These episodes are around 15 minutes and are guided reflections. As a reminder, I read from the New Living Translation because it sounds more like every day English and it helps me to hear scripture in a new way. I hope it does those things for you too.
These sessions include periods of time for you to process what you heard. But if you need more time on any given section, just hit pause. Remember, not rushing is what makes this time with Him more beautiful.
OK.
Let’s get started by taking a deep breath,
By releasing the stresses of the day,
And by being still.
-Interlude-
Tell God what is keeping you up at night; what thoughts keep your mind swirling when you need to rest. Holy God – Meet with us today in the quiet. Help us to find you in Your Word. Will you teach us today?
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Yesterday, we heard about the animals and God’s people being set free from being shut in the ark for other a year. We learned about the commandment to be fruitful and multiply, the requirement of blood for the death of another; and the covenant between God and his people to not destroy the land with a flood again. We also learned once again about humanity’s bend towards failure.
Today, I’m going to slaughter some words. It’s true. It is going to happen. We’re in another chapter of genealogy. And these names….well, they’re challenging. So, bear with me as the slaughter begins. Before you decide to skip this part, keep in mind, 2 Timothy 3 tells us that all scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work (2 Timothy 3:16-17).” That is ALL of scripture. Not just the fun parts or the cool stories. But all of it – even the genealogies. Remember, God promised a serpent crusher. And God’s people were still waiting for him.
Chapter 10
This is the account of the families of Shem, Ham, and Japheth, the three sons of Noah. Many children were born to them after the great flood.
Descendants of Japheth
2 The descendants of Japheth were Gomer, Magog, Madai, Javan (Havan), Tubal (Tu-val), Meshech (mee-shek), and Tiras.
3 The descendants of Gomer were Ashkenaz, Riphath (Ri-fath), and Togarmah (Toe-gar-ah).
4 The descendants of Javan were Elishah (Eli-Sah), Tarshish, Kittim, and Rodanim.* (Ro-da-nim)5 Their descendants became the seafaring peoples that spread out to various lands, each identified by its own language, clan, and national identity.
Descendants of Ham
6 The descendants of Ham were Cush, Mizraim (Miz-RI-am), Put, and Canaan.
7 The descendants of Cush were Seba, Havilah, Sabtah (sav-TAH), Raamah, and Sabteca (Sev-ta-ah). The descendants of Raamah were Sheba and Dedan.
8 Cush was also the ancestor of Nimrod, who was the first heroic warrior on earth. 9 Since he was the greatest hunter in the world,* his name became proverbial. People would say, “This man is like Nimrod, the greatest hunter in the world.” 10 He built his kingdom in the land of Babylonia,* with the cities of Babylon, Erech, Akkad, and Calneh. 11 From there he expanded his territory to Assyria,* building the cities of Nineveh, Rehoboth-ir, Calah, 12 and Resen (the great city located between Nineveh and Calah).
13 Mizraim was the ancestor of the Ludites, Anamites, Lehabites, Naphtuhites, 14 Pathrusites, Casluhites, and the Caphtorites, from whom the Philistines came.*
15 Canaan’s oldest son was Sidon, the ancestor of the Sidonians. Canaan was also the ancestor of the Hittites,* 16 Jebusites, Amorites, Girgashites, 17 Hivites, Arkites, Sinites, 18 Arvadites, Zemarites, and Hamathites. The Canaanite clans eventually spread out, 19 and the territory of Canaan extended from Sidon in the north to Gerar and Gaza in the south, and east as far as Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, and Zeboiim, near Lasha.
20 These were the descendants of Ham, identified by clan, language, territory, and national identity.
Descendants of Shem
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.
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.
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.
Conclusion
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.
Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation (Ge 10). Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers.
May God bless the reading and hearing of his word.
Genealogies can be challenging but did you hear any names that jumped out at you? Did any of them sound familiar? What questions do you have in light of this passage?
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Unlike the genealogy we saw in Genesis 5, this one tells us where they lived. The author of Genesis wanted to make sure we understood not only who the people were but also where they lived. Why do you think this would be important then and now?
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Does it give you comfort knowing God knows exactly where you are in the world and what YOUR genealogy is? He knew your parents and their parents. If you have children, he knows their names as well…he even knows the names of those who have not even been born yet. What does this teach us about how God is? How can it provide you with peace today?
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Ease back into your day with a few moments of quiet. The world with wait just a few more minutes.
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Father God – Thank you that you know our name and you knew us before the creation of the world.
Messiah Jesus – We know that you sit at the right hand of the father and that you always petition the father on our behalf, and we are grateful.
Holy Spirit – Reside with us today. Bring us wise counsel – not as the world sees things as wise, but as You do – intercede for us today. Amen.
Thanks for listening to this 10th episode of Coffee with Christ. The plan is to post these every week day. So, don’t forget to subscribe wherever you listen to your podcasts, so you don’t miss an episode.
Have a great day and be sure to tune in tomorrow for our next episode.