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Table of Nations — Genesis 10
You might have come this morning anticipating that the most exciting thing about Genesis chapter 10 will be how I will butcher some of the difficult-to-pronounce names as we study this genealogy chapter. [Just like an umpire, you have to sell the call – pronounce them with confidence even when you don’t have a clue.]
Actually, this account proves to be significant on a number of levels.
- Certainly from the standpoint of history it provides the only accurate account of the origin of so many of the ancient nations. There is no parallel to this document in the archives of any other ancient people. This is a unique list. Genesis is the Book of Beginnings.
- This chapter serves as important preparation for the account of the Tower of Babel; chaps. 10-11 must be studied as a unit. Chiastic structure with Tower of Babel between 2 accounts of the Sons of Shem; look at the keywords in chap. 10 that anticipate the events of the Tower of Babel: territory, earth, divided, spread, languages; scattered
- Maybe of primary importance, this chapter speaks to the global perspective of God’s program for mankind – He is not just the God of Israel; He has always been interested in a salvation program that would encompass all people, everywhere – in fact the mission of Israel was to bring blessing to the Gentiles throughout the world
Ps. 2:8 “Ask of Me, and I will surely give the nations as Your inheritance and the very ends of the earth as Your possession.”
Structural Elements:
- Note 2 bookends of vs. 1 and vs. 3
- Note common refrain in 5, 20, 31 – a growing diversity of ethnic, linguistic, geographical and political groupings
Parunak: Note summaries at vv. 5, 20, 32, and in particular the terms “families, tongues, lands, nations.” This expression is echoed later in scripture:
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Pagan kings use it to claim their worldwide dominion: Nebuchadnezzar in Dan 4:1; Darius in Dan 6:25. They are the heirs of the spirit of Nimrod – Mighty warriors on the face of the earth who rebel against God and seek dominion for themselves
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But the Lord shows Daniel that this dominion rightly belongs only to the Son of Man, who must receive it; Dan 7:13-14, the only one who can exercise his “might” “before the Lord.”
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This is fulfilled in Rev. 5:9, 7:9; 11:9.
- Numerical symmetry
Hughes: Actually, however, this Table of Nations has carefully structured symmetries. For example, when we add up the nations that came from Noah’s sons, we discover that they total seventy – another example of the multiples of sevens, tens, and seventies that we have seen so often in Genesis. Here it suggests totality – all the nations of the earth.
Look at Gen. 46:27 – 70 sons of Jacob end up going down into Egypt – quite the parallel
Waltke calls it a parallel microcosm to the macrocosm of the table of the nations;
God never intended to be portrayed as only the God of Israel; He is the God of all the nations
Difference between totality and completeness:
Griffith Thomas: [Selective record] — there is no attempt at completeness in the list. Several of the more modern nations which came later into close contact with Israel, as Moab, Ammon, Edom, Amalek, find no mention here, while on the other hand not all the most ancient of the nations are included.
Pet Peeve #39: Replacement Pen Ink Cartridges Not Standardized
I have always been a pen lover. I fixate on one particular pen that has the weight and appearance and ink flow that I prefer and I carry it with me every day. In fact I feel naked if I leave the house without my one special pen. I don’t like anyone else in the family to use it because I don’t want to lose it. I come home from work, place it next to my wallet and keys, and expect it to be right there the next morning. So when the ink cartridge runs dry it can be a traumatic experience. Now I am thrust into crisis mode — trying to figure out where to source the appropriate replacement. The exercise is compounded by the lack of standardization in the industry. It seems like every pen takes a unique cartridge. You would think I would anticipate this struggle and purchase a replacement along with the pen. But usually my pen comes by way of a gift from a family member who sees that my old faithful is scratched up and on its last legs. There should be one super store like a huge Greetings and Readings or Office Depot box store that would serve as the gold standard for replacing ink cartridges. I should be able to bring them my pen and expect them to source the appropriate style replacement. But I have not found that to be the case. I should not be forced to switch my loyalty to a different pen because of a lack of ink. I am afraid this will remain a major Pet Peeve for me.
Human Failure but Divine Faithfulness — Gen. 9
Our text this morning will teach us precious truths about both human failure and divine faithfulness.
Illustration: Computer infected with malware; needs to be cleansed; you need a complete reboot so you can function productively
Illustration: Canby Motors – “Your car can be new again”
Theme of Renewal
Piper: God is prepared to start over with a new “Adam.” But this time the beginning is not in paradise. So the new “Adam” must reckon with three real threats against him and his mission to fill the earth: a threat from animals, a threat from man, and threat from God. So God makes three special provisions to protect the life of man in the new world where sin and corruption will again soon abound.
- God Gives New Rights over Animals
- God Makes Provision to Restrain Murder
- God Makes a Covenant with Noah
THE FAITHFULNESS OF GOD LIFTS US ABOVE THE HARSH REALITY OF HUMAN FAILURE
Will You Remember God? Genesis 8
Look at how important this event of Noah’s Flood is in the Genesis account – Moses devotes a number of chapters to this one point in time.
Jeffery Smith: What were they [Noah and his family on the Ark] thinking?
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Perhaps sense of vindication
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Sense of privilege and peace and comfort since God had saved them
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Sense of awe and trepidation; ruins of a dead and buried world – everyone they had ever known was dead except them
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Very humbling – Why Me? Noah found grace
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Uneasiness regarding the future
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Difficult to be patient and wait for God’s timing
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Sense of loneliness; perhaps being forgotten by God – no communication for so long
(:1a) CLIMAX – GOD REMEMBERING NOAH AND ALL THE OCCUPANTS OF THE ARK
“But God remembered Noah and all the beasts and all the cattle that were with him in the ark;”
Are you ever at a point in your life where you think that God has forgotten you; He has forgotten your trials; your struggles; your difficulties??
God always remembers His commitments to His covenant people
Don’t Miss the Boat — Ignore God’s Judgment at Your Own Peril – Genesis 7
It is easy to find quotations from people who think Noah’s Flood is a joke:
The Sensuous Curmudgeon: Conserving the Enlightenment values of reason, liberty, science, and free enterprise.
Top Ten Reasons Noah’s Flood is Mythology:
Number 10: Where’s the Ark?
Number 9: Why has Noah been forgotten?
Number 7: Conditions aboard the Ark were unsurvivable.
And the Number One reason the Flood is mythology is: It didn’t work!
We’re told that the purpose of the ghastly planet-killing exercise is that mankind was wicked. That’s the reason everything was cruelly destroyed — except for Noah, his righteous family, and their chosen menagerie. Okay, fine, but there’s one little detail — the whole business was a colossal futility !There is still wickedness in the world, which means the planetary slaughter was not only cruel beyond imagining, it was also stupid. But even a creationist would agree that such behavior is incompatible with the nature of God, so the only rational conclusion is that the Flood is a childish myth.
https://sensuouscurmudgeon.wordpress.com/2012/11/13/top-ten-reasons-noahs-flood-is-mythology/ — Ridicule of the Word of God
Common Sense Atheism: As if the scientific evidence against Noah’s Flood wasn’t clear enough, it’s also worth noting that the Genesis flood story was merely adapted from an earlier Mesopotamian flood myth, the Epic of Gilgamesh.
At issue:
- REAL – The historicity of the Flood – or is it just a nice story or myth
- CATASTROPHIC – The worldwide scope of the Flood – or is it just a local flood
- INESCAPABLE – Is there any way of escape apart from divine deliverance?
All 3 questions answered here emphatically
Steven Cole: no other judgment in history was as widespread and severe as that of the flood. As such, the flood stands as the past example, bar none, of the fact of God’s judgment on the whole earth. Just as He judged the whole earth with the flood, so He will judge the whole earth in the end times, and none will escape
GOD’S PROMISE OF JUDGMENT IS REAL, UNIVERSAL AND INESCAPABLE APART FROM DIVINE DELIVERANCE
These Truths are Supported by 4 Proofs:
Escaping the Wrath of God — Genesis 6:9-22
The backdrop for today’s passage is the understanding that all mankind have sinned and are under the punishment of the wrath of God. If you only picture God as some type of loving father figure who openly embraces all of mankind without exception and without regard for their character or conduct, you will not be able to identify with this passage. Here in Genesis 6 we see God about to devastate His creation; to lay waste to all of mankind and all air breathing creatures; to overwhelm the entire world with a catastrophic flood that is inescapable. And He is justified in doing so because of man’s corruption and violence. The only exception is that God in His sovereign grace has chosen to spare Noah and his family from His coming wrath.
Is this a picture of God that is consistent with your view of God or have you created your own version of God after your own imagination? Bernie Sanders – this week interrogating budget office nominee Russell Vought (from Wheaton college) – who wrote: “Muslims do not simply have a deficient theology. They do not know God because they have rejected Jesus Christ his Son, and they stand condemned.” Do you think that people who are not Christians will be condemned – all Muslims; all Jews – if you say Yes you are against religious pluralism and not fit for public office even though the Constitution says “no religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust under the United States.” This is a big deal / This would disqualify, according to Sanders, any true believer from ever holding office. [Pence] Not only that … what does every religion say about those who are not adherents to its faith?
The key question is how can anyone escape God’s wrath? Today’s world bears all of the characteristics of the depravity common in the days of Noah. We reviewed that last week. We see corruption all around us. We see violence all around us. We understand that all have sinned and are deserving of God’s judgment in hell for all of eternity.
But all is not lost. The flood was both divine judgment brought against the wickedness of mankind and divine salvation by which the human race was delivered to live on in the world. Satan was doing everything in his power to have his seed destroy the seed of the woman; but God would be faithful to His promise to provide the Messiah who would come as the seed of the woman to redeem fallen mankind.
Ticking Time Bomb — Genesis 6:1-8
If you like action movies like I do, no doubt you have seen many times the scenario where the bomb squad is called in to try to defuse a ticking time bomb. The red light counting down the remaining minutes and seconds flashes on the device as the experts try to work their magic under intense pressure. The beads of sweat pouring down from the forehead make it difficult to see. The expression on everyone’s face is one of panic and horror. The effects of the imminent explosion would cause unbelievable devastation. Here in Genesis Chapter 6 as we approach the devastation of the universal Flood of Noah’s day, we see that there are only 120 years left to tick down. That might sound like a lot of time. But in this case there will be no efforts at diffusion and no escaping the catastrophic impact of God’s judgment. The time clock has been set and this bomb is going to go off. That much is certain no matter how you answer the interpretative challenges of this much-debated passage.
Walking with God — Genesis 5
Last week I appreciated the opportunity to visit Jenny and attend Capitol Hill Baptist Church and listen to Pastor Mark Dever. I happened to receive this week via email an article by him that serves as a good introduction to our study today of Genesis 5.
Article by Mark Dever: How Not to Think About Death Like a Secularist:
Allow me to introduce you to Secular Sam.
Secular Sam is very successful. He has a good job, a nice girlfriend, a beautiful apartment, a new car, and excellent health. He’s humorous, intelligent, and personable. Secular Sam is also a Christian, and actually quite an active one. He has an evangelical background (though he’s chosen to leave behind some of the embarrassing bits of it), is theologically conservative, and believes in the authority of Scripture.
Indeed, he’s even come to see Scripture as the most satisfying explanation for all kinds of phenomena, from the origin of the world to the meaning of life. Sam, being a student of Scripture, can realistically examine humanity’s sinfulness. He can even confute his secular friends with historical evidence for the resurrection. He knows that all of life is under the scrutiny of God’s Word—not just religion, but also business, philosophy, ethics, economics, and law.
What is it, then, that makes Secular Sam so secular? Sam is secular because he expects to wake up in his bed tomorrow morning. He’s never even heard of what his grandparents called the “blessed hope.” Sam’s hopes and concerns, even about his own spiritual life, are all contained in this seculum (the Latin word from which we get “secular”)—that is, this age and this life. Sam assumes tomorrow will be just like today, which has some serious implications for the way he thinks about today.
Christians should have in the front of their thinking “the blessed hope”
Titus 2:13 “looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus”
1 Thess 4:17 “We who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, an so we shall always be with the Lord”
DEATH DOES NOT DOMINATE LIFE FOR THOSE WHO WALK WITH GOD
No Wieters . . . No Worries!
The past 2 games, Wellington Castillo has gone yard repeatedly to give the Orioles 2 victories over the despised Blue Jays. When you compare his production this year to that of Matt Wieters who departed for the big buck contract with the Nationals, the GM of the Orioles has to be pleased. Wieters was a fan favorite and a solid performer, but the Orioles don’t suffer at all in the transition to Castillo.
Wizards Snatch Victory From Jaws of Defeat — Wall Hits Game Winner — 92-91
With the clock ticking down and the Wizards’ season about to be snuffed out, John Wall rose up and hit a game-winning three point shot after both he and Bradley Beal struggled from long distance all night. This game 6 against the Celtics looked all night like the type of game that a Washington D.C. franchise was going to fritter away. Poor owner Ted Leonsis had to wondering if his life was more defined by AWOL than AOL as the characteristic DNA of his club was not in evidence until the fourth quarter. Even then the team was down by 5 and the Celtics had the ball with about 1 minute to play. It looked hopeless. But Beal hit a clutch three pointer and they closed down on Isaiah Thomas on defense to give themselves a fighting chance at the end.
Here are some of the indicators early on in the first half especially that had me worried:
- The Wizards were missing their free throws
- They could not hit on any three point buckets
- They looked slow to the ball and were out-hustled on some 50-50 balls
- Marcin Gortat got in early foul trouble and had to sit most of the first half
- The Celtics played one of their poorest offensive halves of the playoffs and still they led the Wizards by 1 at the intermission
- I didn’t like the body language of the Wizards — despite the home crowd, it did not look like we had the enthusiasm and energy I expected
But unlike their hockey counterparts, the Wizards buckled down in the second half and battled right to the final buzzer. When clutch Al Horford drained a 16 foot shot off the backboard from a severe angle to take a 2 point lead, things looked bleak. But Wall showed the character and toughness of a leader to step up and hit the game winner. Now the pressure is off the Wizards and maybe they can find their long distance shooting on Monday night to advance to the next round. Win or lose Monday — they made a statement tonight that they won’t back down from anyone. This win was all about heart and guts.