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Generational Curses – Part I |
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70 Nations Divided in the Earth after the Flood |
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Genesis 9:1 And God blessed Noah and his sons, and said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth. |
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Noah’s Prophetic Words for his descendants |
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Shem – 2nd Born |
Ham – 3rd Born |
Japheth - 1st Born |
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Genesis 9:26 … Blessed be the LORD God of Shem; and Canaan shall be his servant. |
Genesis 9:25 … Cursed be Canaan; a servant of servants shall he be unto his brethren. |
Genesis 9:27 God shall enlarge Japheth, and he shall dwell in the tents of Shem; and Canaan shall be his servant. |
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Prophecy Begins fulfillment in Chapter 12 and is Eternal |
Prophecy Fulfilled within 200 years |
Prophecy begins to be fulfilled in 1500 years and lasts even today |
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Elam |
Cush |
Gomer (Germany, Crimea, Cambria,Celts) |
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Asshur(Assyria) |
Seba |
Ashkenaz(Germany, Saxons, Scandanavia) |
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Arphaxad |
Havilah |
Riphath (Carpathians) |
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Salah |
Sabtah |
Togarma (Armenia) |
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Eber (Hebrews) |
Raamah |
Magog (Georgia, Scthians) |
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Peleg |
Sheba |
Madai (Medes, Aryans, India) |
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Reu |
Dedans |
Javan (Ionians, Greeks, Coastlands) |
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Serug |
Sabtecchta |
Elishaah (Hellas) |
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Nahor |
Nimrod (Babylon, Erech, Calneh, Nineveh) |
Tarshisti (Spain) |
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Terah |
Mizram (Egypt) |
Kittim(Cyprus) |
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Abram(2300 BC) (Isaac, Jacob) ® Messiah |
Ludim |
Dodanium (Rhodes) |
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Ismael (From Abraham)(Arabs) |
Anamim |
Tubal |
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Esau (From Isaac) (Edom) |
Lechabim |
Meshech |
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Nahor |
Lehabim |
Tiras (Thrace, Teutons) |
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Haran |
Naphtuhim |
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Lot |
Pathrusim (Pathros) |
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Joktan |
Casluhim (Philistines) |
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Lud (Lydia) |
Caphtorum |
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Aram |
Phut (Libya) |
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Uz (Job) |
Canaan |
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Hul |
Sidon |
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Gether |
Heth (Hittites, Cathay) |
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Mash |
Jebusites |
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Amorites |
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Girgashhites |
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Hivites |
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Arkites (Phoenicians) |
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Sinites (Sino, China) |
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Avidities |
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Zemarites |
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Generational Blessings and Curses
Genesis 9:20 And Noah began to be an husbandman, and he planted a vineyard:
Genesis 9:21 And he drank of the wine, and was drunken; and he was uncovered within his tent.
Genesis 9:22 And Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father, and told his two brethren without.
Genesis 9:23 And Shem and Japheth took a garment, and laid it upon both their shoulders, and went backward, and covered the nakedness of their father; and their faces were backward, and they saw not their father’s nakedness.
Genesis 9:24 And Noah awoke from his wine, and knew what his younger son had done unto him.
The great man of God that obeyed God, built an arc, and saved himself and his family as the rest of the world perished has now caused same to fall on his house. Noah is found in his tent, drunk and unclothed. Ham disrespected his father and told his brothers about the incident, and his brothers, Japheth and Shem took care of the situation with a garment while not looking.
Let’s talk about the three things Noah built:
1.) The ark to the saving of his house
2.) The altar to worship God and point forward to the cross
3.) The vineyard that ended up with his drunkenness and shame upon his family
God used Noah at this time to give a prophecy concerning his family – all that were living at the time, and this prophecy ties in all history down to our day and beyond. Let’s look at this famous prophecy from the mouth of God through Noah.
Genesis 9:25 And he said, Cursed be Canaan; a servant of servants shall he be unto his brethren.
Genesis 9:26 And he said, Blessed be the LORD God of Shem; and Canaan shall be his servant.
Genesis 9:27 God shall enlarge Japheth, and he shall dwell in the tents of Shem; and Canaan shall be his servant.
Genesis 9:28 And Noah lived after the flood three hundred and fifty years.
Genesis 9:29 And all the days of Noah were nine hundred and fifty years: and he died.
1.) Cursed be Canaan – He will be a “servant of servants shall he be unto his brethren”
2.) Blessed be the LORD God of Shem – Canaan will be his servant
3.) God shall enlarge Japheth
a. Japheth will “Dwell in the tents of Shem”
b. Canaan shall be his servant
There are three wrongheaded interpretations of these prophecies that have been taught for years and years. Two of these false interpretations have been used in teachings and slogans to prevent the abolition of slavery in the United States, as well as, causing much racial hatred and strife. With the prophecy concerning Japheth, some have completely denied the truth of the prophecy and have proclaimed that this part of the prophecy has never been fulfilled in history! Absolutely a lie.
Let’s list these false interpretations:
1.) The fact that descendants of Ham since Ham disrespected his father had moved south into Africa, becoming a representative of the black African, had become slaves because of this curse.
2.) The fact that descendants of Shem became the representatives of some of the world’s “Great religions”, relegates this prophecy into a “General Religious blessing” on Shem
3.) The fact that we do not find any evidence of the “Blessing on Japheth” within the first 1500 years, demonstrates that this prophecy is completely unfulfilled.
With this lesson, let’s explore “Generational curses” as well as each part of Noah’s prophecy and extract from God’s Word its true meaning and its effect throughout history. The study and practice of interpretation is so important in Bible study so that we do not fall into Satan’s trap of blaming our ancestors for our own failures. While no true interpretation can be found without the Holy Spirit illumination, there are also three important steps in Bible study that must be practiced in order for the proper interpretation to extract from the text. They are:
1.) Observation – “What the text says” – or “What God is saying in this Passage”
2.) Interpretation – “What the text means” – or “What God means in this Passage”
3.) Application – “What the text means to me” – “How would God have me apply this to my life”
We can never try to determine the meaning of a Passage without first looking at what the verse is “saying” –never, ever. Certainly we cannot apply any Passage until we find what God “meant” in the Passage after first determining what the Passage “says”.
I. Were the descendants of Ham in Africa cursed generally to be slaves in the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries because of Noah’s prophecy?
A. Absolutely Not – Look at the text closely and see what it actually “says” – Was Ham cursed?
B. No, Ham was not cursed – Canaan was (Ham’s son) – Were Ham’s African descendants cursed to be slaves because of this prophecy?
C. No, Canaan was not in Africa! – He stayed in the Middle East
II. Were the descendants of Shem recipients of a general religious blessing because of Noah’s prophecy?
A. Absolutely not – Let’s look at the text very closely – “Blessed be the LORD God of Shem”
1. LORD God is the covenant name for God Jehovah Elohim – Used when God is dealing with sin and making a covenant
2. LORD God hasn’t been used since Genesis chapter three where it is used 9 times – What happened there? – Sin, atonement, and covenant.
B. You may imagine this text would say “Blessed be Shem who has the LORD God” – But it doesn’t
C. It says “Blessed be the LORD God of Shem” Why? – It is God’s blessing to be the LORD God of Shem –
1. Look at chapter 12 – God makes a covenant with Abraham
2. From the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob will come the Messiah promised in Genesis 3:15
3. This Messiah, Jesus Christ, will not only deal with sin, but eventually bring the world into Eternity.
D. The LORD God is not the false God’s of Mohamedism, Buddhism, Shintoism, Paganism, Idolatry, etc.
III. Were the descendants of Japheth recipients of a prophecy that never was fulfilled?
A. Absolutely not. Let’s look at the text very closely, it says: “God shall enlarge Japheth
B. While it took about 1500 years to see the fulfillment begin for the “enlarging of Japheth”, in a sense it is still happening today.
IV. What does God’s Word teach about Generational Curses?
A. Can we see this “proverb” is just like modern day psychology?
Ezekiel 18:1 The word of the LORD came unto me again, saying,
Ezekiel 18:2 What mean ye, that ye use this proverb concerning the land of Israel, saying, The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are set on edge?
B. So, does this mean that there are “Generational Curses”
Ezekiel 18:20 The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him.
Ezekiel 18:21 But if the wicked will turn from all his sins that he hath committed, and keep all my statutes, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall surely live, he shall not die.
Ezekiel 18:22 All his transgressions that he hath committed, they shall not be mentioned unto him: in his righteousness that he hath done he shall live.
Ezekiel 18:23 Have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should die? saith the Lord GOD: and not that he should return from his ways, and live?
V. Let’s go back to Canaan for a bit – Was Canaan a victim of a “Generational Curse”?
A. We need to turn to Leviticus 18 to find out about this: The Nations of Canaan was cursed because of his own sin.
Leviticus 18:1 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
Leviticus 18:2 Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, I am the LORD your God.
Leviticus 18:3 After the doings of the land of Egypt, wherein ye dwelt, shall ye not do: and after the doings of the land of Canaan, whither I bring you, shall ye not do: neither shall ye walk in their ordinances.
Leviticus 18:4 Ye shall do my judgments, and keep mine ordinances, to walk therein: I am the LORD your God.
Leviticus 18:5 Ye shall therefore keep my statutes, and my judgments: which if a man do, he shall live in them: I am the LORD.
1. You see Canaan was a pervert
Leviticus 18:6 None of you shall approach to any that is near of kin to him, to uncover their nakedness: I am the LORD.
Leviticus 18:7 The nakedness of thy father, or the nakedness of thy mother, shalt thou not uncover: she is thy mother; thou shalt not uncover her nakedness.
Leviticus 18:8 The nakedness of thy father’s wife shalt thou not uncover: it is thy father’s nakedness.
Leviticus 18:9 The nakedness of thy sister, the daughter of thy father, or daughter of thy mother, whether she be born at home, or born abroad, even their nakedness thou shalt not uncover.
Leviticus 18:10 The nakedness of thy son’s daughter, or of thy daughter’s daughter, even their nakedness thou shalt not uncover: for theirs is thine own nakedness.
Leviticus 18:11 The nakedness of thy father’s wife’s daughter, begotten of thy father, she is thy sister, thou shalt not uncover her nakedness.
Leviticus 18:12 Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy father’s sister: she is thy father’s near kinswoman.
Leviticus 18:13 Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy mother’s sister: for she is thy mother’s near kinswoman.
Leviticus 18:14 Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy father’s brother, thou shalt not approach to his wife: she is thine aunt.
Leviticus 18:15 Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy daughter in law: she is thy son’s wife; thou shalt not uncover her nakedness.
Leviticus 18:16 Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy brother’s wife: it is thy brother’s nakedness.
Leviticus 18:17 Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of a woman and her daughter, neither shalt thou take her son’s daughter, or her daughter’s daughter, to uncover her nakedness; for they are her near kinswomen: it is wickedness.
Leviticus 18:18 Neither shalt thou take a wife to her sister, to vex her, to uncover her nakedness, beside the other in her life time.
Leviticus 18:19 Also thou shalt not approach unto a woman to uncover her nakedness, as long as she is put apart for her uncleanness.
Leviticus 18:20 Moreover thou shalt not lie carnally with thy neighbour’s wife, to defile thyself with her.
2. Just like today – Abortion – See why Noah, looking forward in time, prophesied the curse?
Leviticus 18:21 And thou shalt not let any of thy seed pass through the fire to Molech, neither shalt thou profane the name of thy God: I am the LORD.
Leviticus 18:22 Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination.
3. If the Israelites commit these same sins, God will spew them out of the Land
Leviticus 18:23 Neither shalt thou lie with any beast to defile thyself therewith: neither shall any woman stand before a beast to lie down thereto: it is confusion.
Leviticus 18:24 Defile not ye yourselves in any of these things: for in all these the nations are defiled which I cast out before you:
Leviticus 18:25 And the land is defiled: therefore I do visit the iniquity thereof upon it, and the land itself vomiteth out her inhabitants.
Leviticus 18:26 Ye shall therefore keep my statutes and my judgments, and shall not commit any of these abominations; neither any of your own nation, nor any stranger that sojourneth among you:
Leviticus 18:27 (For all these abominations have the men of the land done, which were before you, and the land is defiled;)
Leviticus 18:28 That the land spue not you out also, when ye defile it, as it spued out the nations that were before you.
Leviticus 18:29 For whosoever shall commit any of these abominations, even the souls that commit them shall be cut off from among their people.
Leviticus 18:30 Therefore shall ye keep mine ordinance, that ye commit not any one of these abominable customs, which were committed before you, and that ye defile not yourselves therein: I am the LORD your God.
A. When would Canaan become a servant? Let’s turn to Joshua 9’s teaching about the Canaanite Nations that Joshua was told to purge the land:
Joshua 9:1 And it came to pass, when all the kings which were on this side Jordan, in the hills, and in the valleys, and in all the coasts of the great sea over against Lebanon, the Hittite, and the Amorite, the Canaanite, the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite, heard thereof;
Joshua 9:2 That they gathered themselves together, to fight with Joshua and with Israel, with one accord.
Joshua 9:3 And when the inhabitants of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done unto Jericho and to Ai,
1. What did they do?
Joshua 9:4 They did work wilily, and went and made as if they had been ambassadors, and took old sacks upon their asses, and wine bottles, old, and rent, and bound up;
Joshua 9:5 And old shoes and clouted upon their feet, and old garments upon them; and all the bread of their provision was dry and mouldy.
Joshua 9:6 And they went to Joshua unto the camp at Gilgal, and said unto him, and to the men of Israel, We be come from a far country: now therefore make ye a league with us.
Joshua 9:7 And the men of Israel said unto the Hivites, Peradventure ye dwell among us; and how shall we make a league with you?
Joshua 9:8 And they said unto Joshua, We are thy servants. And Joshua said unto them, Who are ye? and from whence come ye?
Joshua 9:9 And they said unto him, From a very far country thy servants are come because of the name of the LORD thy God: for we have heard the fame of him, and all that he did in Egypt,
Joshua 9:10 And all that he did to the two kings of the Amorites, that were beyond Jordan, to Sihon king of Heshbon, and to Og king of Bashan, which was at Ashtaroth.
Joshua 9:11 Wherefore our elders and all the inhabitants of our country spake to us, saying, Take victuals with you for the journey, and go to meet them, and say unto them, We are your servants: therefore now make ye a league with us.
Joshua 9:12 This our bread we took hot for our provision out of our houses on the day we came forth to go unto you; but now, behold, it is dry, and it is mouldy:
Joshua 9:13 And these bottles of wine, which we filled, were new; and, behold, they be rent: and these our garments and our shoes are become old by reason of the very long journey.
Joshua 9:14 And the men took of their victuals, and asked not counsel at the mouth of the LORD.
2. Now Israel realizes something
Joshua 9:19 But all the princes said unto all the congregation, We have sworn unto them by the LORD God of Israel: now therefore we may not touch them.
Joshua 9:20 This we will do to them; we will even let them live, lest wrath be upon us, because of the oath which we sware unto them.
Joshua 9:21 And the princes said unto them, Let them live; but let them be hewers of wood and drawers of water unto all the congregation; as the princes had promised them.
Joshua 9:22 And Joshua called for them, and he spake unto them, saying, Wherefore have ye beguiled us, saying, We are very far from you; when ye dwell among us?
Joshua 9:23 Now therefore ye are cursed, and there shall none of you be freed from being bondmen, and hewers of wood and drawers of water for the house of my God.
3. So what happens to the Canaanites? - Fulfillment of Genesis 9:25
Joshua 9:27 And Joshua made them that day hewers of wood and drawers of water for the congregation, and for the altar of the LORD, even unto this day, in the place which he should choose.
B. We have another example in God’s Word where Canaan was a servant
Judges 1:28 And it came to pass, when Israel was strong, that they put the Canaanites to tribute, and did not utterly drive them out.
Judges 1:29 Neither did Ephraim drive out the Canaanites that dwelt in Gezer; but the Canaanites dwelt in Gezer among them.
Judges 1:30 Neither did Zebulun drive out the inhabitants of Kitron, nor the inhabitants of Nahalol; but the Canaanites dwelt among them, and became tributaries. - Fulfillment of Genesis 9:25
Judges 1:33 Neither did Naphtali drive out the inhabitants of Bethshemesh, nor the inhabitants of Bethanath; but he dwelt among the Canaanites, the inhabitants of the land: nevertheless the inhabitants of Bethshemesh and of Bethanath became tributaries … - Fulfillment of Genesis 9:25
Judges 1:35 But the Amorites would dwell in mount Heres in Aijalon, and in Shaalbim: yet the hand of the house of Joseph prevailed, so that they became tributaries. - Fulfillment of Genesis 9:25
C. How about another example of Canaan being a servant because of their own sin?
I Kings 9:19 And all the cities of store that Solomon had, and cities for his chariots, and cities for his horsemen, and that which Solomon desired to build in Jerusalem, and in Lebanon, and in all the land of his dominion.
I Kings 9:20 And all the people that were left of the Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites, which were not of the children of Israel,
I Kings 9:21 Their children that were left after them in the land, whom the children of Israel also were not able utterly to destroy, upon those did Solomon levy a tribute of bondservice unto this day. Fulfillment of Genesis 9:2
VI. Some do Suffer under something they did not ask for- But Christ can break this “Generational Curse”
Matthew 12:21Then Jesus went thence, and departed into the coasts of Tyre and Sidon.
Matthew 12:22 And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou Son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil.
Matthew 12:23 But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us.
Matthew 12:24 But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
Matthew 12:25 Then came she and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me.
Matthew 12:26 But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children’s bread, and to cast it to dogs.
Matthew 12:27 And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.
Matthew 12:28 Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour.