TABLE OF NATIONS – 1 by Dr. Shah, Clearview Church, Henderson, NC

Introduction: Nicole loves genealogies. Ever since we have been married, she has spent hours trying to track down her ancestors – their names, their places of origin, and even their gravesites. I also enjoy history, so it was fun for me to hear about her research as well. Sometimes, she would hit a brick wall, and she would call her grandmother, who has since passed away, and ask her about the missing links. Her grandmother would try to help her, but I remember her telling Nicole one time: “Have you ever thought that maybe the reason you cannot find them is because they didn’t want to be found!” There’s a lot of truth to that statement. Today we begin part one of the message titled “Table of Nations,” where we will learn about the various peoples and nations that were formed right after the Great Flood, and how through all of them God picked this one family to bring his Son into this world to save the world and also be a light to all the nations. Main point: The divisions of the ancient peoples and nations was not random. God supernaturally assigned them territories based on the number of his people Israel who would play a role in that nation’s history. He had allocated the Promised Land to Israel even before Israel existed as a nation, and, in time, they were to be a light of the gospel to all those who crossed their path.

Genesis 10:1 “Now this is the genealogy of the sons of Noah: Shem, Ham, and Japheth. And sons were born to them after the flood.” 

Context: The next 30 verses are the names of 70 ancient peoples and nations: 26 under Shem, 30 under Ham, and 14 under Japheth. Some people look at this list as some myth or folklore. That’s not true. In fact, 1 Chronicles 1:4-27 quotes most of the list in tracing the history of God’s people. But it is much more than that just a historical document. It was a field manual to prepare God’s people, the people of Israel, to enter the Promised Land, defeat and drive out the wicked nations, inhabit the land that God had chosen for them since the beginning of time, and shine the light of the gospel to all the nations of the world. We need to keep in mind that Moses included it in the 5 books that he wrote somewhere between 1446BC (Exodus) and 1406BC (his death). He wrote it somewhere in the plains of Moab before they entered to conquer the Promised Land. He wanted them to know the truth of:

• who the living God is. 
• how the world came to be. 
• how the world was corrupted by sin.
• how the world was destroyed by flood.
• how the world was given a second chance through Noah.
• how the various nations of the world were formed from one family.
• how they were chosen through Abraham and Sarah to carry the Name of God.
• how they were rescued from slavery in Egypt.
• how they were to view those who were presently occupying the land.
• how they were to be different from all the people surrounding them since they carried the seed of the promised one, the Eternal King
• how they were given the land at the crossroads of civilizations to spread the gospel to all nations
• on and on.

I want to focus on just 3 of these points here:

1. How the various nations of the world were formed from one family.

This is exactly what Paul said on his sermon on Mars Hill (Areopagus), if you remember from last weekend. Listen to Acts 17:26 “And He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth…”

For e.g. Siblings from a family carry a common story. Unfortunately, the stories get corrupted with time and distance. Similarly, these ancient peoples and nations, in time, lost their common story. Paul gives us the reason for this in Romans 1       18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, 19 because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. 20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, 21 because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Professing to be wise, they became fools, 23 and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things. 24 Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, 25 who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. 

Example of the Babylonian cylinders (about 2200-2100BC): Temptation Seal – Adam, Eve, Tree, and the Serpent. So also, the Adda Seal (2300BC) – Sun god, Shamash, looks at the “heel” of the woman, goddess Inanna (Ishtar), while she holds an object directly over the head of Shamash. To her left is a tree. This may line up with Genesis 3:15 “And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel.” Also, on the right is Enki, god of water, releasing a raven. Is that the garbled account of the Great Flood?

Let’s return to Romans 1       26 For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. 27 Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due. 28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; 29 being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, 30 backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31 undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; 32 who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.

Application: Do you still think that people have an excuse? Do you need a mind shift to start seeing people suppressing the truth of God? Do you realize that all are born dead in trespasses and sins, and they choose to reject God?

2. How they were to view those who were presently occupying the land.

When the first time the people of Israel came to the boundary of the Promised Land, they were afraid. Remember, their grasshopper syndrome? Numbers 13:33 “There we saw the giants (the descendants of Anak came from the giants); and we were like grasshoppers in our own sight, and so we were in their sight.” Moses knew that 40 years later, the next generation would be just as afraid, so he is giving them the description to calm their fears. But there is a deeper message that he has for them, and it is found in Deuteronomy 32        7“Remember the days of old, Consider the years of many generations. Ask your father, and he will show you; Your elders, and they will tell you: 8 When the Most High divided their inheritance to the nations, When He separated the sons of Adam, He set the boundaries of the peoples according to the number of the children of Israel.” There is a text critical issue here where the LXX has “sons of god,” but I prefer the Masoretic text. How did he set the boundaries of the peoples according to the number of the children of Israel? Keep in mind that there were 70 nations altogether. Now listen to how the number 70 shows up in Israel’s history:

• Genesis 46:27 “…All the persons of the house of Jacob who went to Egypt were seventy.”
• Deuteronomy 10:22 “Your fathers went down to Egypt with seventy persons, and now the LORD your God has made you as the stars of heaven in multitude.”
• Exodus 24:1 Now He said to Moses, “Come up to the LORD, you and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel, and worship from afar.”
• Numbers 11:25 “Then the LORD came down in the cloud, and spoke to him, and took of the Spirit that was upon him, and placed the same upon the seventy elders; and it happened, when the Spirit rested upon them, that they prophesied, although they never did so again.”
• Later Jesus used the same number in Luke 10       1 After these things the Lord appointed seventy others also, and sent them two by two before His face into every city and place where He Himself was about to go. 2 Then He said to them, “The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few; therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest. 3 Go your way; behold, I send you out as lambs among wolves…16 He who hears you hears Me, he who rejects you rejects Me, and he who rejects Me rejects Him who sent Me.” 17 Then the seventy returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name.” 18 And He said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. 19 Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you. 20 Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven.”

Paul later adds in his sermon on Areopagus – Acts 17:26 “And He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth and has determined their preappointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings, 27 so that they should seek the Lord, in the hope that they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us.” This number was sovereignly used by God to set preappointed times  and boundaries so that the ancient peoples and nations may find the true God. God in his sovereign plan chose that number 70 because that would be the number of his people Israel who would play a role in that nation’s history. God gave Israel the land even before Israel was Israel! How marvelous are his ways!

Application: Do you realize that there are no accidents or happenstance in the Christian life? Do you realize that God has strategically placed you where you are so you can share the gospel with that lost? Are you distinct or have you become an ally?

3. How they were given the land at the crossroads of civilizations to spread the gospel to all nations.

Names were very significant in ancient times, especially in the time of the Patriarchs. Noah named his sons names that were significant to their future and God’s plan of redemption.Shem means “name.” This may appear mindless, but it is not. It refers to the name of God, as found in Genesis 4:26 “…Then men began to call on the name of the LORD.” Genesis 12:8“…there he (Abram) built an altar to the LORD and called on the name of the LORD.” Genesis 21:33 “Then Abraham planted a tamarisk tree in Beersheba, and there called on the name of the LORD, the Everlasting God.” Ham means “hot,” that can refer to the climate or even the disposition. Japheth means “spacious,” referring to Genesis 9:27 “May God enlarge Japheth…”

Later when Abram came on the scene, listen to what God told him in Genesis 12       1Now the LORD had said to Abram: “Get out of your country, From your family And from your father’s house, To a land that I will show you. 2 I will make you a great nation; I will bless you And make your name great; And you shall be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, And I will curse him who curses you; And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”

Sitting on the crossroads of civilization, they were to be a blessing to all the families of the earth by giving them the good news of the coming Savior. Jesus was not born in Russia, China, India, Africa, Scandinavia, but in Israel for a reason!

Application: How about us? Are we sharing the good news? Are we standing with the people of God? Are we praying for their salvation? Are you saved?