Multiply & Spread

Whelp, it’s another genealogy. Another list of names. This chapter is known as the “Table of Nations”. It’s part genealogy, part geography. We need to dust off our cartography kits and get to work (“Cartograph much?).

This chapter is family tree, ancient world map, history all rolled into one.

There are 70 peoples/nations mentioned here: from Japheth came 14 sons; from Ham, 30; from Shem 26. 70 peoples in total.

This morning, we need to spend a few minutes discussing each one of these names and locations, the etymology and history of each. Don’t worry, we’ll only spend 5 or so minutes on each one. The good news is that we've had lunch brought in and we can all just stay until youth group and eat dinner with them. We should wrap this up by 7:00 or 8:00 this evening.

I hope no one has a roast in the oven at home waiting for them. My mom did that from time to time when I was a kid—put something in the oven and set the timer so it’d be ready when we got home from church.

Even as a kid, I remember thinking how silly that was. Talk about wishful thinking! Even if corporate worship was over by noon, we never left the building until 12:30 and the roast was, at that point, officially shoe-leather.

So with 32 verses and 70 names, we’re going to be here for a while. Settle in.

Or, instead of doing that, how about we look at what’s most important. Not that these names aren’t important; they wouldn’t be listed here if they were of no consequence. But what’s most important is what this chapter has to teach us about God, about what God is doing and what He’s calling us to do.

When you come to a chapter like this, it’s important to read it over and over. It’ll take a few times to get at its message. We can miss the forest for all the trees, so we have to be careful. It’s not about getting bogged down in a mess of hard-to-pronounce names or determining the modern equivalent to each ancient people.

As you read through, you might recognize a name or two. You might learn something about this person or that. You might pick up on why the biblical author structured things as he did.

As you read chapters like this, you have to use your knowledge of the rest of the Bible and redemptive history and think: “What is God doing here? I mean, why is this all listed out for us? What’s He getting at? What’s He got up His sleeve?”

Genesis 10 lists the sons of Noah and their sons and where they all ended up, the nations and peoples that sprang from Noah. This chapter discusses how the descendants of Noah multiplied and spread out to fill the earth.

Noah, his wife, his four sons and their wives, are commanded—like Adam and Eve were—to be fruitful and multiply.

Genesis 9:7 NIV

7 As for you, be fruitful and increase in number; multiply on the earth and increase upon it.”

And that’s what they do.

It’s a little awkward. Some of you have brought this up to me, posing the question about who's having children with whom. It seems a little icky to us, the offspring of Noah’s sons would have to multiply with one another—cousins marrying and having kids.

“This my wife/cousin. I’d like to introduce you to my uncle/grandpa. Our family tree looks more like a shrub, really, than a tree.”

It’s a little weird, but there’s nothing perverse or untoward about this. It’s not siblings procreating, rather cousins. Let’s just leave it there, alright?

Genesis 10:1 NIV

1 This is the account of Shem, Ham and Japheth, Noah’s sons, who themselves had sons after the flood.

Genesis 10:32 NIV

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.

These verses—the first and last of Genesis 10—form an inclusio; these verses bracket everything in the chapter.

Genesis 10 is about Noah’s sons, that they Multiply & Spread over the earth after the flood.

They are doing what they’ve been called to do.

What’s most important for us to see in Genesis 10 is:

The Providence of God

The Lord God—the Creator, the Sustainer, the Judge of all—is over all nations. He’s in charge of the multiplication and spread and placement of the peoples on earth.

Where each people, each nation, is located is the work of God’s providence.

Providence is not just the capitol city of Rhode Island (though it is that). Providence is not a word you’ll find in the Bible, but both the OT and NT set forth an understanding of God’s gracious outworking of His purpose in Christ within the created order in human history.

The world and humanity are not ruled by chance or by fate, but by God, who directs history and creation toward an ultimate goal.

Providence is God’s “superintending activity over human actions and human history, bringing creation to its divinely determined goal.” — PDTT

The best definition, in my opinion, comes from J.I. Packer, the preeminent scholar and theologian of the the last 70 years (he’s 93 and still kicking). Packer says this:

“Providence is the unceasing activity of the Creator whereby, in overflowing bounty and goodwill, He upholds His creatures in ordered existence, guides and governs all events, circumstances, and free acts of angels and men, and directs everything to its appointed goal, for His own glory.”

God’s providence—His unceasing activity—is basic biblical truth. What’s more, it’s crucial for our understanding and faith. For the ups and downs of life, it matters that our God is upholding us, guiding us, governing us, directing us. Quite literally, He keeps the our planet spinning round. He holds the stars in their place. He orders the existence of every living thing—for His glory.

If God was distant or uninvolved or uncaring, imagine where we would be. Imagine if God just wound the clock of time and then left everything be, to shake out however it would. That’s called deism, and thankfully it’s not true.

God cares. He’s involved. He is near to us.

God’s providence is seen throughout Genesis 10:

Genesis 10:5 NIV

5 (From these the maritime peoples spread out into their territories by their clans within their nations, each with its own language.)

Genesis 10:20 NIV

20 These are the sons of Ham by their clans and languages, in their territories and nations.

Genesis 10:31 NIV

31 These are the sons of Shem by their clans and languages, in their territories and nations.

Genesis 10:32 NIV

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.

Each of those verses mentions that certain people are within their nations or in their territories and nations.

This is the providential hand of God—upholding, guiding, governing, directing, giving life, placing mankind where He pleases.

Acts 17:26 NIV

26 From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands.

Paul, one of Jesus’ apostles, picked up on this and preached this to the people at Mars Hill.

That we are here, now, in this place, at this time, belongs to the providence of God. Take a moment to think about the implications of that.

Consider why you are alive in the year 2020. Why are you living in Rich Hill, Missouri? For what purpose? Why do get to enjoy the privilege of living full and free in this country? Why has God, in His providential wisdom, placed you here and now?

From one man [Noah] God made all the nations…and He [God] marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands.

The providence of God is on grand display here in Genesis 10, as is:

The Blessing of God

As Genesis 5 and Genesis 10 make clear (and then several other chapters in Genesis and the rest of the Bible), God’s blessing covers the whole earth.

This—Genesis 10—is God’s blessing to Noah being confirmed. We see this playing out in the international growth of his descendants. From one man God made all the nations.

God’s blessing to Noah means God’s blessing on the whole of subsequent human history.

God made a covenant with Noah and we are beneficiaries of such. It’s as if God has written us—you and me—into this contract with Noah and we reap all the benefits by virtue of being His creation.

God gives blessing without measure. It’s as Jesus said in His Sermon on the Mount: “Your Father in heaven…causes the sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.”

We might not see it as fair, but we clearly see this is true. Think about the unrighteous, evil people who seem to prosper in our day. We might think, “Why do they have all that money, all that power, all those blessings?” Well, it rains on the just and unjust—that’s our Heavenly Father’s prerogative.

As your eyes glance over Genesis 10, most people/nations just get a mention. But there’s one fella the author uses a bit more ink on. His name is Nimrod. I’d say he got beat up in school, but we’re told Nimrod was a mighty hunter, a mighty warrior.

Nimrod’s name means “we shall rebel.” Later Jewish tradition identifies him as the builder of the Tower of Babel. He was possibly a king in Mesopotamia (between the rivers).

He was the builder of cities and his own kingdom.

Genesis 10:10 NIV

10 The first centers of his kingdom were Babylon, Uruk, Akkad and Kalneh, in Shinar.

Nimrod marks the beginning of man’s post-flood quest for domination and autonomy over and against God. If anything about Nimrod sounds positive to us, it’s likely because our perspectives are clouded by our modern day values.

The descriptions of Nimrod are to be viewed negatively. Nimrod’s kingdom is the opposite of what God desired.

Freedom, domination, making our own name great is the goal of many people. But these are not what the people of God should run after. He must become greater, I must become less.

Even still, Nimrod—one set against God—even Nimrod receives blessings from God. Whether or not Nimrod ever acknowledged that all good things come down from the Father doesn’t mean it’s not true.

All human people share the same nature, breathe the same air, live on the same earth, and owe their life to the same God.

There is not much that separates us, and certainly where the blessing of God is concerned. We have, all of us, received far, far more than we deserve.

God gives blessing without measure and gives the blessing of life and His image to all people, all nations.

Meghann and I found ourselves living our lives, going about our day, working, raising kids, cleaning out the garage, picking up around the house, doing laundry, maintaining the cars, cleaning out the garage, buying shoes and clothes, cleaning out the garage, balancing schedules—work, school, sports, community, church—cleaning out the garage, and on and on.

Somewhere along the line, we were convicted that we should see each of these things—no matter if they’re mundane or frustrating or routine—as blessings from our Heavenly Father.

So we circle up almost every night, the 6 of us, along with whoever might be over at the house around the kids’ bedtime—grandmas or church family or friends—and we’ll go one-by-one round the circle.

Each person has to name something God has blessed them with. A lot of times, it’s a family member or a school teacher, and other times it’s “playing cars” or “good food”.

Sometimes, the named blessing is our high capacity washer and dryer or comfortable beds. From time to time, the blessing is having a garage that requires cleaning out fortnightly.

What we’re trying to teach our kids and remind ourselves of is that God blesses us beyond anything we deserve and often times with people and possessions we take for granted.

“Count your blessings, name them one by one. Count your blessings see what God has done. Count your blessings, name them one by one. Count your many blessings, see what God has done.”

In His providence and with His blessing, Genesis 10 highlights for us:

The Mission of God

God had, has, and will continue to have a purpose for the nations of the world. He had a purpose, a mission for the people He has created.

Remember, His providence is guiding us and directing us to our appointed goal, which is glorifying Him. Our mission is to get the nations worshipping and glorifying Him.

The account of Genesis 9-11 makes it clear that God has for Himself a people. He saved, by His grace and grace alone, a people from the flood. From Genesis 12 on, the remnant of people God has saved will clearly be in special relationship with God.

But God will also use Egypt, Babylon, Assyria, Media-Persia, and Rome to accomplish His purposes.

God can use pagan rules like Nebuchadnezzar, Cyrus, Darius, Caesar Augustus. God will use deniers and murderers, He’ll use sinners and scumbags.

The mission God involves a people and concerns the nations. Psalm 67 express this universal vision that all the nations of the earth come to know God and serve Him.

Listen to Psalm 67:

Psalm 67 NIV

For the director of music. With stringed instruments. A psalm. A song. 1 May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face shine on us— 2 so that your ways may be known on earth, your salvation among all nations. 3 May the peoples praise you, God; may all the peoples praise you. 4 May the nations be glad and sing for joy, for you rule the peoples with equity and guide the nations of the earth. 5 May the peoples praise you, God; may all the peoples praise you. 6 The land yields its harvest; God, our God, blesses us. 7 May God bless us still, so that all the ends of the earth will fear him.

The Church’s commission to make disciples of all the nations isn’t just a NT thought; it’s written into the fabric of the Old Testament.

The people of God are blessed to be a blessing. The story of God is God blessing people who will bless people.

If we have been blessed (and we have), it’s so that we would share that blessing. Our mission—the mission of God—is to go to the nations, to the people, to share the blessing of knowing Jesus.

This is our commission, the same one we say together each week:

Matthew 28:19–20 NIV

19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

It’s no mistake that the “Table of Nations” comes before Genesis 11, before the Tower of Babel—the story that explains why humanity was dispersed.

What we have here is the unusual order of effect (ch. 10) before cause (ch. 11). It’s like getting grounded before you hit your sister. It’s a little out of order.

Here’s why, I think: if Genesis 10 (this table of nations) had followed Genesis 11 (the Tower of Babel), the multiplying & spreading of Genesis 10 could only be interpreted negatively.

The scattering of people after the Tower of Babel is judgment. However, the significance of the multiplying & spreading here shows that it’s filling out and fulfilling God’s promise to Noah and God’s command to Noah to be fruitful.

Genesis 10 is about providence and blessing and mission.

You might have noticed that the order of genealogies in Genesis 10 does not go in the order of verses 1: Shem, Ham, Japheth. It’s reversed.

Japheth and his descendants are mentioned, then Ham and his sons. And then, finally, Shem and those who came from Shem’s line.

This is no mistake; it’s intentional.

Shem and his line are mentioned last because of what comes next in Genesis 11 and following. From Shem’s line comes Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and so on.

Shem’s line leads to Jesus, the Messiah, the Promised One, the One who was to come to crush the head of the serpent.

In Luke’s Gospel, we read Jesus’ family line:

Luke 3:35–38 NIV

35 the son of Serug, the son of Reu, the son of Peleg, the son of Eber, the son of Shelah, 36 the son of Cainan, the son of Arphaxad, the son of Shem, the son of Noah, the son of Lamech, 37 the son of Methuselah, the son of Enoch, the son of Jared, the son of Mahalalel, the son of Kenan, 38 the son of Enosh, the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God.

The Great and Providential God preserved for Himself and for His glory a remnant—a people He would bless and keep safe and secure throughout the generations until, at just the right time, God sends His one and only Son to redeem us, restore us, and reconcile us to Himself.

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If we stop and think about it, this chapter speaks to each of our lives. For me, I can recognize God’s sweet and bitter providence, His blessing, and His mission at many times and in many ways in my life.

For one, Meghann and I have struggled to have a biological child. We’ve suffered miscarriage and disappointment. And yet, through it all, we have been given strength to trust the Lord.

In His providence, God saw fit to withhold biological children and providentially bless us and bless us and bless us and bless us again. Four beautiful, incredible children from God are part of our family—this is by God’s providential hand which blesses and blesses and blesses some more. God’s mission for us is clear: that we would display His glory and share with others about His goodness and grace and blessing.

We must connect these three.

Providence: How do you see God upholding, guiding, governing, and directing your life?

Blessing: In what ways has God and is God blessing you?

Mission: How will you proclaim what God has done for you? With whom will you share?