The Generations of Civilization - Page - 2

The “Generations” Of Civilization - Page - 2 –

Introduction:

We are dividing our studies in the first eleven chapters of Genesis according to the occurrence of the word “generations.” The usage of this word highlights our human ancestry, but it also loosely marks the various dispensations or the historical ages recorded and identified in Genesis 1-12. We have considered the great age or time of the creative formation, the grievous testimony of the creature’s fall and the global transformation of the catastrophic flood. Let’s think now about the genealogical traces of civilization’s flow.

The following two verses lay a foundation for our pattern of thought in this study:

(Genesis 9:18-19) And the sons of Noah, that went forth of the ark, were Shem, and Ham, and Japheth: and Ham is the father of Canaan. {19} These are the three sons of Noah: and of them was the whole earth overspread.

(Genesis 10:1) Now these are the generations of the sons of Noah, Shem, Ham, and Japheth: and unto them were sons born after the flood.

What follows throughout chapter 10 is that which is commonly known as the “Table of Nations.”

Table of Nations: The genealogical record in Gen 10, which lists then-known peoples and nations descended from the three sons of Noah: Ham, Shem, and Japheth.

Analysis of the Table of Nations is difficult. The criteria used to define a nation (racial characteristics, language, land area occupied) are not used consistently within the chapter -- some nations are defined by language group, others by locale. Over the millennia, languages have changed and peoples have moved from one area to another. Nevertheless, many of the names in the table of nations have been found on other ancient inscriptions, so all the information given in Genesis was available to Moses as early as the 15th century B.C.

[Revell]

Without getting into the anthropological and geographical ramifications of all of this, let us say simply that Genesis chapter ten presents...

1. The Seeds Of Civilization

Genesis 10:1,32

A. Japheth - A Gentile Seed 10:1-5

(Genesis 10:5) By these were the isles of the Gentiles divided in their lands; every one after his tongue, after their families, in their nations.

Out of the seven sons of Japheth listed, two are considered in greater detail.

1. Gomer whose name suggests “Completion” vs. 3

2. Javan whose name suggests “effervescing” or “Continuing” vs. 4

B. Ham - A Godless Seed 10:6-20

1. Consider The Record Of Ham’s Deed 9:20-25

2. Consider The Realm Of Ham’s Descendants 9:8-10

(The beginning of Nimrod’s kingdom was Babel – a city rejected by God cf. 11:1-9).

C. Shem - A Great Seed 10:21-31

1. Notice The Great Favor Bestowed Upon Shem 9:26-27

2. Notice The Great Family Begotten Of Shem 10:21-31

(Out of this family would come the Messiah!)

“It is evident that chapter 11 comes chronologically before chapter ten. Chapter ten gives the general facts connected with the different families which sprang from Noah’s sons; but the facts recorded in it took place after the dispersal of the nations as described in chapter eleven. The distribution of the isles of the Gentiles was for ‘everyone after his tongue.’ That shows it was after the dividing of tongues that the different families were dispersed.” (C.A. Coates)

Consider that Nimrod labored for a city and failed, but Abraham looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God. (Hebrews 11:10)

Let us consider, from the first part of chapter 11...

2. The Scattering Of Civilization

Genesis 11:1-9

Our divisions under this heading are marked by the occurrences of the phrase “Go to.”

A. The Great Tribe Was To Make Brick 11:3

(Genesis 11:1-3) And the whole earth was of one language, and of one speech. {2} And it came to pass, as they journeyed from the east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar; and they dwelt there. {3} And they said one to another, Go to, let us make brick, and burn them thoroughly. And they had brick for stone, and slime had they for mortar.

B. The Great Task Was To Make A Building 11:4

(Genesis 11:4) And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth.

C. The Great Trinity Would Make Them Babble 11:7

(Genesis 11:7-9) Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another's speech. {8} So the LORD scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth: and they left off to build the city. {9} Therefore is the name of it called Babel; because the LORD did there confound the language of all the earth: and from thence did the LORD scatter them abroad upon the face of all the earth.

Our final thought in this study begins with yet another occurrence of the word “generations.” The Bible tells us in Genesis 11:10, These are the generations of Shem: Shem was an hundred years old, and begat Arphaxad two years after the flood.

And thus begins...

3. The Selection Of A Civilization

Genesis 11:10,27

A. The Semitic Distinction 11:10

B. The Semitic Descendants 11:10-26

C. The Semitic Departure 11:27-12:4

God made the heavens and the earth and then focused upon the earth. Adam and Eve bore two sons who bore sons of their own – Cain and Seth. God focused upon Seth. Out of the many descendants of Seth, God focused upon Enoch, and his son Methuselah, and his son Lamech, and then his son Noah. Noah had three sons: Shem, Ham, and Japheth. God focused upon Shem. Shem’s great-great-great-great-great-great grandson was Terah. Terah had three sons named Abram, Nahor, and Haran. God focused upon Abram. (God cares about individuals!) By selecting this member of the Semitic family named Abram, God is setting the stage for his plan and purposes for the next 2,000 years!

Conclusion:

Of we who are Abraham’s “faith” descendants, the Bible says, But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light (1 Peter 2:9).

The “Generations” Of Civilization - Page - 2 –