“After the flood, Noah began to cultivate the ground, and he planted a vineyard.” (Genesis 9:20, NLT)

Maybe I wasn’t listening in Sunday School, but I don’t recall ever hearing this story as a child. After the Flood, Noah planted a vineyard and drank some of the wine. He became drunk and lay naked in his tent. This is the first time the word “wine” appears in Scripture (Hebrew yayin). Noah’s son Ham discovered his dad and told his brothers about it. When Noah sobered up, he cursed Ham’s son Canaan, saying that he would be a servant to his relatives.

Why did Noah curse his grandson Canaan rather than his son Ham? Evidently, Noah saw the same character flaw in Canaan that was also in Ham. My guess is that the restrained defiance in Ham was open disrespect in Canaan. Children often imitate the bad habits of their parents and make them even worse. Noah saw what Canaan would become and what he would pass down to his descendants and spoke prophetically. The stage was set for how the Hebrews would ultimately drive out the Canaanites from the Promised Land.

Nevertheless, this is a sad chapter in the life of a great man of God. While Noah had a sin nature like the rest of us, this story shows the harmful effects of alcohol consumption on everyone involved. Perhaps you grew up in a home of alcohol abuse. Parents or grandparents “under the influence” often say and do harmful things to their children and grandchildren that they never would have done if they were sober.

In contrast to Ham and his son Canaan, when they were told about their father’s condition, Shem and Japheth took a garment, laid it on their shoulders, and walked backward into their father’s tent. Thus, they did not see Noah’s nakedness. They covered him and left the tent. This is a beautiful example of what Peter says we should all do.

“Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.” (1 Peter 4:8, NIV)

We all sin and fall short of God’s glorious standard (Romans 3:23). But how do we treat the sins we see in others? Do we make snap judgments, or do we seek to cover over their sins in love? Do we talk about their flaws with others, or do we go to them privately and humbly show them their faults?

“Dear brothers and sisters, if another believer is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path. And be careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself.” (Galatians 6:1, NLT)

This is love in action, and how we all need it! If we love like this, then it will surely come back to us. The fruit of the Spirit is love, and it is what God most desires from us.