Descendants of Ham

These were the descendants of Ham, identified by clan, language, territory, and national identity. [Genesis 10.20]

Interestingly enough, "These ...descendants of Ham" is a 'who's who' list of nations who would become enemies of Israel. From the Philistines to the numerous "...ites" that would oppose Israel for centuries to follow, Ham is the common denominator.

It all started when Ham saw his father naked.

There is more we don't know about this event than that we do know, but it would appear Ham's "seeing" Noah naked implied more than just an accidental glance. We might gather a little better understanding of what this encounter might have involved through another infamous group of Ham's descendants, the Sodomites.

The point of this story is important: Ham's curiosity(?) eventually led to every kind of gross perversion and wicked opposition to God known in the Bible. What Ham allowed of himself grew into full-blown opposition to God and everything that is right and decent through his lineage.

Father, help us to run from sin and anything that looks like sin. Help us to see that our little indiscretions become major opposition to You in our descendants.