Ham.
Not a porker to make a Sunday Ham or BBQ out of, but a dude – unfortunate name for sure, though maybe not in his time. Ham is the youngest son of Noah, the legendary ship builder who saved all of humanity by obeying a still small voice followed by years of dry land. More Years of sawing logs, fitting logs, covering a hull in pitch, gathering food, animals, insects – Ham and his brothers in tow helping with dad’s crazy project.
What brings me to Ham?
Certainly not his obedience – he tagged along with Dad.
Curiosity brings me to Ham – Indirectly, that is.
My real curiosity started with Sodom & Gomorrah, the city that drew such fame an notoriety with their actions – we even use a term from Sodom to describe the deprave action of Sodomy. I need to back up my story so all can follow along with my curiosity.
In 2016 my Parents decided they wanted to spend their 50th wedding anniversary surrounded by their children and spouses in the country of Israel visiting and touring the Holy Land. The trip started out a bore – wrong time, no money, how can I leave work for 10 days, and even more bawling and excuses. Begrudgingly, we ended up going. In full humility I now repent of my attitude and actions – I hope to make another trip back. The scene was wonderful from the perspective of breathing life to accounts from the Bible. While I enjoyed it all, the non-commercialized sites were my favorite with the valley where David slew Goliath and the Dead Sea/Masada right there the top.
While at Masada, looking over the fortress of the crazy Herod the Great, you could see for miles what was once described in the Bible as the Jordan Valley which was “well watered everywhere like the Garden of the Lord”. Minor difference, the valley is now a desert wasteland. Turn your head to the left, wasteland, turn to the right you look to the South you see the Dead Sea extend and land begin again – the famed location for Sodom & Gomorrah – waste land.
Why? Yeah, God destroyed them. But what were the daily decisions made that drove Sodom to infamous fame and Gomorrah to oblivion?
Putting on my amateur forensics hat, I had to find out why a lush garden endured such hate? Justice? Wrath? Punishment? Fire and brimstone is what the Bible calls it. A destructive rain of fire and brimstone consumed the whole area; now the area is desolate, and obliviated (new word?) below seal level. To destroy a place to that level exposes some kind of anger.
It started with Noah. Ham Incubated, Developed and Mastered.
I can’t help wonder what influences that brought about the destruction survived the flood. Were the influences considered normal? Acceptable?
Obviously so, at some level.
It doesn’t take long to descend.
We no sooner see the covenant of the rainbow than we see the a vineyard and Noah hanging out in his one-button-suit recovering from a hangover. After recovering his dignity and his clothing he starts blaming his son – he realizes his son, Ham, is really a ham and curses him for it. The first place in the Bible where the name Canaan is used.
Chapter 10 we now see the genealogy (read parental influence) of Noah. His grandkids populated the world as we know it today. His decisions, influenced with data before and after the flood, worked themselves out over generations. This is interesting, because God Chose Noah, and saw Noah as Righteous, in chapter 9 God goes as far as to Bless Noah and make a covenant with him. Shouldn’t there have been a change of outcome? Destiny? Yet, we’re back at it.
Take this one step further, Ham is the father of all the Ruffians & Troublemakers – what happened? He came from Godly Stock? He was there when the door to the Ark closed. He was there when the saving miracle of the boat began to float. Ham saw it all, and still turned.
While I have a lot more to study, there are a few thoughts coming from this rambling: (no real order, just a stream of thought)
- We all have in us the propensity to want & like debauchery
- Noah’s started with Grapes – it affected generations
- Our DNA carries even the smallest influence – even the ones we thought were drowned and forgotten
- Each influence finds pleasure in seeking a new bottom
- As Father’s We carry an Influence for Generations
- 2 out of 3 were influenced by the Right shown
- 1 out of 3 took the influence to a new level – lower level, just a few pages later we see a full Sodom & Gomorrah
- Not all kids will follow the way
- The non-followers will get all the press
- Word to the Wise: Cursing them probably won’t bring them back to the straight and narrow – it will likely confirm their path and cement their ways – Ham seems to demonstrate that.
Father’s have an amazing responsibility. Father’s have an amazing accountability. Generational Success or Failure depends on a Father’s Leadership.
ouch.
Chris Parks 