Genesis Part 1 - Week 20

Day 1 

READ 

Genesis 10:21-24 

21 Sons were also born to Shem, the older brother of Japheth. Shem was the ancestor of all the descendants of Eber. 22 The descendants of Shem were Elam, Asshur, Arphaxad, Lud, and Aram. 23 The descendants of Aram were Uz, Hul, Gether, and Mash. 24 Arphaxad was the father of Shelah, and Shelah was the father of Eber. 

This begins the genealogy of Shem, whose descendants will be the main characters in Genesis as well as the rest of the Bible. “Elam” later was Persia. “Aram” later was Syria and Mesopotamia. The Jewish people will be the eventual descendants of Shem. Perhaps such genealogies do not seem important to Gentiles today, but to the Jewish people such lists meant everything.  

REFLECT 

Do you reflect on your family history? Do you have a list that you examine to find significant people in your past? Have some of them done what you are now doing? 

RESPOND 

Visit with a friend about the significance of genealogies to the Jewish people. When they were returning from the Babylonian captivity some were not able to serve as priests because the proper listing could not be found in the genealogy (see Nehemiah 7:64). 

Day 2 

READ 

Genesis 10:25 

25 Eber had two sons. The first was named Peleg (which means “division”), for during his lifetime the people of the world were divided into different language groups. His brother’s name was Joktan. 

The reference to Peleg is an indication that his time looked to a period after what occurred in Genesis 11. That was when the people were divided into different language groups. Inasmuch as Moses was recording this after the fact, it is understandable to refer to a later time as he wrote this account. This will be studied later. 

REFLECT 

See this as another example that one needs to keep reading in the Bible to get the full story. 

RESPOND 

It is time to refresh one’s thinking about God inspiring the human authors to record exactly what He wanted them to (see 2 Timothy 3:16 and 2 Peter 1:21). 

Day 3 

READ 

Genesis 10:26-31 

      26 Joktan was the ancestor of Almodad, Sheleph, Hazarmaveth, Jerah, 27 Hadoram, Uzal, Diklah, 28 Obal, Abimael, Sheba, 29 Ophir, Havilah, and Jobab. All these were descendants of Joktan. 30 The territory they occupied extended from Mesha all the way to Sephar in the eastern mountains. 31 These were the descendants of Shem, identified by clan, language, territory, and national identity. 

Noah had three sons, Shem, Ham and Japheth. The genealogies had been given for Japheth and Ham, and this concludes the genealogy for the descendants of Shem. These descendants had been listed “by clan, language, territory, and national identity.” 

REFLECT 

What if you were left a large sum of money if you could find your name in your family genealogy? Do you think that would make you search diligently for your name? 

RESPOND 

Talk with a friend about the kind of important searches an individual can make. The most important of all is to search the Scriptures for what they say about Jesus and how to obtain a life with God. One of the best New Testament books to search for these matters would be the eye-witness report in the gospel of John. The reason for the apostle John to write what he did is stated in John 20:30-31. 

Day 4 

READ 

Genesis 10:32 

32 These are the clans that descended from Noah’s sons, arranged by nation according to their lines of descent. All the nations of the earth descended from these clans after the great flood. 

This summarizes what has been recorded. Noah’s sons (descendants) have been arranged “by nation according to their lines of descent.” In case anyone doubts, it is mentioned that “All the nations of the earth descended from these clans after the great flood.” There are no exceptions. 

REFLECT 

Some use evolutionary theories to endeavor to explain the nations on earth. God’s Word tells the truth. 

RESPOND 

This is a time to remind everyone that the God of creation is the one who can be trusted to tell the truth about not only creation but also the development of the nations. See again Hebrews 11:3 that indicates only God was there so He was the only eyewitness and His word is taken by faith, just as those who propose evolutionary theories take their views by faith.  

Day 5 

READ 

Genesis 11:1-2 

1 At one time all the people of the world spoke the same language and used the same words. 2 As the people migrated to the east, they found a plain in the land of Babylonia and settled there. 

Many would like to know what the language was but the Bible does not say. It would be wonderful to be using the same words everyone else was using. There would be no need now for those translating the Bible into the heart languages of various groups. Although this translation of Genesis 11:2 says they migrated “to the east,” some others render the expression as “from the east.” They had apparently come to the Tigris-Euphrates valley.  

REFLECT 

Do you remember who was responsible for building things in Babylonia? 

RESPOND 

Talk with a friend about who built the kingdom and cities in Babylonia. Read Genesis 10:8-10 for the answer. A rebel was building what would become a rebellious place.