The Family Tree

Song: Standing On The Promises

Scripture: Genesis 10:1-32

Genesis 10, often called the Table of Nations, is a family tree of all the nations populating the earth when God brought Israel up from Egypt.

From Japheth descended the peoples of Europe and Asia, and the great empires which followed Judah’s captivity in Babylon. Madai was the father of the Medes, whose conquest secured the power of Cyrus the Great. The sons of Javan settled in Ionia, or ancient Greece. Kittim’s seed peopled Cyprus and the name eventually became identified with the Romans who ruled in Jesus’ day.

Much space is given to the sons of Ham, whose descendants settled in Babylon, Syria, Canaan, Egypt and Africa. Mizraim is the ancient name for Egypt, Cush for Ethiopia, Put for Libya. Nimrod founded the chief cities of Babylon and Assyria. Ham’s descendants were the thorn in Israel’s side. Egypt oppressed her, Canaan’s children seduced her with idolatry, Assyria and then Babylon carried her from the promised land.

Shem was the father of the Semitic peoples. They populated the region from Syria through Mesopota-mia to Arabia. Abraham and the Jewish people descended from Shem. In fact, the name “Hebrew” may have come from the name of Shem’s son Eber. Genesis 10 is a glossary of all the tribes and peoples that play an important role in God’s plans for Israel. From Noah’s seed the nations of the earth were separated. Through the seed of Shem, in the person of Jesus, they are united once more.

Jason Moore