Thanks to everyone who replied in the comment section of the study.

Gary, I was once again reminded of how shocked and pleased we were to hear the vocal evidence at the Grand Canyon that supported the recorded flood in Genesis!

Cindy, good points brought up concerning capital punishment from Chapter 9.  After referring to the commentary I’m using here in Florida, the comment was made, “The institution of capital punishment presupposes (requires beforehand) the establishment of governmental authority.  It would be chaos if anyone and everyone avenged a murder.  Only duly appointed governments may do so.  The NT perpetuates capital punishment when it says concerning the government, ‘…he does not bear the sword in vain’ (Romans 13:4)” So we do know that the concept is supported in both the New and Old Testaments, but I agree the human element flaws the appointed system.

Jan, once again thanks for the words of encouragement.  I’m delighted that everyone is learning and enjoying the find of nuggets along the way.  I like your analysis for “grow in number and fill the earth” and its possible affect concerning the Tower of Babel!  Life was shortening with year span and that point was a good one to be made.  I will be addressing Mr. Nimrod in this week’s response. 

Thanks for all of you for your continued diligence to studying God’s precious Word….let’s see what He has for us this week!

Chapter 10

I would like to address the tribes/peoples that have evolved from the sons of Noah.  But first, let’s review.  Adam had three sons; Cain, Abel and Seth.  Cain killed Abel and therefore the lines continued through Cain and Seth.  Noah is in the line of Seth, of course, since Cain was cursed after killing his brother over an inappropriate offering to God. 

The three sons of Noah were; Shem, Japheth and Ham.  We studied last week that Ham was cursed after going into the tent of Noah and seeing that his father was lying naked, he went and told his older brothers.  Shem and Japheth entered the tent with a covering walking backwards and covered their father.  When Noah was told of these events, he cursed Ham.  The actual wording was, “May there be a curse on Canaan!”  Now, I want to throw out a point that Jan brought up last week.  Jan asked why did the sin fall on Canaan and not Ham?  Upon further investigation here is what I found.  Ham was thought to possess an evil tendency that was more pronounced in his son, Canaan. 

As I mentioned last week, time has elapsed from the exodus of the ark until this particular incident.  Ham could have possibly had children that were older since we aren’t privy to the timeline.  In fact, it is thought that Canaan committed a vulgar act against his grandfather and Noah knew what had transpired and who committed the act.  It is also believed that Noah could have been referring to his grandson when the comment was made in scripture, “When he woke up and learned what his youngest son, Ham, had done to him, he said, ‘may there be a curse on Canaan!’”

Evidently the word used in the Bible for “son” can also mean “grandson” or other descendant.  Canaan is being given the sentence for his own sin and not that of his father according to the references I have been using.  Amazing, isn’t it?   Moving forward, Canaan was now cursed to serve Shem and Japheth.

Now the descendants of these three sons as dealing with various people groups:

Shem:  The Semitic peoples; Jews, Arabs, Assyrians, Armeans, Phoenicians

Japheth: The Japhetic peoples; Medes, Greeks, Cypriots, etc.; the Caucasian people of Europe and northern Asia.  Some scholars believe the Orientals are included in this genealogy.

Ham:  The Hamitic peoples; Ethiopians, Egyptians, Canaanites, Philistines, Babylonians, possible the African and Oriental peoples, though many scholars view the Orientals as Japhetic.

As discussed earlier, God is going to center on Shem and his descendants during the rest of the Old Testament writings.  As you look over the comment regarding languages in verse 31 of Chapter 10, possibly there is a hint of the fallout of the activities surrounding the Tower of Babel.  Also, verse 32 alludes to families who were spread across the earth after the flood….another reference to the events of Babel.

Now for Mr. Nimrod, whose name means “rebel.”  I’ll give you three guesses which line he is descended.  Yes, fellow students, Ham is the correct answer.  Ham’s son, Cush (not the Canaan line) had a descendant named Nimrod.  Nimrod was a fabulous hunter and was regarded as a mighty warrior.  I would assume he had quite a following and the ability to draw people into his cause.  In verse 10 of Chapter 10, Nimrod had a kingdom (the first individual to establish a kingdom) that covered Babylon, Erech, Akkad and Calneh in the land of Babylonia.  I’m thinking that’s a lot of acreage.  He didn’t stop there.  He added lands in Assyria which included Nineveh (do visions of Jonah come to mind?) and great cities.  It’s quite impressive.  So why stop there?  Nimrod built Babel in Babylonia.  The thought is he was in rebellion against God.

Now as we begin Chapter 11, we are reminded of Jan’s comment that instead of filling the earth as God instructed, men built a city and a tower in Babylonia and flippantly remarked they were going to built a name for themselves instead of being scattered all over the earth.  Once again, in pride and defiance man has decided that God’s instructions can be set aside for human gain.  And that issue continues, my friends.  We can never reach the heavens regardless of how hard we try.  We simply need to receive the free gift of salvation offered by God.

It actually appears the materials used to build the tower implemented substances such as bricks and tar which were executed to withstand “acts of nature.”  Ironically, these elements had not previously been incorporated in this craft.  Hardened substances as brick continually remind me of man’s hardened hearts aligned with his limited finite knowledge about Almighty God.  Another note:  The Tower of Babel might have been similar to a “ziggurat” which was built by the Babylonian people as a place of worship to their chief god named Marduk.  Wow, and these people thought God would allow that place to stand?

In judgment for this defiant act, God visited them in verse 5 as we read, “The Lord came down to see the city and the tower that the people had built.  The Lord said, ‘Now, these people are united, all speaking the same language.  This is only the beginning of what they will do.  They will be able to do anything they want.  Come, let us go down and confuse their language so they will not be able to understand each other.’”  And that is exactly what happened.  Can you imagine understanding what your good friend is saying to you one minute and in the next instant you cannot understand one word coming out of her mouth?  Well, that’s what these people experienced.  What an awesome God we serve.  Our dependence is to be on Him, not on what we can do as a people together without Him!

So, the people did spread out and fill the earth as the same languages went together to various cities to begin building a life in multiple groups instead of one huge group with probably Nimrod at the head!

Continuing, verses 10-25 focuses on Shem’s descendants to Terah, Abram’s father.  Terah is a very interesting individual as he left his family (only one to do so) and headed out to the land of Canaan.  Remember they were living in Ur of Babylonia and the relatives were worshippers of idols.  We are not given a dream or particular instructions, but Terah must have believed he needed to get his family away from this influences.  Terah had three sons; Abram, Nahor and Haran.  Haran was the father of Lot which many of us remember through the upcoming story of Sodom and Gomorrah.  Haran died before leaving Ur.  Abram and Nahor were both married and Haran’s wife is not mentioned. 

Now, here are some very important facts; first, Abram was called of God BEFORE he left the country of the Ur of the Chaldeans (in Babylonia).  Although it’s not printed here, Acts 7:2-3 recorded this information.

I have always thought that Terah was the influencing factor and perhaps he was ONE of the factors, but Terah willingly followed his son’s lead.  I think I was overly influenced by the expression “Terah “took” his son Abram….”

In verse 31 we are told, “Terah took his son Abram, his grandson Lot (Haran’s son), and his daughter-in-law Sarai (Abram’s wife) and moved out of Ur of Babylonia.  They had planned to go to the land of Canaan, but when they reached the city of Haran, they settled there.  Terah lived to be 205 years old, and then he died in Haran.”

Secondly, the town of Ur of the Chaldeans was a wealthy, prosperous area.  However, it was a center of pagan idolatry.  God wanted to separate Abram and his family from these influences. 

Lastly, it appears that Terah and Abram became responsible for Lot, Haran’s son.  Nahor evidently decided to stay behind since he is not listed as accompanying the rest of the family on this move.

ASSIGNMENT FOR NEXT WEEK, March 15th:

We now begin with the Call of Abram.  This is very important information.  We will only do Chapter 12 since we want to carefully understand the covenant that will be made with Abram and the beginning of his journey ordained by God.  Look up the verses in Acts 7:2-3 and then find whatever initial information you can find on Abram.  It will also be a good week for you to review what we’ve studied thus far to serve as a springboard for one to whom reference is given in scripture as the “God of Abraham, Issac and Jacob.”

Father, I am so in awe of your magnificence.  God I am so unworthy to lead these faithful followers of Yours in unfolding the understanding of scriptures.  Who am I, Lord that you would choose me?  But I am thankful and I continually pray that it would never be me they see, but only You.  I pray each of these loved ones would have a blessed day and that you would multiply their time that they might spend moments of each day conversing with You.  Open their minds that they would understand and their eyes that they will see the beauty and the power of the One who gave His life that we could live eternally.  In Jesus’ precious name, I pray.  Amen

 

 
 


Comments

Jan

Mon, 15 Mar 2010 04:11:07

Cookie & BLBS group - I apologize I got off track this week & didn't invest the study time I should have. Cookie's ears were probably burning on Sunday though as I ran over an orange cone in the parking lot and proceeded to drage it across the gravel....Chris Thompson came racing across waving his arms to alert me and once the cone was FINALLY unwedged from under my little Honda Fit, I said to Chris, "Cookie White would say 'There's a message in this - what's God trying to tell us?' - - all Chris would say was that it will surely be part of a future Sunday School lesson :) Anyway, my apologies to all that I am lagging behind - if everyone is willing, I'd be delighted if we could pause for a week and I'll catch up....

 

Cookie

Mon, 15 Mar 2010 06:13:30

Sweet Jan...this study was never meant to be a burden...life happens. My mother-in-law has been visiting us and I have been spending time with her and therefore was up until 3:00 a.m. this morning writing the devotional thought...and it still is being composed. As our Master Teacher, Jesus realizes we don't learn as we should if we are tired, side-tracked, or need to remove unforeseen obstacles from our path we didn't know existed (as you found in the visual lesson with the cone). Consider it done...we'll all take a breather and breathe....see you next week!

 



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