Moment of Meditation: Walking Backwards (Genesis 9:23)

Then Shem and Japheth took a garment, laid it on both their shoulders, and walked backward and covered the nakedness of their father. Their faces were turned backward, and they did not see their father's nakedness. Genesis 9:23 Once they heard Ham’s report about Noah, his older sons grab something to cover their father’s nakedness. So that they would not see it, they walked backwards into Noah’s tent. Why do they walk backwards? They are fulfilling the Fourth Commandment. They are honoring their father. They don’t want to bring any further ridicule and shame upon their father. He has done enough of that himself. Shem and Japheth sought to keep what was left of their father’s dignity. Just as we seek to keep the dignity of those whose sins we know, especially those who would be ashamed of those sins as Noah was. Amen.