The Sons of Noah

The Sons of Noah
Words of Faith 2-28-2022
Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy © 2022
Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com
Faith Fellowship Church - Melbourne, FL    
www.faithfellowshipweb.com
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Genesis 10
      [1]  This is the account of Shem, Ham and Japheth, Noah's sons, who themselves had sons after the flood.
       [2]  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 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]  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.

      Where did all the "ites" come from? Genesis 9 and 10 tell of a new beginning for the human family. The story of Noah is a parallel similar to the story of Adam. After the disruption of sin, God starts over. With the blessing of God, Noah and his sons were commanded to be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth.  
       Chapter 10 is sometimes called the Table of the Nations. 70 descendants of Noah are listed. To the modern eye, it is a conglomeration of names that are difficult to pronounce and unlikely to be chosen for newborn babies!
       But to the Jewish reader, this was the earliest form of Ancestry-dot-com. The names were familiar. The regions were understood, and the consequence of sin was also apparent. What we do not want to miss is the plan of God that is still at work to once again bless and populate the earth with humanity.
     The list begins with the sons of Japheth (vss. 2-5). These were northern people, remote from Israel. They constituted Island nations at the known world's outer fringe, including Scythians and Greeks. The list is not exhaustive but is "complete" in the use of the number "seven."
      The descendants of Ham are listed (vss. 6-20) and form the eastern and southern peoples of Mesopotamia. This included South Arabia and present-day Egypt, Sudan, and Ethiopia. More detail in this lineage includes the Philistines, Canaanites, Hittites, and other enemies of Israel.
      The descendants of Shem (vss. 21-31) are recorded last. This line will lead to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. These also included Elamites and Assyrians. But most importantly, Arabs, the Hebrews, and Phoenicians, Aramaeans or Syrians, Babylonians, and Assyrians all come from Shem. The Semitic peoples are Shemites. It is from this line that God will call Abraham.
      A list like this can be overwhelming. We might be tempted to call this a list of "all God's children." But we must remember that, while these are all God's creation, the choices of people determine if we will be called children of God.
     The Gospel declares that "to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God" (John 1:12). The answer is coming in the person of Jesus. A better description of this list might be "The Mission Field."
      These are the peoples of the earth whom God desires to reach with his love and grace. In the next chapter, we will learn about the intrusion of pride and sin once again. We will learn about the confusion of languages that separates these people. We will once again see the ravages of sin. But there is hope on the horizon.
     The good news is that we are getting closer to the declared intention of God to save humanity through the call and formation of a new nation. Genesis 12:2-3 - "I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you."

       Father God, I pray for the nations of the earth. Each is precious in Your heart. I know that Your desire is to save all of humanity. Give me hope in this day, as I put my faith in You alone. In Jesus' Name.

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© Jeffrey D. Hoy 2022
Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy - Faith Fellowship Church (EFCA)        
2820 Business Center Blvd.
Melbourne, Florida 32940 (321)-259-7200
Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com
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