Lesson 23

background notes

doctrinal points

1. All people and nations have descended from the three sons of Noah.

2. All people and nations are responsible to the one God of Noah.

 

practical application
1. You can be mighty for or against God.

 

questions
1. Why is Genesis 10 an important chapter in the Bible?

2. Reread Genesis 10:32. How were the nations divided after the flood?

3. To what does Genesis 10:25 refer?

4. From whom were all people descended before the flood? From whom were all people descended after the flood?

5. How did the races come about?

6. Who are the descendants of Japheth today? The descendants of Ham? The descendants of Shem? 

answers
1. It bridges the gap between Noah and Abraham. Here we learn how all people and nations descended from the three sons of Noah. Here we learn how and where the different nations spread out after the flood and after the Tower of Babel.

2. From the families of the sons of Noah, according to their generations, in their nations.

3. The Tower of Babel.

4. Adam and Eve. Noah and his sons.

5. There are a number of possibilities. The genetic variation seen in the people around the world today could be the result of spreading out after the tower of Babel, and thus selective repopulation and genetic drift. The gene pool of Noah’s three sons and their wives consisted of all that was necessary for the so-called racial differences to emerge. Another possibility is that a few mutations of the genetic pool after the flood led to different racial features.

6. The Indo-European nations descended from Japheth. The descendents of Ham spread southwest into Canaan and Egypt and other parts of Africa. The descendants of Shem continued to possess the Mesopotamian Valley and the surrounding areas.

 

discuss / consider
1. In spite of some minor genetic differences, we are all one people, so racism is foreign to the Bible. See Acts 17:26.

2. The prevailing thought among social scientists today is that monotheism is a late development in human evolution. They say that early man was an animist, worshiping the spirits in the objects of nature. Then, they say, man moved up polytheism, worshipping many gods. Finally, they say, that man arrived at monotheism. The Bible teaches just the opposite.

 

challenge
1. Nimrod was a mighty hunter before the Lord, but his actions were against the Lord. He was known for his prowess not in hunting animals, but in hunting souls of people. There are many Nimrods today; people of influence who use their power against the Lord. They undermine and scorn Biblical standards. Are you mighty for the Lord?

memorize

• “This is the genealogy of the sons of Noah: Shem, Ham, and Japheth.” Genesis 10:1

• “To Eber (descendant of Shem) were born two sons - Peleg, for in his days the earth was divided; and his brother...” Genesis 10:25

• “These were the families of the sons of Noah, according to their generations, in their nations; and from these the nations were divided on the earth after the flood.” Genesis 10:32