries for him. The Christian song, “The Battle Belongs to the Lord” paraphrases many Bible verses. Here’s one: “Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s” (2 Chon. 20:15). If we know this song by

Jamie Owen-Collins, sing it to the Lord, at least in your heart.                                                            In heavenly armour we'll enter the land                  We sing glory, honor
The battle belongs to the Lord                                      Power and strength to the Lord
No weapon that's fashioned against us shall stand      We sing glory, honor
The battle belongs to the Lord                                     Power and strength to the Lord