Lesson 16

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THE GENERATIONS OF THE SONS OF NOAH

IT IS EVIDENT that these genealogies are not intended to be complete. Thus, in Genesis 10:2 seven sons of Japheth are mentioned. But, of these seven, the descend­ants of only two are mentioned, Gomer and J a van. Nothing is said about the descendants of any other son of Japheth. The reason for this we do not know.

Note also that not all the great nations of antiquity are mentioned. For example, no reference is made to the Sumerians, who had an elaborate civilization at the head of the Persian Gulf long before the time of Abraham.

Note the Divine method in stating the genealogies. First the nations outside the line of redemption are named, then the line of Shem, which is the line of redemption. The same was true of Genesis four and five. In Genesis four the line of Cain was given, and in Genesis five the line of Seth, the redemption line.

As to the meaning of most of these names, and the peoples to whom they refer, we are for the most part very uncertain.

CHAPTER ELEVEN [Gen. 11]. Verses One to Nine [Gen. 11:1-9]. The lo­cation of the land of Shinar is uncertain. Mankind, in order not to be scattered abroad, builds the tower. Man trusts in himself and desires a great center of unity where he may be glorified as independent from God. God had a purpose in scattering man abroad1, for if mankind had remained concentrated and united at one place, so sin would have been, united and would have become enor­mously powerful. Therefore, the Lord scatters mankind abroad. When sinful man is scattered, sin is not as powerful as when it is united. Many false religions are better than just one false religion, for the many paralyze one another.

THE GENERATIONS OF SHEM

CHAPTER ELEVEN [Gen. 11]. Verses Ten to Twenty-six [Gen. 11:10-26]. The Shemites are the bearers of redemption. It was from them, in the fulness of the time, that the Lord Jesus Christ sprang. This genealogy is perhaps not intended to give a chronology.

EXERCISES

• Are these genealogies intended to be complete?
• Are all the nations of antiquity mentioned?
• What is the Divine method in stating the gene­alogies?
• Why did man desire to build the tower?
• Why did the Lord scatter man abroad?
• Of the three sons of Noah, which one is to be the bearer of redemption?

HYMNS FOR STUDY

No. 417: "Rejoice, Rejoice This Happy Morn."

No. 13: "Oh! For A Thousand Tongues To Sing."