Coptic Orthodox Diocese of the Southern United States
www.suscopts.org
   A  B  C  D  E  F  G  H  I  J  K  L  M  N  O  P  Q  R  S  T  U  V  W  X  Y  Z

My question is about curses mentioned in the Bible, the curse of Canaan the son of Ham for example, is it a kind of verdict God passes on a person or group of people (several nations in our example), or is it just a foretelling of the future that is known to God by the mouth of His men (Noah)?

There are different times of judgment according to God's wisdom, but the Judgment Day is yet to come. Adam and Eve and the serpent stood before God and their verdicts were all declared guilty. Thus, their sentences were executed immediately, and remain until this day. However, by the grace of God and the incarnation of the Son, clemency has been granted to humanity only by Christ's redemption and salvation for mankind by His death upon the holy Cross. The people who mocked Noah during their time were punished severely as God promised. Whereas, when the people of Nineveh repented, God relented from destroying them. Though the efforts of Jonah may have seemed complacent, God valued every effort the Ninevites made in order to repent and win God's grace. Thus, God removed His wrath from them and gave them another chance. It is believed that Rahab was a Canaanite. Yet, Rahab won the grace of God and converted to a believer who would later be in the lineage of our Lord Jesus Christ. Many judgments that may have been described are yet to come, to which we must be observant, repentant, and diligent to live in God's abundant grace each day.

"Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, and He will have mercy on him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon." (Isaiah 55:7)
Home | Ask A Question | Search Q&A