Table of Nations: Part 4 by Abidan Shah, PhD

TABLE OF NATIONS – 4 by Dr. Shah, Clearview Church, Henderson, NC

Introduction: How many of yall love “The Andy Griffith Show?” One of my favorite episodes is “A Plaque for Mayberry,” in which, word gets through town that a direct descendant of a Revolutionary War hero named Nathan Tibbs is living in Mayberry. As you can imagine, Barney thinks that it is him, and he even comes up with a genealogical chart linking him to the hero, only to find out that it is actually the town drunk, Otis Campbell! Of course, he is not happy. In our fourth and final message in this miniseries titled “A Table of Nations,” we come to the line of Shem. This is the line through which the Promised One would come one day. What we will learn in this sermon: 1. God has sovereignly chosen through which family to bring the Promise One in the world. 2. Envy is the green-eyed monster that brings only hate and destruction. 3. Only a heart of humility and submission to God’s plan of salvation through Jesus can set us free.

Genesis 10:21 “And children were born also to Shem, the father of all the children of Eber, the brother of Japheth the elder.”

Context: In the three preceding messages, I have emphasized the point that the first five books of the Old Testament, the Pentateuch, were a field manual for God’s people, Israel, as they entered the Promised Land. Moses wrote these books in the 15^th century BC to help them identify those wicked nations who were occupying the land and drive them out. He wanted them to know that God had given them the land at the crossroads of civilization to shine the light of the gospel to all the nations who will pass by them. There’s one more very important thing that he wanted them to know: They had been sovereignly chosen by God for these tasks. Listen to Deuteronomy 7 6 “For you are a holy people to the LORD your God; the LORD your God has chosen you to be a people for Himself, a special treasure above all the peoples on the face of the earth. 7 The LORD did not set His love on you nor choose you because you were more in number than any other people, for you were the least of all peoples; 8 but because the LORD loves you, and because He would keep the oath which He swore to your fathers, the LORD has brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you from the house of bondage, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.” Also, Deuteronomy 14:2 For you are a holy people to the LORD your God, and the LORD has chosen you to be a people for Himself, a special treasure above all the peoples who are on the face of the earth.” Paul affirms this in Romans 9 4 who are Israelites, to whom pertain the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the service of God, and the promises; 5 of whom are the fathers and from whom, according to the flesh, Christ came, who is over all, the eternally blessed God. Amen.”

Application: Do you understand the sovereign plan of God in choosing Israel to bring his salvation into this world? Are you submitted to the plan of God or do you resent the plan of God?

In today’s message, we will focus on the descendants of Shem, the forefather of Abraham, through whom came Jesus Christ. Again, keep in mind that there was a lot of information that is no longer available to us. Also, as people moved, they interacted andintermarried. Nothing is hard and fast. At least, when Moses wrote this book, this is where the nations were in 1500 BC. Good sources for the sermon are D.J. Wiseman, Eugene Merrill, Arnold Fruchtenbaum, and Bodie Hodge Tower of Babel: The Cultural History of Our Ancestors. Shem had 5 sons (Elam, Asshur, Arphaxad, Lud, and Aram; at least, that’s how many are listed):

1. Elam: They lived east of Babylon, and Cyrus changed their names to the Persians. These later split into the Parsis and Parthians. Daniel refers to the Medo-Persian empire. Some even went into India. Furthermore, some of the Elamites may have even gone into China and be the ancestors of the Tajik speaking people, similar to Persian and the language of Elam.

2. Asshur: The ancestors of the Assyrian. Keep in mind that Nimrod went into the land of “Assyria and built Nineveh” (Genesis 10:11). The Hamitic Assyrians were probably replaced by the Semitic Assyrians. Some of Abraham’s descendants also impacted Assyria.

3. Arphaxad: Now, we are getting towards to the seed son. Genesis 10:24 “Arphaxad begot Salah, and Salah begot Eber.” It’s from “Eber” that we will get the Hebrews. To Eber were born 2 sons: Peleg and Joktan. For Peleg, it adds, “for in his days the earth was divided” (Genesis 10:25). Some people think that this is a reference to the Continental Drift. I think it is a reference to the division of languages. For continents to break apart would cause another global catastrophe, another flood! We’ll return to the descendants of Peleg in a moment. First, the descendants of Joktan (13 sons) are listed:

Almodad – Al-Murad tribe in South Yemen
Sheleph – es-Sulaf people near Yemen and Oman
Hazarmaveth – Hadhramaut
Jerah – Jerach (Hadhramaut)
Hadoram – Adramitae tribe in Arabia Felix
Uzal – ancient Azal (Sana’a, capital of Yemen)
Diklah – Dakalah region in Saudi Arabia (in the Hejaz)
Obal – Abil (Hadhramaut)
Abimael – ?
Sheba – connected to Sheba of Ham’s line
Ophir – Aphar (Sabeans)
Havilah – Also in Ham’s line, north of Yemen, towards the west.
Jobab – Jobarites (southern Arabia)

Many of these are the ancestors of the Arab peoples. Genesis 10:30 “And their dwelling place was from Mesha as you go toward Sephar, the mountain of the east.” In the Bible, the peoples living in this region are referred to as “bene qedem” or “sons of the east” (Judg 6:3, 1 Kgs 4:30). They are considered to be some of the forefathers of the Arab peoples. Keep in mind that some of them are also descendants of Ham, as we saw last week.

4. Lud: Maybe connected to Lydia in Asia Minor.

5. Aram: This is where the Aramaic language came from (Daniel and even Jesus).

Uz – founded Damascus, home of Job.
Hul – southern Syria
Gether – Bactrians in northeast Afghanistan (per Josephus)
Mash – Mesaneans (Persian Gulf)

31 These were the sons of Shem, according to their families, according to their languages, in their lands, according to their nations.

We have to pick up the seed line of Peleg in Genesis 11 10 This is the genealogy of Shem: Shem was one hundred years old, and begot Arphaxad two years after the flood. 11After he begot Arphaxad, Shem lived five hundred years, and begot sons and daughters. 12Arphaxad lived thirty-five years, and begot Salah. 13 After he begot Salah, Arphaxad lived four hundred and three years, and begot sons and daughters. 14 Salah lived thirty years, and begot Eber. 15 After he begot Eber, Salah lived four hundred and three years, and begot sons and daughters. 16 Eber lived thirty-four years, and begot Peleg. 17 After he begot Peleg, Eber lived four hundred and thirty years, and begot sons and daughters. 18 Peleg lived thirty years, and begot Reu. 19 After he begot Reu, Peleg lived two hundred and nine years, and begot sons and daughters. 20 Reu lived thirty-two years, and begot Serug. 21 After he begot Serug, Reu lived two hundred and seven years, and begot sons and daughters. 22 Serug lived thirty years, and begot Nahor. 23 After he begot Nahor, Serug lived two hundred years, and begot sons and daughters. 24 Nahor lived twenty-nine years, and begot Terah. 25 After he begot Terah, Nahor lived one hundred and nineteen years, and begot sons and daughters. 26 Now Terah lived seventy years, and begot Abram, Nahor, and Haran.

Why did the ages decrease after the Flood? Some think that it must have been the new environment. Probably the oxygen and carbon dioxide levels were higher. Maybe, more chances for mosquitoes to develop from the stagnant flood water. All this could be, but Noah lived as long as Adam. I think it is because the population shrank, and the genes responsible for long lifespan were eliminated as they were bottlenecked down to eight people. Also, harmful mutations may have led to a loss of the length of the telomere, which bring about the replication of more cells.

Now, we know how the story went with regards to Abraham and Sarah. They messed up and tried to help God out by using Hagar. This gave Abraham Ishmael. Genesis 25 12 Now this is the genealogy of Ishmael, Abraham’s son, whom Hagar the Egyptian, Sarah’s maidservant, bore to Abraham. 13 And these were the names of the sons of Ishmael, by their names, according to their generations: The firstborn of Ishmael, Nebajoth; then Kedar, Adbeel, Mibsam, 14 Mishma, Dumah, Massa, 15 Hadar, Tema, Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah. 16These were the sons of Ishmael and these were their names, by their towns and their settlements, twelve princes according to their nations. These also became the progenitors of the Arab peoples.

Then, after Sarah died, Abraham married again. Genesis 25 1 Abraham again took a wife, and her name was Keturah. 2 And she bore him Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak, and Shuah. 3 Jokshan begot Sheba and Dedan. And the sons of Dedan were Asshurim, Letushim, and Leummim. 4 And the sons of Midian were Ephah, Epher, Hanoch, Abidah, and Eldaah. All these were the children of Keturah. These also became the ancestors of the Arab peoples. Where they all lost? Of course, not. Remember, Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, he was the priest of Midian. In other words, some had the truth and followed it, waiting on the Promised One to come from the line of Abraham and even supported that family!

Before we close this sermon, don’t forget that Isaac and Rebecca had 2 sons: Jacob and Esau. We know about Jacob, but how about Esau. Genesis 36 1 Now this is the genealogy of Esau, who is Edom. 2 Esau took his wives from the daughters of Canaan: Adah the daughter of Elon the Hittite; Aholibamah the daughter of Anah, the daughter of Zibeon the Hivite; 3 and Basemath, Ishmael’s daughter, sister of Nebajoth. 4 Now Adah bore Eliphaz to Esau, and Basemath bore Reuel. 5 And Aholibamah bore Jeush, Jaalam, and Korah. These were the sons of Esau who were born to him in the land of Canaan. 6 Then Esau took his wives, his sons, his daughters, and all the persons of his household, his cattle and all his animals, and all his goods which he had gained in the land of Canaan, and went to a country away from the presence of his brother Jacob. 7 For their possessions were too great for them to dwell together, and the land where they were strangers could not support them because of their livestock. 8 So Esau dwelt in Mount Seir. Esau is Edom. Mount Seir is the mount region between the Dead Sea and the Gulf of Aqaba. Genesis 36 11 And the sons of Eliphaz were Teman, Omar, Zepho, Gatam, and Kenaz. 12 Now Timna was the concubine of Eliphaz, Esau’s son, and she bore Amalek to Eliphaz. These were the sons of Adah, Esau’s wife. From here until verse 43, more descendants of Esau are listed. These also became the forefathers of the Arab peoples.

One thing they all have in common is that they were not chosen to bring God’s Promised One into the world. They were passed over. The heart of the problem in the Middle East is “Envy,” which is also the problem of our heart today.

Romans 9 10 And not only this, but when Rebecca also had conceived by one man, even by our father Isaac 11 (for the children not yet being born, nor having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works but of Him who calls), 12 it was said to her, “The older shall serve the younger.” 13 As it is written, “Jacob I have loved, but Esau I have hated…21 Does not the potter have power over the clay, from the same lump to make one vessel for honor and another for dishonor?” 9 For this is the word of promise: “At this time I will come and Sarah shall have a son.” 10 And not only this, but when Rebecca also had conceived by one man, even by our father Isaac 11 (for the children not yet being born, nor having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works but of Him who calls), 12 it was said to her, “The older shall serve the younger.” 13 As it is written, “Jacob I have loved, but Esau I have hated.” 14 What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? Certainly not! 15 For He says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whomever I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whomever I will have compassion.” 16 So then it is not of him who wills, nor of him who runs, but of God who shows mercy. 17 For the Scripture says to the Pharaoh, “For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I may show My power in you, and that My name may be declared in all the earth.” 18Therefore He has mercy on whom He wills, and whom He wills He hardens. 19 You will say to me then, “Why does He still find fault? For who has resisted His will?” 20 But indeed, O man, who are you to reply against God? Will the thing formed say to him who formed it, “Why have you made me like this?” 21 Does not the potter have power over the clay, from the same lump to make one vessel for honor and another for dishonor?

Not election unto salvation, but election unto service. 1. God has sovereignly chosen through which family to bring the Promise One in the world. By the way, this family has been through a lot! Do you really want to be picked! 2. Envy is the green-eyed monster that brings only hate and destruction. 3. Only a heart of humility and submission to God’s plan of salvation through Jesus can set us free.

Personal example of being infected by the green-eyed monster years ago, and it still comes for me time to time. Only gratefulness can set us free.

Are you saved? Do you understand God’s great plan? Are you humble and grateful?