Passage, Paragraph, and Prayer

We all know what it’s like to be under stress, to be in high-pressure situations, to feel like we’re restricted, even imprisoned by our circumstances. But do we also know that there is a pleasant diversion available, guaranteed to refresh and strengthen us?

Music Credit: Johann Sebastian Bach, Trio from Brandenburg Concerto, No. 1, Movement 4

Noah was the last person the Bible records to surpass 900 years in age. Through his long life, God made him a vital link between the pre-Flood and post-Flood world, especially for the transmission of his Word.

Music Credit: J. S. Bach, “Wir eilen mit schwachen, doch emsigen Schritten,” aria from “Jesu, der du meine Seele,” BWV 78 (Leipzig, 1724).

Through faith in Christ, we are declared righteous; God imputes Christ’s righteousness to our account. And the psalmist tells us that that righteousness has no expiration date.

Music Credit: Johann Sebastian Bach, Trio from Brandenburg Concerto, No. 1, Movement 4

We have looked at the curse of Canaan and the blessing given to Shem. In this devotion, we consider the blessing given to Japheth.

Music Credit: J. S. Bach, “Wir eilen mit schwachen, doch emsigen Schritten,” aria from “Jesu, der du meine Seele,” BWV 78 (Leipzig, 1724).

In this devotion, we consider how children and young people are often despised, *and* how that should not discourage them from learning and retaining God’s word. Scripture references for examples cited in this devotion: 1 Samuel 16; Mark 10:13–16; Luke 18:15–17; 1 Timothy 4:12.

Music Credit: Johann Sebastian Bach, Trio from Brandenburg Concerto, No. 1, Movement 4

In Genesis 9:24–27, Noah doesn’t just pronounce a curse on Ham’s son Canaan. He also pronounces blessings on Shem and Japheth. In this devotion, we look at the blessing pronounced on Shem, or rather on “the LORD, the God of Shem.”

Music Credit: J. S. Bach, “Wir eilen mit schwachen, doch emsigen Schritten,” aria from “Jesu, der du meine Seele,” BWV 78 (Leipzig, 1724).

There are plenty of people who will challenge and defy God’s word. But here’s the thing: It’s been tested time and again, and it always passes.

Music Credit: Johann Sebastian Bach, Trio from Brandenburg Concerto, No. 1, Movement 4

Now that we know what the curse of Canaan was, and wasn’t, how was it actually fulfilled?

Music Credit: J. S. Bach, “Wir eilen mit schwachen, doch emsigen Schritten,” aria from “Jesu, der du meine Seele,” BWV 78 (Leipzig, 1724).

Have you ever noticed how those who care the most also tend to get worn out the easiest? In Psalm 119:139, the psalmist says this is true of himself. So what does he want us to take away from this?

Music Credit: Johann Sebastian Bach, Trio from Brandenburg Concerto, No. 1, Movement 4

Noah didn’t just pronounce a curse on Canaan so that the curse would be more limited than, for instance, a curse pronounced on his son Ham, but also because he saw, by divine inspiration, how Ham’s moral perversity would live on among the Canaanites.

Music Credit: J. S. Bach, “Wir eilen mit schwachen, doch emsigen Schritten,” aria from “Jesu, der du meine Seele,” BWV 78 (Leipzig, 1724).