Genesis 9:20-28

Noah did not get drunk on purpose. We know this because Noah was a righteous man, and righteous men do not get drunk.  It was an accident or a mistake. Wine has a habit of making men make mistakes. Noah passed out drunk. His tent flap was open and he totally naked. When his son Ham saw his father’s predicament he rushed to share his father’s shame and embarrassment. When drink makes us do something stupid there’s almost always someone ready to share it. It is extra sad when that someone is a family member. Today camera phones make it so easy to spread gossip, rumors and the embarrassments caused by drinking.

Some people are quick to point out that the bible does not forbid drinking. Let me point out that it also does not forbid playing Russian roulette. I am a 36 years sober alcoholic. Taking a drink for me would be like playing Russian roulette with a fully loaded revolver. Some want to claim because they’re not alcoholics there is no risk involved in drinking. They’re wrong. You do not have to intend to get drunk to mess up and end up drunk. It happens all the time. Good people make mistakes and have one drink too many. The consequences can be embarrassing, but they can also be deadly. 

Wisdom is knowledge learn from other people’s experiences both their successes and their failures. Some people are not very wise, they cannot learn from their own mistakes. They have little chance to learn from the mistakes of others. God wants us to be wise not foolish. Good theology can be learned from bad examples. We can learn from Noah’s mistake, we do not need or have to drink.