Where Are You From?
Opening Prayer
Think of people in your past who have been an influence on your spiritual life. Give thanks for them today.
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, Meshech and Tiras. [3] The sons of Gomer: Ashkenaz, Riphath and Togarmah. [4] The sons of Javan: Elishah, Tarshish, the Kittim and the Rodanim. [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, Mizraim, Put and Canaan. [7] The sons of Cush: Seba, Havilah, Sabtah, Raamah and Sabteca. The sons of Raamah: Sheba and Dedan. [8] Cush was the father of Nimrod, who grew to be 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, Erech, Akkad and Calneh, 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; that is the great city. [13] Mizraim was the father of the Ludites, Anamites, Lehabites, Naphtuhites, [14] Pathrusites, Casluhites (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 Zeboiim, 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, Asshur, Arphaxad, Lud and Aram. [23] The sons of Aram: Uz, Hul, Gether and Meshech. [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 Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. All rights reserved throughout the world. Used by permission of International Bible Society.
Reflect
What stands out to you in these genealogies?A recent story in an Australian newspaper highlighted DNA tests that have the capacity to trace ancestry back over 200,000 years. It appears that most were able to trace ancestry back to the European-North Africa region. In ancient days, people born to a certain lineage had certain rights. The genealogies in Genesis have a different purpose, though. The first thing to notice is that they are not complete. Only certain members of the descendant chain are mentioned. The clue is in the descriptions. The descendants of Japheth mentioned are Gomer and Javan, from whom the seafaring people around the Mediterranean descend. Ham’s named descendants include Cush, from whom descended Nimrod, the founder of Babylon and Nineveh; Mizraim, from whom the Philistines came; and Canaan, whose people inhabited what is now Israel. From the sons of Shem flowed all the Semitic families of the world.
A keen observer will notice that the named descendants are all major players in the unfolding drama of the life of Israel. The writers are setting the scene for the greatest drama of all.
Apply
Reflect on your impact on relationships, justice, and in acts of service. What does it say about your influence?
Closing prayer
Lord, I want to have an influence for good in all the areas my life touches. Help me to live that way, I pray.
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