After the Flood, man was given meat to eat for food, as well as herbs and fruit. This now meant that animals would be killed for food. But man was prohibited from eating the blood of animals because “the life of the flesh is in the blood,” Leviticus 17:11, and blood has a special significance in atonement. Blood will take on greater significance in the future when the Lamb of God will die and shed His perfect blood for us.
The Scripture also says that, “whoever sheds man’s blood by man shall his blood be shed, for in the image of God He made man…” This command relates to capital punishment, but not to personal revenge. Governments have the right and duty to punish crime, Romans 13, but individuals do not have the right to take matters into their own hands.
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2 comments:
this book leaves many questions, most of which people seem to be able to answer. Me? I like my plots clear and like to know who done what. Soooo...if Ham saw his father drunk and naked, and Shem and Japeth took a garment and laid it over Noah without looking, how come Noah awoke and cursed Canaan!?!
I get the idea of sin...I get the idea that man should not shed blood, and I fully get that no murders should be committed, and I'm still ok with governments issuing death sentences if they are not corrupt governments.
I like his comment that poor in spirit means opposite of self-sufficiency. It is true in my life that I don't follow the pursuit of happiness in worldly goods (although I am blessed to have them) but instead find my happiness in God's love for us that he created this beautiful world. Just watch the sun rise each morning. It's affirmation!
Ahhhh - I have rambled. Sorry 'bout that.
Jude
You have three separate questions.
1. Noah cursed Canaan, son of Ham, because Ham not only saw his father's natedness, but also did something - of which we do not know. Gen 9:24 said "he (Noah) knew what he(Ham)had done to him." It may have related to sexual immorality, but I don't know. It is interesting about Canaan. Canaan gave rise to the people who first inhabited the Promised Land, i.e. Israel. In the days of Joshua, the Israelites were to wipe the Canaanites out completely.
2. All governments are corrupt to some degree because all governments are composed of human beings. Our government, the best in the world, has many areas of corruption; sexual immorality, greed, and pride. I believe God establishes "all" governments and all leaders will have to give an accounting to Him in the final judgment. They all will be held responsible for being just and giving help to the distressed, see Matthew 25:31-44.
3. To me, being "poor in the spirit" means the admission to oneself that he is spiritually bankrupt, and therefore has nothing in the self to rely on; this makes one totally dependent on the Lord for everything.
Good questions. I hope my answers are helpful.
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