Noah's Crazy Night

One thing that strikes me about the Bible every single time I open it is how God continues to reveal himself through it, even through the books I was certain I had a pretty good grasp on. I was studying Genesis 8–9 and came upon the part where we realize that Noah, when it comes down to it, is just like you and me.

Noah, as a man of the soil, began by planting a vineyard. He drank some of the wine, became drunk, and uncovered himself inside his tent. Ham, the father of Canaan, saw his father naked and told his two brothers outside. Then Shem and Japheth took a cloak and placed it over both their shoulders, and walking backward, they covered their father’s nakedness. Their faces were turned away, and they did not see their father naked. (Gen 9:20-22)

I remember reading this and thinking, “Why is this in here? What purpose does it actually serve?” For days my mind kept wandering back to these verses. I also was thinking about why I was so shocked by it. God chose Noah because, as the Word puts it, “Noah found favor with God” when no one else could. So here is Noah, this man God has chosen to do good and wonderful things, and then it almost feels like Noah has forsaken every bit of that grace with this foolish sinful act.

I realized two key things here. First, the authors of the Bible have no problem shedding light on the sin of the men and women in the Bible. Why should they have? Our God is a God of justice. Second, we share one very common thing with people like Noah and everyone else in the Bible: we are people. People sin. People make dumb mistakes. People are selfish. People are people. Praise be to God that, despite all of this, he uses his people to accomplish great and wonderful things.

I would assume that I am not alone in this, but often I feel inadequate in my walk with Jesus. I’m not prayerful enough. I’m not outgoing enough. I’m not theological enough. I judge or get annoyed way too easily. I just don’t add up sometimes. I say this all to say that I put this on myself. The Bible shows me that all of these broken nations, cultures, and people are worth it to Jesus. From the Garden of Eden to Revelation, the Bible is pointing to the greater and better sacrifice Jesus would come to make for all people.

I really believe that following the Lord looks different for everyone. Just look to the Bible and you’ll see that very clearly. If Moses with a sluggish tongue, Noah with a crazy night, David with a moment of desire, and so many more can bring glory to God despite their wrecked human selves, so can you and I. Know with confidence today that “you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his possession, so that you may proclaim the praises of the one who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light” (2 Pet 2:9). Praise be to God, friends. His work is never-ending in us.