Faithful Writers

The Potential Danger of Spiritual Disciplines “God is not a scorekeeper. Spiritual practices are not extra credit. They are how we learn to be present with a God who already loves us.”Rachel Held Evans Practical life disciplines are good things. What they potentially do for the body, for the mind, for the house, for the checkbook. There’s something about setting a rhythm, a habit, a little rule of life that keeps the mess from stacking up too high in any one corner. Discipline can be a gift. But just like fire warms a home or burns it to the ground — so too, spiritual disciplines can go sideways real fast. Spiritual disciplines, when rooted in grace, can be life-giving. But when they get tangled up in performance, they can twist into something toxic. And I’ve been there — knee-deep in the weeds of performance-based Christianity, holding my Bible like a scorecard. I wondered why my prayer and Bible reading time started feeling dry. The Gift of the Practice Let’s be clear: discipline in itself isn’t the problem. Jesus often withdrew to lonely places to pray (Luke 5:16). He fasted. He quoted Scripture from memory. He got up early. So I’m not knocking the idea of showing up for your faith. But there’s a big difference between practicing your faith and performing it. Spiritual disciplines — whether it’s prayer, meditation, journaling, fasting, or a daily quiet time — were never meant to be audition tapes for God’s approval. They were supposed to be ways to stay rooted, to listen more deeply, to remember we are loved. But we humans — we like gold stars. We like checking boxes. And somewhere along the line, we trade being with God for trying to impress God. When Quiet Time Turns Into a Chore Chart For years, I woke up early and had a “quiet time.” That’s what we called it in my church circles. It sounded peaceful and holy. Except, it wasn’t always. Sometimes it was dry. Sometimes I fell asleep halfway through the prayer. Sometimes I read three chapters and didn’t feel one ounce closer to God. And instead of grace, I gave myself guilt. I’d feel bad if I skipped a day. Worse if I missed two. By day three, I was convinced God was giving me the silent treatment and I’d better double up on devotions just to get back in His good graces. Can you see how that’s not relationship? That’s performance. That’s trying to earn something I already had. Meditation: Still or Stuck? Let’s talk about meditation. I love the stillness of it. I love the breath. I love the presence. But I’ve also used it to try to feel spiritual — like if I could just empty my mind enough, sit still long enough, and focus hard enough, maybe God would show up. But God is not a vending machine, and silence is not the coin you drop in to get a revelation. Sometimes God speaks in silence. Sometimes God speaks while you’re loading the dishwasher or driving to work or folding laundry. The danger of spiritual discipline is not in the practice itself. It’s in turning the practice into a formula. From Being to Earning Christian author Sarah Bessey said it like this: “Spiritual practices are not a way to earn anything. They are ways to be with the One who already loves us.” There it is. Right there. You don’t fast to get God’s attention. You already have it. You don’t pray to make God love you more. God already does. You don’t meditate to find God. He’s not lost. He’s already present. The moment you start measuring your worth by your consistency, your spiritual life becomes a spreadsheet. And God does not keep spreadsheets on your soul. Like Sitting on the Porch with God I once heard someone say spiritual disciplines should feel like sitting on the porch with God, not like checking in with your parole officer. You don’t sit on the porch to prove anything. You sit because you like the company. You sit to breathe. To notice the wind. To laugh about the day. To just be. The danger comes when we treat the porch like a podium and think we have to deliver some kind of perfect speech every time we pray. Paul Had a Word or Two Paul said something to the Galatians that smacks me every time I forget grace: “After beginning by means of the Spirit, are you now trying to finish by means of the flesh?” (Galatians 3:3, NIV) He’s saying: You started off resting in God’s love, now you’re trying to earn it? You started in freedom, now you’re trying to hustle? Been there. Bought the matching devotional journal. When the Disciplines Become Distractions Even good things can become idols. Even prayer can become a performance if the motivation isn’t love. Even reading Scripture can become a competition if you’re more focused on the number of chapters than the voice of the Spirit. I’ve caught myself doing “the right things” but for all the wrong reasons. Not because I was hungry for God.But because I was scared He was mad. Not because I wanted closeness.But because I thought I had to fix myself. Spiritual disciplines become dangerous when they’re no longer about presence, but about penance. Spiritual Gym vs. Spiritual Hospital Think of it like this. If you’re going to the gym to build strength, that’s great. But if you’ve broken your leg and you’re trying to walk it off on the treadmill, you’re just making things worse. Sometimes we try to use spiritual disciplines like gym equipment when what we really need is a hospital bed. Sometimes we don’t need to pray more. We need to rest. Sometimes we don’t need to fast. We need to grieve. Sometimes we don’t need to be silent. We need to speak up. And sometimes, God’s grace shows up not in our spiritual strength — but in our spiritual collapse. It’s Not About the Performance Henri Nouwen once wrote: “You are the beloved. Not because you’re good. Not because you’re faithful. Not because you’re disciplined. But because you are.” We don’t work our way into God’s love.We wake up into it.We fall asleep in it.We breathe it in with no effort. Spiritual disciplines should help us remember that. But when they don’t — when they start piling on shame instead of peace, when they make us feel distant instead of drawn in, when they become about doing instead of being — then it’s okay to step back. Not to quit. But to reset. A Gentle Reset If you’re feeling dry or disconnected, maybe it’s not because you’re undisciplined. Maybe it’s because the rhythm has gotten out of sync with your heart. Try something different. Don’t scrap the whole thing. Just shift the focus. Maybe swap your morning quiet time for an afternoon walk. Maybe listen to music instead of journaling. Maybe put down the checklist and pick up a nap. Or a conversation with a friend. Or a psalm read slowly, like honey on the tongue. Because the disciplines are not the destination. God is. And He’s not hiding behind your schedule. He’s already with you. Even in the weeds. © Gary L Ellis

While the Bible is constantly ridiculed as a book filled with historical inaccuracies and fictional legends… The simple truth of the matter is that secular archaeologists and scholars who specialize in ancient Middle Eastern studies will often use the Bible… As a trustworthy source document to cross-reference and support the many artifacts they have dug up. Furthermore, even when the truthfulness of Biblical accounts comes into question… Based on the findings of archaeology and/or apparent conflicting evidence found in extra-biblical source documents… More often than not it is found that the problems lie with… Misinterpretation… Lack of evidence… Or poor scholarship… And NOT the Bible itself . I think the following joke well illustrates my point. ATHEIST: Oh Rabbi with your silly beliefs, don’t you know that there are dozens of cultures that have an ancient flood myth? RABBI: That makes me feel so much better. I’ve often wondered how nobody heard of the flood except us Jews. Now that I know others have also heard of it, I’m sure it happened. The rabbi in this joke has a point. The flood is told by the Greeks, the Hindus, the Chinese, the Mexicans, the Algonquins, the Hawaiians, etc. To me, this alone blows the “local flood theory” out of the water ( pun intended ). The Scriptures report that after bobbing around for a couple of days, the ark finally came to a rest on top of an area called the Mountains of Ararat. But where the heck is this location? The answer is parts of what is now Turkey, Iraq, Armenia, and Iran. According to a Turkish travel agency, “Mount Ararat may be the largest single-mass or volume mountain in the world as it is huge (one really has to see it in person to appreciate its immensity) and rises to 17,000 feet from the plains surrounding it at 2,000–3,000 feet while most other large mountains are in a mountain range with less differential and base circumference. ” © Richoka

As we walk through the Torah, I will be reviewing certain principles over and over again because they are essential to a proper understanding of the Bible. One of these principles is the one I have titled the “As-in-Heaven-So-on-Earth” principle. Again, this principle simply means that certain objects and events depicted in Scripture are the physical manifestations of spiritual truths in the heavens. And Yeshua was the perfect example: “He who has seen me has seen the Father (in heaven).” In Genesis chapter 8, which we are studying now, we also encounter a few interesting examples of this “As-in-Heaven-So-on-Earth” principle in action. God’s Spirit manifesting as the wind: In verse one, it says that God sent a wind over the earth to push back the waters. Now the Hebrew word for wind here is “Ruach” and it means “spirit.” Maybe you are familiar with the term “Ruach Ha-Kodesh." which means the Holy Spirit. So here is another demonstration of the “As-in-heaven-so-on-earth” principle. God’s spirit is manifesting Himself physically as wind. The Raven and the Dove: After 40 days pass, Noah opens the door of the ark and sends out a raven. The raven is a scavenger that feeds off the flesh of the dead. However, the raven does not return. So Noah lets seven days pass and then sends out a dove that soon returns. Noah lets another seven days pass and sends out the dove a second time. It returns again but this time with an olive tree leaf in its beak. Noah sends out the dove a third time and this time the dove does not return. The time to leave the ark and begin a new life on earth had arrived. There is some interesting symbolism expressed through the raven and the dove. The raven is an unclean bird and is considered to be a symbol of evil. In contrast, the dove is a clean bird and in Scripture is a symbol of the Holy Spirit. Notice the characteristics portrayed by the raven. The Scripture says that the raven went forth “to and fro” and never returned. Who else in Scripture is described as roaming the earth to and fro? None other than Satan himself. Second, the raven is a bird that feeds on the flesh of the dead. Similarly, the unbeliever who knows not God nor the things of the Lord goes through life aimlessly, deriving futile pleasures from things that have no life in them. Now, whereas the raven was only sent out once, the dove was sent out three times. Although I don’t quite agree with their interpretation, Christians point out that the dove being sent out three times is a reflection of the triune nature of God. That point aside, there is no doubt however that the number 3 holds a special Godly significance in the Scriptures. For example, Noah had three sons. Yeshua Himself was raised on the third day… And the ark of the covenant contained 3 sacred objects and there are many other examples. In comparing the raven with the dove, it should be noted that while the raven was able to derive satisfaction from the dead fleshly things of the world, the dove wasn’t able to and thus returned. When the dove came back a second time, it had an olive tree leaf in it’s beak. Christianity and Judaism both agree that the olive tree symbolizes peace. Let us consider some interesting facts about the olive tree. First, olives themselves have been known throughout the ages for their nutritional and healing value. In the Bible, olive oil has played a significant role in anointing kings and high priests and was used to light the menorah in the Holy Temple. The national emblem of the State of Israel is olive leaves cradled around a menorah. The symbol for the Israel Defense Forces is a sword wrapped by an olive branch. The meaning is… “We seek peace, but we are prepared to defend against our enemies." © Richoka

The events of the flood as related in the Bible read like a time log. God really wanted us to know in exacting detail the specific days and times certain events took place. We are told the waters rose for 150 days and then receded for 150 days. We are told on the 1st day of the 1st month of the 600th year, Noah opened the covering of the ark. Afterwards, we are told that on the 27th day of the 2nd month of the 600th year, God instructed Noah to leave the ark and begin repopulating the earth. Let’s take a look at the following verse: “On the seventeenth day of the seventh month the ark came to rest on the mountains of Ararat.” -Genesis 8:4 Now what’s interesting is that the 17th day of the 7th month is when Yeshua was resurrected from the dead! I don’t believe this is coincidental. Both the flood and Messiah’s resurrection teach us that only through death does new life come. This is another principle that is repeated again and again throughout the Scriptures. If we are to successfully move forward toward the new life that God has prepared for us, we have to die to our old life. Abraham died to his old life by leaving his home country and separating from his family. The Israelites had to die to their old life of captivity in Egypt to enter the promised land. There is no fence straddling here. It is NOT possible to keep one foot in the world and one foot in the Word. There were tremendous differences between the Old World that existed before the flood and the New World that Noah and his family entered after the flood. Adam was born into a perfect world. Noah was born into a fallen world. Adam was created in the “image of God." Noah was created in the “image of Adam." We are more closely related to Noah than Adam. What we are going to see as we move forward is that in the new world, man’s relationship to God, his environment, and his responsibilities changed. Certain “living creatures” will now be okay for food… And animals will now fear men. CONNECTING THIS TEACHING TO THE NEW TESTAMENT And Yeshua said unto him, “No man, having put his hand to the plow and looking back , is fit for the Kingdom of God.” -Luke 9:62 © Richoka

Notice that once Noah leaves the ark, his first action is to build an altar and pay homage to the Lord through sacrifices. Again, it is obvious why God commanded Noah to bring seven pairs of clean animals. If there were only a single pair of each clean species, then each sacrifice would have been the extinction of each species of clean animal. God was pleased with Noah’s sacrifices. The Scriptures tell us the Lord “ smelled ” the fragrant odor. Keep in mind this is just an anthropomorphism . An anthropomorphism is the literary device of ascribing human attributes to God. It’s not like God had some huge nose with nostrils and was able to physically smell the scent of the smoke rising from Noah’s sacrifices. Remember God is spirit. So when you come across phrases like “ God remembered ," “ God stretched out his hands ” or “ Incline your ear O Lord ," these statements are metaphorical. God then proclaims the following to Noah: “ I will never again curse the ground because of humankind, since the imagination of a person’s heart is evil from his youth; nor will I ever again destroy all living things, as I have done. So long as the earth exists, sowing time and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, and day and night will not cease. ”-Genesis 8:21 Notice the phrase “ The imagination of a person’s heart is evil from his youth ." “from his youth ” is “ MINE ‘ ARAW ” in Hebrew. This means “ from his awakening ." One of the ancient Jewish sages has explained that this means from the time a human has awareness. In rabbinic circles, it’s debated whether awareness takes place in the womb, immediately after birth, or shortly after. Regardless, the point here is that ALL humans are born with hearts that “form evil." As explained in an earlier teaching, per the Principle of Opposites, this phrase goes hand in hand with the idea that mankind was created with both an inherent evil inclination and a good inclination. Remember, God holds man responsible for the evil that he commits. He does not blame Satan although Satan is very real and is capable of planting evil thoughts and suggestions into the mind of man. Satan’s strategy is to take advantage of the evil inclination in all of us. So even after the flood, we can see that fundamentally man’s nature has not changed and that humans will still struggle to not sin and commit evil. ( In fact, Noah is going to find himself in a quite embarrassing situation in the next chapter ) Again, since it is contrary to traditional Christian teaching on the subject, I feel compelled to reiterate that this verse is NOT saying that the human heart is ONLY evil. Babies are NOT born 100% evil. But neither are they born 100% innocent. Don’t forget the principle of opposites I talked about in this post . God is simply pointing out to us that all people are born with an evil inclination. CONNECTING THIS TEACHING TO THE NEW TESTAMENT “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” -Romans 3:23 © Richoka

Garth Manthe I watch as passersby go from place to place, I watch as some check their watches. I watch as some look ahead in their little world, And I watch as some chat amongst their passing group. I look at each passerby, Each is so different, So busy getting to another place, Each forgets to enjoy the things around them. Then it hits me and I realize Each has a life separate from mine, A vivid life, A complex life, Just like mine, yet different. My head hurts, It’s too much, He could be a single father stuck in a job he hates. She could be regretting her mistakes and can’t handle the guilt. Why have I never cared? He could be dying, and she doesn’t know. Those friends could be talking for the last time before they move on with their lives. I feel deep sonder for those thinking like me. © Maia Vashti First published in Never Stop Writing on Medium.

Today we begin our study of Genesis Chapter 9. For the Complete Jewish Bible, click here . For the King James Version, click here. This chapter starts off with God’s first post-flood speech to Noah in the Bible. This is also the first time Scripture has God addressing someone in narrative form using the phrase “ And God said…. ” Immediately, we are introduced to a major change that has occurred. The vegetarian man of the Garden of Eden is now allowed a carnivores’ diet… And as a result, the animal kingdom that once had a harmonious relationship with man will now live in fear of him. Why do you think it was so easy for Noah to get the animals to cooperate with him prior to the flood? The answer is because before the flood man had a different relationship with the animal kingdom. “Every moving thing that lives will be food for you; just as I gave you green plants before, so now I give you everything — only flesh with its life, which is its blood, you are not to eat.” -Genesis 9:3–4 Based on the above verse, at this stage, it seems like no living creature was off-limits for food. However, there was a very strict rule placed on the eating of meat, and it was that man was NOT allowed to eat the blood from an animal. The reason is because blood carries the life essence in it. We will see that moving forward blood is only to be used for sacrifices. Blood is way too holy for man to partake of! We see the importance of blood also being applied to human beings. The taking of human blood ( in other words murder ) is strictly prohibited and if it happens, the person guilty as charged will have his or her life taken from her. He or she will be subjected to the death penalty. “Whoever sheds human blood, by a human being will his own blood be shed; for God made human beings in his image. ” -Genesis 9:6 Notice in verse 6 that God assigns the responsibility of meting out justice for murder over to man now. Up until now, God had dealt with it Himself. What’s interesting is that when God dealt with Cain, the punishment meted out was banishment from His presence. The mere separation from God’s presence was sufficient punishment. However, in the post-flood age, when man murders man, he will incur the death penalty. Honestly, if I was a murderer and had to choose between the death penalty and eternal separation from God’s presence, I would choose the death penalty any day. (I mean, we’re going to die anyway right.) Concerning this portion of the Scripture, the ancient Jewish sages have pointed out that here God is establishing the principle of earthly government. Actually, this is the beginning of what would eventually come to be called the 7 Noachide Laws. The 7 Noachide Laws are the most fundamental principles of justice that God gave to Noah and from these basic laws will come all the other civil laws that will eventually comprise the Torah. The seven laws are as follows: 1) No idol worship. 2) No taking God’s name in vain. 3) No murder. 4) No incest. 5) No robbing and stealing. 6) No eating blood nor meat of strangled animals. 7) Man must submit to government authority. Thousands of years later after Yeshua’s ascension, these Noachide Laws were brought up by the Jerusalem Council of 49 AD as the minimum behavioral requirements for Gentiles who wanted to fellowship with Jewish believers in Messiah. CONNECTING THIS TEACHING TO THE NEW TESTAMENT Instead, we should write them a letter telling them to abstain from things polluted by idols, from fornication, from what is strangled and from blood . For from the earliest times, Moshe has had in every city those who proclaim him, with his words being read in the synagogues every Shabbat .”-Acts 15:20–21 © Richoka

The incredible trauma of the flood would’ve undoubtedly left Noah quite battered. Think about it. Besides him and his family, every human being on earth had been destroyed. Once the waters burst forth from both the heavens and the ground, Noah would have heard the screams of his neighbors, men, women, and children, as they cried out for help. Many of them would have been banging on the ark doors and walls, their fingernails piercing into the gopher wood as they futilely attempted to gain entrance to the only means of salvation that God had provided to mankind. I am sure there was much sorrow in his heart because he knew there was nothing he could do at that point. It was too late. Noah wanted to reach out and save those who were perishing but could not. However, we still have that chance that Noah didn’t. We still have a chance to lead others to salvation by sharing the good news of Yeshua. Remember, Yeshua said his second return would be just as it was in the days of Noah. NOW is the chance to reach out to that cynical neighbor or that elderly relative of yours whom you so dearly love and tell them about Yeshua. Given that the flood was the most terrifying experience that Noah had ever been through… He probably needed extra reassurance that the world would never again be subjected to another flood of such cataclysmic proportions. God not only verbally reassures Noah… But he announces that he will place a rainbow in the sky as a physical sign and reminder to Noah and his descendants that never again will He ever destroy the world by flood. This is the FIRST COVENANT that God made between Himself and man. Actually, this particular covenant was made between God and ALL living creatures (both man and beasts). One important point you should recognize. This covenant with Noah was unilateral. In other words, this covenant did NOT depend on man’s response nor man’s behavior……it was all on God. Later, we will see that with other covenants, there will be mutual requirements that both God and man must fulfill for the covenants to remain valid. © Richoka

ChatGPT I  was mentally preparing myself upcoming doctor’s appointment for my daughter in the shower. ( Some people sing in the shower; well, I think in the shower.) For reference, our hospital system took a nosedive here a while back, and it’s been a nerve-wracking experience since, especially for anyone who has chronic conditions. Anyway, so there I am in the shower, thinking through the appointment, and I mentally threw two previous doctors under the bus. I thought some really not-so-nice things in my head. I was feeling this subtle, pressurized bitterness and anger inside me that wanted to keep building, so I fed it. I felt justification for the anger that started to seethe inside of me and those not-so-nice thoughts because there had been some horrific instances. Then, in a moment of bitterness and anger, I just became weary of it all. I made a conscious choice and whispered the words “take captive my thoughts.” A millisecond couldn’t have even slipped by before I heard, “Pray for the doctors who failed your daughter; they need it the most.”  My heart lurched, and everything went still for a moment. I felt a deep conviction that pulled me down, and I sat there on the shower floor crying. Without words, I sought His forgiveness for what I had done, then and in the past.  He knows what we’ve been through; He was there right beside us through it all. He acknowledged that yes, she was wronged, and He understood my hesitation and fear of doctors, but I  still need you  to pray for them. In that moment, I learned so many things. It’s easy for us to take something that happened and hold onto those past hurts without contemplating the situation. We then move on, believing we are fine, when in fact we are not. We need to acknowledge when we are hurt. None of what I’m saying means we aren’t allowed to do this or that we don’t experience emotions from whatever may have happened to us. But it is important to take time, think about it, and take it to God. Big or little, just take it to Him. Don’t be like me. Don’t let it all build up like that, after each crappy incident I would go home, be mad and vent but I didn’t really reached out to God about it. I never asked Him to help me with how I was feeling or what I should do with it. That’s why I became weary.  It all finally caught up with me at that moment, and I was so tired of trying to hold onto it all. God hugged me, and I felt that deep within my heart; I also didn’t feel He was angry at me, He just gently chided me and told me it was time that I switch my thinking and pray for them. It was a fresh start to a new way of thinking; a weight was lifted off my shoulders that I never realized was there. Since that day in the shower, I had my own experience where I left my doctor’s office hurt, and it was a justifiable situation with what happened. With this new awareness, though, I was able to be able to vent and talk about what happened, stay positive, thoughtful, and calmer, and actively take it to God. And yes, I prayed for this provider; in fact, I still do when I think about her. It’s been a couple of months now. I feel a calm, a gentleness now in me, and it’s been growing to the point that my fear and hesitation with anything involving a hospital and clinic are starting to get better. My thought of the day: Maybe if we all said a prayer every time we are hurt or we think of an old hurt and choose to start the process of forgiveness, we could change the world a little at a time. "Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ, God forgave you." Ephesians 4:32 © Jane Isley First Published in Frontier Writers (Anya Praise) Thank you for taking the time to read, and please consider  supporting my work . Your gift helps keep this work going, blesses others, and means the world to me. You can visit me at Faithful Writers  on Medium, where other Christian writers have joined me in sharing the word of God. You can also find me on   Tumblr  and   Facebook.

Starting from Genesis 9:18, Noah and his three sons Shem, Ham, and Japheth emerge from the ark marking the beginning of a new era in human history. Unfortunately, in short order, we will soon see that man remains just as susceptible to falling into trouble and committing evil as he was before the flood. We’re told that Noah planted a vineyard, made some wine, and then drunk himself into a serious stupor. He then made his way back to his tent where he fell asleep sprawled out completely naked. Next, the Scriptures tell us that “ Ham the father of Canaan saw Noah’s nakedness and told his two brothers outside ." In response, the two brothers took a cloak, walked backward into the tent so that they wouldn’t see their father’s nakedness, and then covered him up. When Noah awoke, he realized what Ham had done to him and pronounced the following curse: “Cursed be Canaan, the lowliest slave shall he be to his brothers!” The first question that arises is what in the world did Ham do to his father Noah? Well, I can do know better than to quote the great Jewish Bible scholar Robert Alter . Here is his take on the matter: “No one has ever figured out what exactly what it is that Ham does to Noah.” There you go. Nobody knows. Nevertheless, theories abound. Some suggest that Ham possibly castrated Noah. Others suggest that he “penetrated” him sexually and so on. I think it’s important to remind ourselves that the Bible is a record of God’s interactions with a certain portion and culture of the human race at a particular point of time in history. When we superimpose our modern day thoughts onto the Scriptures which took place in a culture completely foreign to our own, it’s inevitable that misinterpretations are going to arise. In this case, we’re dealing with an ancient Middle Eastern culture. In such a culture, it’s entirely possible that the mere viewing of a father’s nakedness was a horrific taboo. Ham’s failure to turn his eyes away from his father’s nakedness in and of itself could have earned him the curse that was pronounced upon him. First, why didn’t Ham cover up his father’s nakedness himself? Why did he go “tattle on him?" I wonder what exactly he said to his brothers? Maybe something like this: “ Hey guys! You won’t believe what I saw! Pop is drunk out of his mind, sprawled out butt naked in his tent. ” Talking about your father’s nakedness to others is just downright disrespectful. Ham seems to have been guilty of two sins. One, he did not honor his father. Two, he committed what in Hebrew is know as LASHON HARA which means to speak evil or gossip about someone. The second question that confronts us is why Ham’s son Canaan was cursed instead of Ham himself. Again, I think we are dealing with an ancient middle eastern mindset whereby not just that person but also his ancestors are viewed as a collective whole. Biblically speaking, having a curse placed on just one individual would not be particularly efficacious as it would end at the death of that person. The Bible says that a curse was placed on all of Ham’s descendants. However, the reason that Canaan was targeted is because more than any other descendant of Ham, it will be Canaan who will be most directly involved with Israel. So Noah’s two other sons did the proper thing in averting their eyes from their father’s nakedness. They treated Noah with the proper respect and as a result earned his blessings, the contents of which we will examine carefully in a future post. © Richoka