Genesis Chapter 11

  

In this chapter is recorded Shem’s genealogy or family tree. We also learn that the lifespan of humans decreases substantially after the flood. 

Verses 1-9

Everyone in the world spoke the same language. 

The people decided to build a tower which would be a gate to their god in the land of Shiner.

Verse 3  the word slime means tar - used for waterproofing. Nimrod teaches his people to mistrust God. To build this tower to keep God from destroying them ever again.

God divided their languages so they could no longer understand each other and they scattered all over the earth abandoning this project.

The city and tower became known as Babel (Babylon) which means confusion.

Verses 10-26

These verses begin with Shem dying at 600  down to Nahor who died at 148 years old.  (Remember the ages of the families before the flood lived over 900 years old)

This family tree begins with Noah’s son Shem and ends with his descendant Terah.

Verses 27-32

Terah fathered Abram, Nahor, and Haran which is important to know going forward as we read the Bible.

According to this chapter’s genealogy of Shem we can set the date of Abram’s birth at approximately 1996 BC. Abram (Abraham) is known as the father of the Jewish nation. He is part of God’s plan to save mankind from their sin.

Abram’s brother Haran had a son named Lot. 

Abram’s wife was barren which means she could not have children.

Terah took his son Abram, Sarai and his grandson Lot and moved to the land of Canaan.

The land of Canaan is now known as the land of Israel.

own man made religion. But Instead of destroying another society God gave them all other languages and they all took off and stopped the building of this tower. 

When we get worried or stress over the wickedness around us and it seems daunting and out of control. Pray instead because we serve a God who is still in control. 

John 14:27 says, Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.

Genesis Chapter 10

 

 In this chapter we don’t know the lifespan of all the individuals like in the previous chapters.

Now the flood has been estimated to have happened approximately 2350 BC. which stands for two thousand three hundred and fifty years before Christ.

This date comes from the genealogies written in previous chapters where the years they lived all the way back to Adam have been recorded. 

Verse 1

Genesis 10 is a record of the families of Noah’s sons, Shem, Ham and Japheth.

Many of the men mentioned in this chapter is important because they were leaders of great nations and significant cities historically.

Verses 2-5

Japheth had 7 sons and their families made their homes in the coastlands.

 Verses 6-20

Ham had 4 sons: Cush, Egypt, Put and Canaan. Cush fathered Nimrod who is described as a mighty man on the earth. He was king of several cities listed in this chapter including Babel which is Babylon and today modern day Iraq.

Nimrod means rebellion or against and he was a tyrannical leader. Cruel and wicked. 

The Philistines were descendants of Ham’s son Egypt.

Canaan’s descendants were the nations that are mentioned in other books of the Bible like Joshua and Judges.

Verses 21-32

Shem had 5 sons and details about his family will be in the next chapter. 

These genealogies are important details that help us acquire a Biblical timeline. It doesn’t just give us the dates in history of civilizations mentioned in these scriptures but the names of the individuals who founded those nations and cities.

After the flood Noah’s sons and descendants dispersed throughout many regions and lands and created new societies. This chapter would seem insignificant except it sets up the backdrop of the upcoming chapters and books of the Bible. 

God orchestrates the details just like he orchestrates our steps. Nothing is random. 

Psalm 37:23 & 24 says, “The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives. Though they stumble, they will never fall, for the Lord holds them by the hand.

Genesis Chapter 9

  

In this chapter we continue to learn about Noah and his sons after the flood.

Verses 1-7

God told Noah and his sons to have children and repopulate the earth.

Verses 2-3 is similar to the Covenant God gave Adam in Genesis 1:26 & 28 when he gave man dominion over all the animals. But in these verses it’s a bit more forceful using the words in verse 2 that animals are going to have fear and dread of man. God did that for the animals preservation. It’s a God given fear. Verse 3 God gives the animals to us for food. Before this man ate plants.

God told them not to eat meat that contained blood. Blood was to be respected because it gave life to humans and to animals.

In verse 6 murder was forbidden and a serious crime because God made humans in His image. This is where capital punishment originated.

Verses 8-17

God’s Covenant (a promise) to all people is in verses 8-9 I now establish my covenant with you and with your descendants after you.

 We are all descendants of either Shem, Ham and Japheth, Noah’s three sons. 

God promised never to flood the earth again and destroy every living creature.

Noah is not Jewish. The Jewish people will not begin for hundreds of years in the future. This Covenant is given before the Law of Moses and this Covenant is in effect for all time and for all generations.  Verse 16 says, everlasting Covenant. In verse 17, The sign of this Covenant is a rainbow.

Verses 18-29

Noah became drunk on the wine  and lay naked in his tent. Ham saw his father naked and told his two brothers. Shem and Japheth took a garment and covered their father without looking at him.

Noah woke up realizing what his son Ham did and cursed Ham’s son Canaan. The ancient Hebrew says that Ham “told with delight” what he saw undermining his authority as a man from God. 

He said that Ham’s offspring would be servants to his brother’s offspring. He blessed Japheth and Shem for covering him up.

Noah’s son Shem will become the ancestor to the Jewish nation. The Jewish people will come from Shem. Shem is a follower of God.

Ham will live a life of evil and it will get worse because he had seen the wickedness of those before the flood.

I have a difficult time watching the news because it is a reminder of the corruption and evil of this world. We always say or think that the corruption and evil of this world is getting worse but according to these scriptures it has always been this way since the beginning of time. God doesn’t have to watch the news to see what is going on in this world because He can see it all. God’s Covenant with Noah shows his mercy and grace all these thousands of years. Instead of obliterating this evil world God extends love and forgiveness to all who will take it. Now that is Amazing Grace!