Paparzzi Moment Genesis 9-11

Paparazzi Moment

As we stand in line at the grocery store facing the news stand. There are photos of anything that could catch your attention. Lives caught on film. Paparazzi's are always on the lookout for a headline, true, partially true, or outright speculation. The bait above the picture tell us the story. We are left wondering how much is true and how much is a misleading sell. One picture can have a thousand different meanings, as the magazines try to catch peoples attention with sensationalism.
Our curious nature battles with our rational self. Somehow we can't help but wonder; is she pregnant, is there a miracle mayonnaise diet (pun intended), did they have a "secret" wedding? 

One part of us says "we are way to mature to be interested in the ridiculous frenzy surrounding famous people". Another part of us really wants take just a quick peak. Our eyes scan the pictures even when we don't want them to; after all stuck here in line anyway, what will it hurt to look? We may even be tempted to turn to nonchalantly turn to page 63 and read more, just to pass the time in line. 

Then our internal dialogue shakes a finger in our direction.  

In Genesis 9 Noah's son Ham was in this same situation. To make things worse the spectacle he was gawking at was His father and it wasn't a photo. Ham was laughing as Noah was sleeping in his birthday suite, after a little to much sampling of the family vino. 

His father had just saved his entire family from being wiped off the earth by obeying God and building the ark. But Ham just can't resist sharing the spectacle with his brothers, because juicy gossip is best when shared, right? All his fun come to an abrupt halt however when his brothers decided to do the right thing, and spoil his fun.

As the saying goes: The fire goes out when there is no more fuel

They look the other way while covering dad with a blanket. They both receive Noah's blessing while Ham  and his descendants are cursed for his impulsive decision....ouch.

Things I noticed in Genesis 9-11

• In these chapters we meet Nimrod who comes from the line of Ham. He built many great cities, including  and Nineveh (the city that Jonah doesn't want to preach to later in the Bible, resulting in him getting swallowed by a whale).

•  Because of his choice Ham receives a curse on his family line, Noah gives a blessing to the family lines of Japheth and Shem. 

• Shem will  be the family line that Abraham, King David and Jesus descend from.

• Nimrod had great ambition as well as being a skilled man, and  leader. He proves himself as an architect, has great political power. To bad he is not a good guy

• Nimrod was the architect of the Tower of Babel, which will appear in chapter 11
• After the plan at Babel fails, Nimrod  goes to build more cities which he will then also rule. He is powerful, prideful and rebellious.
• God confused the languages at Babel and dispersed the nations. 
• FUN FACT: In the book of Acts in the New Testament we see God do this in reverse. When Peter and the disciples are speaking to the crowd about Jesus.  The Holy Spirit, descends on them so that everyone hears him them in their own language. 

• God did what was best for men. Everything God does is always for our good and His glory. He is still working his plan to restore the broken relationship from the garden. Just as He does for all mankind He also does in each of our lives to accomplish what is best for us. Philippians 1:6

Dig Deeper

Read Genesis 9-11

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+9-11&version=NIV