ORIGINS: The Book of Genesis

No. 27 | CORRUPTION—The Necessity of Covenant, pt. 3

By Danny Capon, August 27, 2023

The Beginning and Meaning of Everything that Matters

CREATION

Genesis 1:1-2:3 | The Seven Days of Creation

Genesis 2:4-25 | Man and Woman in the Garden

CORRUPTION

Genesis 3:1-24 | The Fall of Man

Genesis 4:1-5:32 | The Progress of Sin

Genesis 6:1-8:22 | The Judgment of God

Genesis 9:1-11:32 | The Necessity of Covenant

  • 9:1-17 God’s Word (Re)establishes Life after the Flood
  • 9:18-10:32 Noah’s Sons Form the Foundation for All People after the Fall

Corruption—The Necessity of Covenant, pt. 3 (Genesis 9:18-10:32)

How will God fulfill His promise of an “offspring” (3:15)?

How will man respond to God and His word?

1. Noah’s sons form the foundation for all people after the flood

Observations from Genesis 9:18-10:32

  • It picks up where Genesis 5 left off—sons (children) are born to Noah’s three sons, and from them all people come and they are dispersed on the earth.
  • Shem is emphasized, as is Ham and especially Canaan, one of his sons.
  • The account of Ham (Gen. 9:20-27) presents an eerie echo of Genesis 3-4 and foreshadowing of things to come.
  • Across the Table of Nations (Gen. 10:1-32), 70 nations are recorded along with their lands, languages, and clans (Gen. 5, 20, 31).

2. The sons of Noah all begin life after the flood with their dad, but Ham chooses to dishonor him.

Leviticus 18:1-7 Leviticus 18:24-30 Habakkuk 2:15

3. The sons of Noah all have children, but Ham’s descendants prove significant.

  • Japheth
  • Ham
  • Shem

Conclusions

  1. This passage helps us understand why Ham and his descendants function importantly in Genesis (and beyond).
  2. This passage helps us understand why it’s important that every person understands and follows God’s word (His design and order) for life.
  3. This passage helps us understand why God establishing covenant with man is important (life after the flood follows a very similar trajectory as before the flood).