Genesis 10 is another chapter of genealogies. After the Flood, God populated the world through the families of Noah’s sons Shem, Ham, and Japheth. Through these three men, God created the 70 nations that existed till the time of Abraham. The number of nations increased over time. Israel was not created yet until God made Jacob into the nation of Israel. These 70 nations symbolically represent all the nations of the world. While some of us might find this chapter “boring” with genealogies, there are three biblical lessons that I want to draw our attention to. Let’s go:
1. GOD IS MATCHLESSLY SOVEREIGN OVER EVERYTHING
Acts 17:26 And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation;
In His wisdom, God appointed for each person a nation to live in. He controls the destiny of every nation. God uses His sovereignty over the nations to fulfill His plans. As part of His plan, He elevates the “righteous” nations and brings down the wicked and proud ones (Job 12:23, Isa. 9:3, Isa. 40:15-17). Bible records show that God blessed Israel when they remained faithful and He humbled His people when they disobeyed. That is why we should trust in God (Psa. 55:22, 1Pet. 5:7), not in the power/might of people, nations, or institutions (Psa. 146:3, Psa. 118:8, Jer. 17:5, Isa. 2:22).
2. GOD IS MAJESTICALLY JUST IN ALL THINGS
Isaiah 30:18 Therefore the Lord longs to be gracious to you, And therefore He waits on high to have compassion on you. For the Lord is a God of justice; How blessed are all those who long for Him.
A just God must punish wrongs. The Bible is clear that God judges sin because He is just (Jer. 9:24; Is. 30:18). He judges wickedness. A good example in this chapter is the man called Nimrod (v. 8). He was a mighty one on the earth, but in a bad way. He ruled over Babel, which was the first organized rebellion of humans against God. The name Nimrod itself means: “let us rebel”. When God stopped the project of the Tower of Babel, it was an act of justice. Whenever God punishes evil, we should never think of God being wicked, but expressing his attribute of justice, which is sovereignly good.
3. GOD IS MERCIFULLY EVANGELISTIC AT ALL TIMES
Isaiah 42:6 I the Lord have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles;
We have seen God and his heartbeat of evangelism right from Eden to Enoch to Noah. God desires that every sinner should repent. In fact, the Jews were supposed to live as light unto the Gentiles (Isa. 42:6), but they failed to fulfill this calling. God sent Jonah to the wicked people of Nineveh for repentance. When they turned from their ways, God spared them (Jonah 3:10). This reveals God’s grace and His desire for all sinners to repent (2 Peter 3:9).
Jesus came as the light of the world (John 8:12), and made us His light to the lost (Matt. 5:14, Acts 1:8, Matt. 28:19). Our nature as “light” is evangelistic by default. Let us continue to shine our light, bringing others to the saving knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Grace to you, Church!
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