Chapter Summary

Noamic covenant. Noah's shame and Ham's sin.

Discussion Questions for Genesis, Chapter 9

1. Genesis 9:2 states all animals will fear and dread man. What are the benefits of this proclamation and what are the negatives? Some animals have become domesticated, how was this accomplished if the fear of man is placed in them by God?
2. Genesis 9:3 states that all living animals are given to mankind for food. What are some animals that you are not able to eat? Why? Based on this proclamation by God, are you able to be a Christian if you are vegetarian? Why or why not?
3. If an animal or fellow man takes the life of a human being, God will require their life for punishment according Genesis 9:5-6. However, if a man provokes a animal by cornering or abusing them, should an animal be killed after they strike back at the man? Why or why not?
4. If a man kills another man according to Genesis 9:5-6, they are to lose their life. This scripture is used to support capital punishment. However, how do the Christian beliefs of grace and mercy align with this and other scriptures that require the loss of the murderer's life when they take another human's life?
5. Genesis 9:8-11 God establishes His covenant with humankind. Does God promise that He will never destroy the earth? If not, how does this compare to the image many have of God that He is a God of love and peace, not of wrath?
6. God creates a rainbow in the sky as a sign of His covenant with mankind. The LGBT community has adopted the rainbow as their symbol. Should non-Christian groups adopt symbols from the Bible as their symbols? Why or why not? What should be a Christian's reaction when this takes place? Should a Christian be angry that the LGBT community has adopted the rainbow?
7. Two times in Genesis 9:15-16 God says that He will use the rainbow as a reminder of the covenant between He and man. Is God able to forget things and need reminders? If He is able to forget, how does this affect your faith in God?
8. Noah plants and grows a vineyard in Genesis 9. Genesis 9:21 says that Noah became drunk and laid naked in his tent. Does Noah sin by becoming drunk in his own tent? Many considered drinking to be a sin. What are your thoughts? Is social drinking acceptable, why or why not?
9. Noah's youngest son Ham sees Noah naked and tells his brothers who covers Noah up with their back turned. However, it is Ham's son Canaan that is punished for Ham's actions. Is it fair that Canaan is punished for his father's actions and the father goes unpunished? According to Exodus 34:6-7, the father's sins can be passed on to the third and fourth generations. This would appear to confirm a generational curse. How does a person break a generational curse?
10. Canaan's punishment was to be a servant unto his brothers according to Genesis 9:25. This seems to be saying in a polite way that Canaan will be a slave to his brothers. It appears that God is condoning slavery in this verse. Why would God allow slavery to take place?

Key Words/Phrase

Covenant, v. 9.

Characters

Noah and family.

Strong Verse(s)

9,13.