"And Noah began to be a man of the ground, and he planted a vineyard. And he drank some of the wine and became drunk, and he exposed himself in the midst of his tent. And Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father, and he told his two brothers outside. " ( Gen 9:20-22 )

Strange postscript on the life of a righteous man that was responsible for the world being saved! What is the Spirit showing us here?

1. Did Noah sin? Many commentators say yes... But if ever a man did, I think he deserved a drink! The Bible is v clear as to the effects of drink ( resulting drunkenness, hangovers, impairment of judgment ) - but does recommend its use for rejoicing, for forgetting sorrow, as an anaesthetic for pain, and for digestive relief. We don't know what prompted him, after some time ( it is noted that Ham has a son ), to plant a vineyard and get drunk. He certainly knew what he was doing, because our Lord says in Matthew 24, in the time of Noah they ate,drank and gave in marriage. Maybe he missed his friends? Maybe he wanted to forget the screams of the dead and dying? Let's not jump to condemnation....

2. I think what is in view here is the conduct of his sons, especially as it relates to the 10 commandments Moses gave the Israelites. Three of them have their origins in Genesis - observing the Sabbath Day, prohibition of murder, and honoring one's parents. Here we see the transgression of Ham & interestingly Canaan.
Is there a point being made here about the righteousness of the dispossession of Canaanites by the Israelites going out of Egypt? Ham had two great civilizations come from his other sons, Egypt and Babylon. It is Canaan we see here being cursed to serve Shem and Japheth, and centuries later see the fulfilment come through Moses and the Israelites.

It is also v interesting that the very first two commandments were also not obeyed by the Canaanites as they were pagans and idol worshippers. So they were probably guilty of breaking at least 5, if not all 10!

This passage is not a condoning of slavery, it is the prediction of an outcome from an initial transgression. It would seem Ham, (and Canaan) did not pay the proper respect due to their father, whom God loved. And God judged them for it.