Genesis 10, 11 12:1-6

Chapter 10

The table of nations gives a survey of the descendants of Noah’s three sons.

God told them to multiply and fill the earth

Seventy descendants of Noah are listed including 14 of Japheth, 30 from Ham and 26 from Shem

The sons of Japheth: He was the father of the Indo-European peoples, those stretching from India to the shores of Western Europe.

 The descendants of Ham are the peoples who populated Africa and the Far East.

Children were born also to Shem: From Shem comes Elam, who was an ancestor of the Persian peoples; Asshur, who was the father of the Assyrians; Arphaxad was the ancestor of Abram and the Hebrews.

1. (V2) The land of shinar

A term used to describe a region

The term Shinar was also used of Babylon (Genesis 10:10).

1.1 (V4) Let us build a city and tower, let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be scattered

a) God commanded them to be fruitful and multiply and to scatter across the earth

Instead they decided to move to Nimrod’s city of Babylon

Nimrod was the great-grandson of Noah through the line of Ham and Cush

b) Pride was their sin

9:1 “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the land, they rebelled

Humanity decided to build a great city and all congregate there.

They decided to build a gigantic tower as a symbol of their power, to make a name for themselves (Genesis 11:4). This tower is remembered as the Tower of Babel.

Their sin was Independence and Disobedience

To strengthen themselves, to make a name for themselves

1.2 (V5) But the Lord came down to see the city and the tower

a) The Lord came down

Perhaps was a time when God came down in some physical form, the form of a man.

This is possibly another pre-incarnate appearance of Jesus Christ.

b) The tower

The tower they built at Babel was what is known as Ziggurat

It was like a pyramid but it had levels, like steps that you could walk to the top

These were special shrines that were dedicated to a god or goddess

They would climb these shrines and it was believed the god would come down to meet them

1.3 (V7) Let Us go down there

a) Let Us go down:

This plural reference to Us is another subtle reference to the Trinity.

b) Confuse their language

God confused the languages of humanity so that they could no longer communicate with each other

1.4 (V9) The Lord confused their language and scattered them abroad

a) Babel

Which is a lot like the Hebrew word for confusion

b) God’s mercy

Instead of destroying them, He scattered them

Slowed the collective rebellion of fallen humanity.

1.5 (V10) Shem’s Descendants

The genealogy connects Adam to Noah

Noah to Abraham which through Abraham God forms the Jewish Nation in which our savior was born

1.6 (V27-32) We are introduced to Abram, Sarai, and Lot

a) Fulfilled Prophecy

Through Abram

God promised in 3:15 that he would send a Redeemer the seed of woman to defeat Satan

Noah’s prophecy revealed that God would bless the world through the line of Shem

2. (V1) Leave your country and all your family

a) God commands them to leave everything

Leave your country, family and your Fathers house

God didn’t give him 5 steps

One step, go

Act of faith

2.1 (V2) God’s promises

a) Promises

I will make you a great nation (Many children and grandchildren, enough to populate a nation)

Your name will be great (Abraham’s name is great with the jews, the muslims, and christians)

He would be a blessing, it was through Abraham the Savior was born and anyone who believes is blessed

One of the reason America has been blessed is because we are pro Israel

2.2 (V5) Abram took Lot

Lot would not be a blessing to Abram. He would be nothing but trouble and inconvenience.

 Abram’s partial obedience did not take God’s promise away. Instead, it meant the fulfillment of the promise was delayed until Abram was ready to do what the Lord told him to do.