Genesis 10 Though your beginning is small, your latter days will be very great
Genesis 10 Though your beginning is small, your latter days will be very great
Now these are the records of the generations of Shem, Ham, and Japheth, the sons of Noah; and sons were born to them after the flood.
2 The sons of Japheth were Gomer and Magog and Madai and Javan and Tubal and Meshech and Tiras. 3 The sons of Gomer were Ashkenaz and Riphath and Togarmah. 4 The sons of Javan were Elishah and Tarshish, Kittim and Dodanim. 5 From these the coastlands of the nations were separated into their lands, every one according to his language, according to their families, into their nations.
6 The sons of Ham were Cush and Mizraim and Put and Canaan. 7 The sons of Cush were Seba and Havilah and Sabtah and Raamah and Sabteca; and the sons of Raamah were Sheba and Dedan. 8 Now Cush became the father of Nimrod; he became a mighty one on the earth. 9 He was a mighty hunter before the Lord; therefore it is said, “Like Nimrod a mighty hunter before the Lord.” 10 The beginning of his kingdom was Babel and Erech and Accad and Calneh, in the land of Shinar. 11 From that land he went forth into Assyria, and built Nineveh and Rehoboth-Ir and Calah, 12 and Resen between Nineveh and Calah; that is the great city. 13 Mizraim became the father of Ludim and Anamim and Lehabim and Naphtuhim 14 and Pathrusim and Casluhim (from which came the Philistines) and Caphtorim.
15 Canaan became the father of Sidon, his firstborn, and Heth 16 and the Jebusite and the Amorite and the Girgashite 17 and the Hivite and the Arkite and the Sinite 18 and the Arvadite and the Zemarite and the Hamathite; and afterward the families of the Canaanite were spread abroad. 19 The territory of the Canaanite extended from Sidon as you go toward Gerar, as far as Gaza; as you go toward Sodom and Gomorrah and Admah and Zeboiim, as far as Lasha. 20 These are the sons of Ham, according to their families, according to their languages, by their lands, by their nations.
21 Also to Shem, the father of all the children of Eber, and the older brother of Japheth, children were born. 22 The sons of Shem were Elam and Asshur and Arpachshad and Lud and Aram. 23 The sons of Aram were Uz and Hul and Gether and Mash. 24 Arpachshad became the father of Shelah; and Shelah became the father of Eber. 25 Two sons were born to Eber; the name of the one was Peleg, for in his days the earth was divided; and his brother’s name was Joktan. 26 Joktan became the father of Almodad and Sheleph and Hazarmaveth and Jerah 27 and Hadoram and Uzal and Diklah 28 and Obal and Abimael and Sheba 29 and Ophir and Havilah and Jobab; all these were the sons of Joktan. 30 Now their settlement extended from Mesha as you go toward Sephar, the hill country of the east. 31 These are the sons of Shem, according to their families, according to their languages, by their lands, according to their nations.
32 These are the families of the sons of Noah, according to their genealogies, by their nations; and out of these the nations were separated on the earth after the flood.
Background
This chapter lists a table featuring 70 descendants of Noah. These comprise 14 descendants from Japheth, 30 from Ham, and 26 from Shem. From these descendants arise 70 nations representing the people of the world based on ethnic, geographic, linguistic and political factors. The number 70 carries a sacred significance in the bible; it represents perfection and completeness (see Judges 8:30, 2 Kings 10:1). The 70 descendants of Noah, signifies God’s sovereign rule over the nations in working out His purposes. By the time of Jacob (Peleg’s descendant), they too are numbered 70 (Genesis 46:27). This signifies God’s favour and providence over the young nation of Israel. The descendants of Ham are the traditional enemies of Israel; the nations of Mesopotamia, Babylon and Assyria. Although the descendants of Ham are superpowers in their generation, but they cannot stand the test of time and are annihilated by other nations. By virtue of the fact that Israel is still standing today as a powerful first world nation attests to God’s providence over the righteous. The beginnings of the righteous may be insignificant, but their latter days will be very great (see Job 8:7).
Observation
The sons of Japheth were Gomer and Magog…
Japheth is blessed together with Shem because of their fidelity and moral character. Noah’s blessing for Japheth causes his descendants to spread throughout Europe. The map below describes the Japhethites’ approximate movement. Japheth’s descendants comprises 14 of the 70 nations.
The sons of Ham were Cush and Mizraim and Put and Canaan.
Ham’s descendants comprises 30 nations and are spread out over Africa. They are the Egyptians, Babylonians, Assyrians and the Canaanites, all are powerful enemies of Israel. Nimrod (“We shall rebel”), the son of Cush is known for his mindless and naked aggression: mighty one on the earth (the Hebrew means “tyrant”). His kingdom includes all of Mesopotamia, Babylon in the south and Assyria in the north (10:10-12) who eventually conquers Israel and enslaves them. Canaan’s descendants also found the infamous cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. Ironically, the cities of Nimrod disappears, and Israel returns thousands of years later to become a sovereign nation.
Also to Shem, the father of all the children of Eber, and the older brother of Japheth, children were born.
Shem’s descendants comprises 26 nations of the 70. The two prominent sons of Eber are Peleg and Joktan. Joktan’s descendants (10:26-29) are connected with the rebellion against God at the Tower of Babel. Whereas the descendants of Peleg (not mentioned in this chapter but recounted in 11:10-26) makes him the heir of Shem’s blessings. Apparently, Peleg’s lineage is traced down to Abraham whom God has set apart for Himself for the salvation of humanity. Eber, in anticipation of the separation of the righteous from the rest of humanity, names his son Peleg which means “division”. By the time of Jacob (a descendant of Peleg), they are numbered 70 as they enter into Egypt under Joseph’s watch (see the diagram below). These 70 will eventually become a mighty nation (Israel) ordained to bring righteousness to the land of Canaan. And out of Jacob’s lineage, Jesus, the Messiah arises to save humanity from sin.
Truth
Under God’s sovereign hand, believers can live in unbroken peace and look forward to a blessed life and legacy.
The number 70, a multiple of 7 and 10 signify divine order and perfection. The number 7 is often understood in connection with God’s divine order in creation. The number 10 signifies completeness as in the 10 commandments of Moses and the tithe, which is a 10th of our earnings. The 70 descendants of Noah, which symbolises the 70 nations of the world speaks of God’s absolute control throughout the course of human history. He never fails to implement His purposes and accomplish His plans in the midst of seemingly random human activities and development. The apostle Paul preaches to the gentiles of his time concerning God’s unseen hand in human history,
He made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their habitation, that they would seek God, if perhaps they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us; for in Him we live and move and exist, as even some of your own poets have said, ‘For we also are His children.’ Acts 17:26-28
The 70 descendants of Jacob who come into Egypt under Joseph’s watch attest to the unstoppable sovereignty of God in raising up a righteous generation.
All the persons who came from the loins of Jacob were seventy in number, but Joseph was already in Egypt. Joseph died, and all his brothers and all that generation. But the sons of Israel were fruitful and increased greatly, and multiplied, and became exceedingly mighty, so that the land was filled with them. Exodus 1:5-7
Therefore, believers must not be overly concerned about the state of the economy or the politics of the nations but be faithful in being salt and light to their community. For God is able to cause all things to work together so that the righteous may prosper and fill the earth. What assurances do the righteous sovereignty of God provide for His children?
a. A blessed life – God will plant you at the right place and at the right time to accomplish His plans if you let Him.
b. A blessed legacy – God will cause your children and your disciples to navigate unchartered and challenging waters so that they may overcome and prosper.
c. Unbroken peace – You can live in perfect peace being fully assured in every situation that all things are under God’s sovereign hand.
Many churchgoers hope for peace but cannot obtain it; their minds constantly churning and anticipating the worst even in their sleep. If only they allow God full reign over their life direction and their daily decisions, unbroken peace, a blessed life and legacy will be theirs forever.
Though the beginnings of the righteous are small, their latter days will be very great.
Even though the 70 descendants of Jacob are small, it is through their faith that the world is saved. Throughout human history, we find this phenomenon repeating itself – God uses the small and insignificant to change the world. The nations of the world that descended from Noah, the great nations of Mesopotamia, the Babylonians and Assyrians of which none survive the test of time except Israel through which salvation comes.
The challenge of the church is to stay righteous as a minority when the majority of the world goes in the opposite direction. Many churchgoers cannot get past the glamour of the world and the pride of life. Hence, they are constantly distracted by what is popular, appealing to the eyes and captivating to the heart; the latest worship bands, the flashy programmes, the promise of miracles. Many lose sight of God’s word, which is the only source of eternal life. They become very busy doing religious things short of reading God’s word and doing what truly matters. What do not help are the many ministers and evangelists who facilitate the “christian economy” by keeping people warmed and entertained with their gimmicky miracles and prophecies. The apostle John warns against the infusion of worldly culture into the church, “The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever.” 1 John 2:17. The church is to reflect the culture of the heavenly kingdom, not the world!
The righteous, few they may be must fight to reject the temptation of merging with the world’s culture. It is hard to keep one’s chastity when the rest of the world are accustomed to casual relationships. It is difficult to motivate Christians to read the bible when the rest of Christendom are hooked on the prosperity gospel. However, in due time, those who persevere in righteousness will bloom and become mighty.
Therefore, believers must hold onto the life-line of the Spirit by reading the word daily. History tells us that only a minority will soldier on the narrow path, a path many consider rigorous and pointless. Noah, Abraham, and Moses, Jesus and the heroes of modern history tell us… that if you choose to persevere on what is true and right, and though your beginning may be small, but your latter days will be very great (see Job 8:7).
Application
On top of the daily grind, are you worrying about your future or your children’s future? It will help a great deal if you can list down the things that constantly weigh on your heart. Beside each item, note down in point form what you can do about it and what God can do to make it successful. Release your anxieties to God and start living life!
Dear Lord, I recognise you as the sovereign God of my future and my children’s future. As I take full responsibility for what I can do, I release the uncertainties into your hands. I ask that you grant me a life of peace as I feed on your word and do your will. I am confident that even though small as I am, I will one day stand glorious in your presence and in the accompany of the angels. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.