There’s a fascinating little story tucked into the book of Genesis that I keep coming back to.  It follows the incredible story of the flood and grand verses of God’s promises to Noah, who must have been feeling pretty good about his life, his standing with God, and the re-building to come.
There’s farming going on in chapter 9, a successful vineyard, and… wine.  Our faith giant Noah has a few too many.  Noah doesn’t need tequila to make his clothes fall off… evidently wine will do it.  There he is fallen from grace; naked in his tent.

Noah’s son Ham discovers his hammered father sprawled out in the buff and his immediate response is, “Wait ’til I tell the guys!”  We’re all familiar with the Hams of the world, gleefully grabbing the phone (or ram’s horn) to pass on today’s humiliation and sin.  (It’s okay, Ham- I’m sure you added the Christian, “we should be praying for him” disclaimer at the end.  Smooth.)

Shem and Japheth don’t respond as Ham anticipated.  They “took a garment, laid it on both their shoulders, and went backward and covered the nakedness of their father.  Their faces were turned away and they did not see their father’s nakedness.”  Genesis 9:23.  It brings tears every time I read they went backwards, indicating how far above and beyond they went to cover their father in love.

"If a son asks for bread from any father among you, will he give him a stone?  Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent instead of a fish?  Or if he asks for an egg, will he offer him a scorpion?  If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him?”  Luke 11:11-13
These verses keep worming into my mind.  I’ve always skimmed them because it’s quite obvious to me that a good God doesn’t give His children stones to eat.  Plus, I’m a parent.  I understand wanting to give my kids good gifts.  Darla recently had her 8th birthday and I was nearly as giddy as she was.  Watching her be blessed and humbly thankful was a bright spot in my January.