In vs. 11-17, God establishes His covenant with man. A covenant forms a bond between two people. In His covenant with Noah, God states that He will never again cut off all flesh by water nor destroy the earth by flood. In vs. 13, God gives a sign of this covenant. "I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between me and the earth." Notice in verses 15 and 16 God says the rainbow would be for HIS remembrance!

THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A PRIVATE SIN!

Verses 19-23 tell a sad story. It seems Noah began to be a husbandman and planted a vineyard. He became drunk on some of his wine and took off all his clothes. Thus, Noah wound up just as Adam who, sinning in his own garden, found himself naked and ashamed. Noah's son, Ham, discovered his father lying in his tent, drunk and naked, and told his two brothers. In telling his brothers, Ham was making light of his father and not giving him his due honor. This is a serious breach of etiquette in the Middle East, even today! I wonder what they think of the way most American children talk to their parents? Shem and Japheth honored their father by covering his nakedness without looking upon it.

DEUT. 27:16 "CURSED BE HE THAT SETTETH LIGHT BY HIS FATHER OR MOTHER."

When Noah finally wakes up and learns what happened, he curses Ham through his son, Canaan. Canaan was to be a servant unto his brothers. We actually see this happen when the Israelites later reach Canaan.