May 3 - Prayer - Thoughts - Verses

 May 3, 2023

Heavenly Father, I thank You for the wonderful sleep You gave me last night. I slept so well I didn’t wake up when I usually do, but You always know when we need extra rest, and I thank You for always taking care of me. I thank You for all the ways You show me Your love, Your provision, and Your grace.

Today as I read the verses about Noah and his sons and the mistakes that were made in how they handled this situation with Noah.

I don’t fully understand the thoughts and ways of that time, but for a son to disrespect his father to the point his descendants were punished for his sin is so sad to me, but I know Your decisions are always for the best. I think about my children and grandchildren being punished for something I did, and it makes me want to act in a way that makes them proud, not punished, and that could very well be what You desire. For us to love our children and want to teach them the best ways rather than bring shame and punishment on them.

Help me to represent You in a way that makes You proud and brings blessings on my children and their children. Help me show them You in all I do so they would see my love for them and more than that they would see Your love for them through me. I thank You for my children and grandchildren and ask that You continue to guide them all. You have a personal relationship with them all and I am so grateful that I know they will spend eternity with You in heaven. Please help me to go through my day in such a way that honors You and help me to keep You as my guide in all the decisions I make so that I would not bring shame upon my family or my precious Lord. You are worth praising. Help me praise You in word and in actions today.

In Jesus’ name.

Amen!

It is interesting to me that at one time nakedness was the way Adam and Eve lived, and now for Noah’s sons to see him naked was unheard of. Why do you think there was such a shift?

This act caused the people of Canaan to be servants to the descendants of Shem. What things happened generations ago that we might be paying for now?

What things might we be doing that our children will pay for?

Is there a sin you might need to take to the Lord?

18 The sons of Noah who went forth from the ark were Shem, Ham, and Japheth. (Ham was the father of Canaan.) 19 These three were the sons of Noah, and from these the people of the whole earth were dispersed.

20 Noah began to be a man of the soil, and he planted a vineyard. 21 He drank of the wine and became drunk and lay uncovered in his tent. 22 And Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father and told his two brothers outside. 23 Then Shem and Japheth took a garment, laid it on both their shoulders, and walked backward and covered the nakedness of their father. Their faces were turned backward, and they did not see their father's nakedness. 24 When Noah awoke from his wine and knew what his youngest son had done to him, 25 he said,

“Cursed be Canaan;
a servant of servants shall he be to his brothers.”

26 He also said,

“Blessed be the Lord, the God of Shem;
and let Canaan be his servant.
27 May God enlarge Japheth,
and let him dwell in the tents of Shem,
and let Canaan be his servant.”

28 After the flood Noah lived 350 years. 29 All the days of Noah were 950 years, and he died.

Genesis 9:18-28 ESV