Jan.4 - Genesis 10-12

As we begin these 3 chapters, it is interesting to note that Genesis 10, also known as The Table of Nations (the account of how nations developed) is the most accurate account known to man! It is unparalleled in its antiquity and comprehensiveness. Dr. William F. Albright, universally acknowledged as the world's leading authority on the archeological studies of the Near East, though himself not a Christian, said of this chapter, "It stands absolutely alone in ancient literature...the table of nations remains an astonishingly accurate document."

Power Points:

1) Race, Nations, and Languages are developed during these 3 chapters.
- Genesis 10 - Tells the account of how the nations developed.
- Genesis 11 - Tells of spiritual rebellion and how the languages and races developed.
- Genesis 12 - Tells of Israel's development and uniqueness in the world.

2) The three sons of Noah go their separate ways after the Flood! As Shem (assumed the geneological writer) provides details of the descendants of his own family and that of his two brothers, you see their families going in 3 separate directions. The immediate descendants of Japheth were seven in number, and are represented by the nations designated Gomer, Magog, Madai, Javan, Tubal, Mesech, and Tiras which would roughly represent the nations surrounding Russia and including the nation of Russia. These families would have migrated to Europe as well. The descendents of Ham, the second oldest son of Noah, settles his descendants towards the WEST & SOUTH in areas we know today as Egypt, Israel (these are the ones Israel wiped out when they went into the Promised Land), North Africa, Kuwait, and Iraq.
- Shem's families went SOUTH, WEST & EAST, where many of them settled in Saudi Arabia and migrated further east. From Shem's family will come Jesus Christ! Notice how in Genesis 11:27-28, Abraham (the father of the Israelites) comes from Ur, not too far from the Persian Gulf, near the original area of the Garden of Eden.

NOTE:  Languages are soon to change! God is soon to cast judgment on man (Genesis 11) for his futile attempt to build a tower that reaches Heaven. These families will start forming clans and cities based on these languages. While Japheth, Shem, and Ham all had the same language, as their clans developed, as they moved to new areas around the known world, they began to develop their own type of language. Notice Genesis 10:5 - " Their descendants became the seafaring peoples that spread out to various lands, each identified by its own language, clan, and national identity." And Genesis 10:25 -  "for during his lifetime the people of the world were divided into different language groups. 

3) How quickly mankind self-destructs AGAIN! Only 4 generations pass before God has to act is a major way to get man's attention! In Babel (modern day Baghdad), Nimrod and his family decide to build a city "to their greatness." Notice Genesis 11:1 says, "At one time the whole world spoke a single language and used the same words." The Tower they built in Babel was a direct rebellion in the face of God. The resulting blow to man was that God confounded their language and they suspended ALL communication and eventually stopped building the Tower of Babel. From this language change came the dispersions into various other countries. In fact, Genesis 11:8 says, "In that way, the Lord scattered them all over the earth." Once again "pride" and arrogance corrupted the world. In their decision to build a monument to their greatness, God strikes them down. He prevents them from accomplishing their feat. Remember He tells us - "Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall."

4) God chooses to build a nation through Abraham, a nation that can tell the world about Him! Abraham, up until this time, has done nothing significant to deserve this great blessing that God pronounces upon him - to be the father of 2 great nations - one will be the nation of the Jews, the other will be the Arabs, the hater of the Jews. (Genesis 12:1-3), however we see that he was a Godly man who worshipped the Lord. It says in Genesis 12:8 - "There he built an altar and worshiped the Lord."

5) God blesses Abraham in a most unusual way! In Genesis 12:10-20 is the incredible story of how Abraham, through fear of being put to death and having his wife stolen away by the Egyptians, asks Sarah to tell a half-truth - that she is merely his sister. She was actually his half-sister (Genesis 20:12). Pharoah realizes the beauty of Sarah and wants her to be in his harem, in turn, provides Abraham with a ton of livestock. Abraham is getting rich off of this! But, trajedy strikes Pharaoh's home through a terrible plague that God sends. Pharaoh somehow realizes it's because of Sarah, realizes she is actually Abraham's wife, and sends them out under a royal escort! Wow! God blesses in unusual ways!!!

While so much more could be said, I hope this was a blessing to you!