Clans and Languages
Opening Prayer
Ask God to speak to you through his Word today, and to transform you more and more into his likeness.
Read Genesis 10:1-32
[1] This is the account of Shem, Ham and Japheth, Noah’s sons, who themselves had sons after the flood. [2]The Japhethites The sons of Japheth: Gomer, Magog, Madai, Javan, Tubal, Meshek and Tiras. [3] The sons of Gomer: Ashkenaz, Riphath and Togarmah. [4] The sons of Javan: Elishah, Tarshish, the Kittites and the Rodanites. [5] (From these the maritime peoples spread out into their territories by their clans within their nations, each with its own language.) [6]The Hamites The sons of Ham: Cush, Egypt, Put and Canaan. [7] The sons of Cush: Seba, Havilah, Sabtah, Raamah and Sabteka. The sons of Raamah: Sheba and Dedan. [8] Cush was the father of Nimrod, who became a mighty warrior on the earth. [9] He was a mighty hunter before the LORD; that is why it is said, “Like Nimrod, a mighty hunter before the LORD.” [10] The first centers of his kingdom were Babylon, Uruk, Akkad and Kalneh, in Shinar. [11] From that land he went to Assyria, where he built Nineveh, Rehoboth Ir, Calah [12] and Resen, which is between Nineveh and Calah-which is the great city. [13] Egypt was the father of the Ludites, Anamites, Lehabites, Naphtuhites, [14] Pathrusites, Kasluhites (from whom the Philistines came) and Caphtorites. [15] Canaan was the father of Sidon his firstborn, and of the Hittites, [16] Jebusites, Amorites, Girgashites, [17] Hivites, Arkites, Sinites, [18] Arvadites, Zemarites and Hamathites. Later the Canaanite clans scattered [19] and the borders of Canaan reached from Sidon toward Gerar as far as Gaza, and then toward Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah and Zeboyim, as far as Lasha. [20] These are the sons of Ham by their clans and languages, in their territories and nations. [21]The Semites Sons were also born to Shem, whose older brother was Japheth; Shem was the ancestor of all the sons of Eber. [22] The sons of Shem: Elam, Ashur, Arphaxad, Lud and Aram. [23] The sons of Aram: Uz, Hul, Gether and Meshek. [24] Arphaxad was the father of Shelah, and Shelah the father of Eber. [25] Two sons were born to Eber: One was named Peleg, because in his time the earth was divided; his brother was named Joktan. [26] Joktan was the father of Almodad, Sheleph, Hazarmaveth, Jerah, [27] Hadoram, Uzal, Diklah, [28] Obal, Abimael, Sheba, [29] Ophir, Havilah and Jobab. All these were sons of Joktan. [30] The region where they lived stretched from Mesha toward Sephar, in the eastern hill country. [31] These are the sons of Shem by their clans and languages, in their territories and nations. [32] These are the clans of Noah’s sons, according to their lines of descent, within their nations. From these the nations spread out over the earth after the flood. Scripture taken from the THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, NIV Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
What common heritage did the people share?Genesis 10 is an all-in-one genealogy, historic account and geography lesson. The stage was set: the flood had receded and the rainbow had marked a new beginning for humankind. Yet, sin remained. Sin’s stain did not yield to floodwater. And the family that survived the flood grew exponentially. It split into clans and nations and Noah’s descendants laid claim to territory and developed different languages (10:5). The chapter’s end reminds us that all the people on the earth could trace their roots back to one man. They all came from the family of Noah. Yet they quickly began to differentiate themselves, grab land and build walls. Over time, people became very diverse in culture, language and appearance. So they forgot that they were part of one family. They began to prefer their own style of doing things and wanted their independence. In our modern world, we continue to struggle to accept one another’s differences. Peace and unity seems to be very elusive. Imagine what the world would look like if we could embrace our diversity and learn to share our limited resources. In a world where it can be hard to see how much we have in common with our neighbors, we remember we are all children of one God and all long to be understood and have our voices heard.
Apply
Make a point to connect with someone from a different race or culture today.
Closing prayer
Lord God, the people of our world need to be gracious and merciful towards one another. Help us to live in peace.
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