Title Genesis 10:1-32
Contents <Text> Genesis 10:1-32
<Meditation>
1. Descendants of Japheth (10:2-5)
The text records the descendants of Noah's three sons. This lengthy record of genealogy is to show that God's will is being fulfilled.
Noah blessed Japheth, and it was so. The descendants of Japheth in verses 2 to 5 are the rulers of Europe and become the main characters in world history. Tubal and Meshech became Russians, Askenas became Germanic peoples, and Dalsis became Spanish and British peoples. As in verse 5, the descendants of Japheth prospered along the Mediterranean Sea, the Black Sea, and the Atlantic Ocean.
What made Japheth's descendants prosper?
This is because he and Shem had become partners with Shem in covering up the sins of their father Noah.
If Japheth had been with Ham instead of with Shem, he would have been a sinner along with Ham.
The fact is that who you are with is very important.
Therefore, we should always be friends with the righteous.
In Joshua chapter 2, Joshua sent spies before they attacked Jericho. When the spies sent by Joshua were in crisis, Rahab, a prostitute living in Jericho, helped the spies, and Joshua finally destroyed Jericho. On the day that Jericho's wall collapsed, Rahab, a prostitute, helped the spies and saved the lives of those living with him.
Abram, whom we will see in Genesis 12, follows God's word and leaves Haran, where he resides in his homeland and with his relatives and father's house. At that time, his nephew Lot, who trembled together, was saved by Abram's plea on the day that the sinful cities of Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed.
Therefore, those who are friends with the righteous are blessed.
Because Japheth was with Shem, he received the blessing of being blessed by his father and becoming great.
2. Descendants of Ham (10:6-20)
How was God's curse on Ham's descendants fulfilled (Genesis 9:25)? Ham's descendants advanced into the Middle East and Africa.
Among the sons of Ham, the descendants of Canaan were either completely destroyed or enslaved.
Ham's descendants advanced into the Middle East and Africa, where they remain some of the poorest countries in the world. In verse 10, the land of Shinar refers to the lower reaches of the Mesopotamia valley between the Euphrates and Tigris rivers in today's Iraq, which is still suffering from the aftereffects of the war.
3. Descendants of Shem (10:21-32)
How was Noah's blessing on Shem fulfilled (Genesis 9:26)?
They formed a people group in the middle of the Middle East. It is written that "Shem was the father of all the children of Eber" (v. 21), "Eber" of all the Arabs (vv. 25-30). These include the Israelites (11:16-26), the Ishmaelites, the Midianites (25:2), and the Edomites. Among them, God's history of redemption is inherited through the people of Israel.
Elam inhabited from the Gulf of Pasa to the Caspian Sea, Assyria spread east of Tigris, Arpachshad spread northeast of Nineveh, Ruk spread across western Turkey, and Syria spread across the Mesopotamian steppes. Verse 24 Arphaxad and his descendants will rule Asia from the Middle East.
The Hebrews, descendants of Shem, destroyed or enslaved all the Canaanites, descendants of Ham.
After the flood judgment, the descendants of Noah, who prospered, formed 70 tribes (Japheth-14, Ham-30, Shem-26) and dispersed throughout the land according to their language, region, and lineage.
Through Noah's three sons, we learn that God's word must come true.
If we believe in this fact, our way is to follow the path of the righteous, and we must follow the path of the Lord.
<Prayer>
Heavenly Father, do not let us stand in the way of sinners and do not walk in the way of the wicked while we live. Only allow me to walk the path of the righteous and rejoice, so that I can become a Christian who walks with the Holy Spirit.
Let me walk according to your guidance today, and make it a blessed day that pleases God.
I pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen
(Written by: Kim Soon-sik)