Day 863: Unity after division - Genesis 10 vs 21 -32

21 To Shem also, the father of all the children of Eber, the elder brother of Japheth, children were born. 22-24 The sons of Shem: Elam, Asshur, Arpachshad, Lud, and Aram. The sons of Aram: Uz, Hul, Gether, and Mash. Arpachshad fathered Shelah; and Shelah fathered Eber.

25 To Eber were born two sons: the name of the one was Peleg, for in his days the earth was divided, and his brother's name was Joktan. 26-29 Joktan fathered Almodad, Sheleph, Hazarmaveth, Jerah, Hadoram, Uzal, Diklah, Obal, Abimael, Sheba, Ophir, Havilah, and Jobab; all these were the sons of Joktan. 30 The territory in which they lived extended from Mesha in the direction of Sephar to the hill country of the east.

31-32 These are the sons of Shem, by their clans, their languages, their lands, and their nations. These are the clans of the sons of Noah, according to their genealogies, in their nations, and from these the nations spread abroad on the earth after the flood. Genesis 10:21-32 English Standard Version

We are still in the part of Genesis where we read of people who descended from Noah's three sons after the catastrophic flood that covered the earth. Having spoken of nations that grew from Japheth and Ham, we’re now given names of people who were born from the line of Shem. How is Shem described in vs 21?

Though Shem had a number of sons, he is highlighted as the father of 'all the children of Eber', who seems to have been a great-grandson. ‘Eber’ is similar to the word 'Hebrew' and it's possible that it's from Eber that his descendants became known as Hebrews. Later in Genesis there was a battle during which some people were taken captive from the region of Sodom and Gomorrah, and we read that: “One who had escaped came and told Abram the Hebrew, who was living by the oaks of Mamre the Amorite.” (Genesis 14:13) This is the Abram whose name was changed to Abraham, and from whom the Israelites would come.

We are then told of two of Eber's sons, Peleg and Joktan. What is a huge event that took place in the days of Peleg? (vs 25)

There was a great division of all the people who had descended from Noah's sons. We will read more about that in the next chapter. In the meantime, Genesis gives a short description of Joktan's descendants. Chapter 11 will focus on the descendants of Peleg, the son of Eber. The picture that clearly emerges is that the Bible is essentially a history of those who would form the narrative of God's wonderful plan of salvation. The story of Noah moves from Shem, to Eber, to Nahor, to Abraham, to Isaac, to Jacob (whose name was changed to Israel), and then to the twelve children born to him. And from the nation of Israel would be born the Messiah, who we know from the New Testament to have been Jesus, who was born in Bethlehem.

There's another lesson we can remind ourselves of from what is said in vs 31-32 of today's reading. The world's history has been full of nations and individuals who regarded themselves as superior to all others. Racism is not an issue unique to our days. How wonderful then are the words the apostle Paul spoke to the proud Greeks in Athens when he said: “The God who made the world and everything in it . . . made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth.” (Acts 17:24-26) He takes mankind's origins even a step back from the sons of Noah, and refers to the first man God had created.

People of every continent on earth are descended from one man! And while the mannerisms of nations will differ, the gospel has been sent to all. The Jew who believes on Christ is not greater than someone from any other nation who receives Jesus as Lord. Christian Eskimos are family to Christian West Indians. People were divided in the days of Peleg, but are brought together in Christ. That’s a truth worth rejoicing in.