In the history of God’s dealing with his people, remember that there was a period of learning. The God of the universe revealed himself to his creation. This revelation contained a carefully laid out plan developed through multiple generations. The beginning stages of this plan culminates in the calling of Abram and the establishment of God’s covenant with his chosen people. God teaches his people who he is. Thus, they can learn to trust him.
The various genealogies of the Old Testament are, unfortunately, overlooked by many readers. The genealogy of Noah’s descendants is important because it sets up the main players in the coming narrative. The focus here are the descendants of Ham (Egypt and the Cannanites) and Shem (Abraham and Israel). Another point that gets overlooked. Out of these families came all the nations of the world (10:32b). All human beings have a common ancestry and a common need to know the God who has revealed himself to his creation.
The descendants of the rescued family of Noah try to build a great tower. They gather all the peoples of the earth into one place. This effort was spearheaded by the descendants of Noah’s son Ham. After this failed attempt, and the subsequent scattering of people by the confusion of their language, we get a continued look at the genealogy of Shem’s family. God reveals himself and his plan to his creation. Creation rebels against God. He continues to develop his plan for bringing his creation back into fellowship with himself. This is true even in our present time.
The crowning moment of this early history is the establishment of God’s covenant with Abram (later to be called Abraham). God reveals himself to a chosen descendant of Shem. God promises three things: the land of Cannan, countless descendants and that through these descendants all the nations of the earth would be blessed. God establishes his covenant and leads his people to learn to trust in him even as they continue to misunderstand and follow their own way. Ultimately, God’s promise to Abraham has been fulfilled in Jesus Christ.
God made a covenant with his people and he will keep it.
Rev. David Richards, Monroe N.C.
