In a few short chapters the explanation of how the earth was repopulated, divided into nations and languages and tribal areas is explained. In fact, from this passage we find out why the middle east has been in turmoil since the beginning.
Apparently there was something taboo about seeing another person naked back in Noah’s day. It’s sort of a sad commentary on how far from that we have strayed. When Ham looked and laughed and treated his father with disrespect Noah cursed him. We don’t hear much about curses from godly people, but it did happen once in a while. Noah said that from now on Ham’s descendants would be slaves of Shem and Japheth. Ham went on to populate the middle east, so the Iranians, the Iraqis, the Philistines, Jordanians could all be potential descendants of Ham. We can’t say “all of them” because Abram lived in that area and he was descended from Shem. So they intermixed, and probably didn’t pay much attention to the “curse” that Abraham had applied. But I think what Abraham was saying is this: “God has selected Shem as the person from whom Jesus will draw his lineage”. As you look at the names in the table of nations, you see some familiar countries listed.
That’s because this is an explanation of who went where, and how the nations came into being. For instance, we have maritime people who build ships and explore the seas (perhaps the vikings are descended from them) because of Japheth’s great-great grandchildren. Most of Europe was populated by Japheth’s family line I believe. That would make me a descendant of his.
Something crazy must have happened to the environment when the flood occurred. Mankind didn’t eat meat until the flood, and apparently the animals weren’t really afraid of humans before the flood. Maybe that’s why we have pictures of people walking around with dinosaurs. They weren’t afraid of us and we weren’t trying to kill and eat them. But after the flood we are specifically told to eat meat. God must have had a reason. And did you notice how the ages begin to drop? Children are born earlier and lifespans are short with each generation. Think of all the wisdom we would have if you could still visit Abraham Lincoln in his home today, or John Wesley! That would be possible in God’s original plan. If we lived just over half as long as God originally intended, you could visit Martin Luther and ask him why he nailed his thesis to the door of the church, and why he wanted to break away from the catholic church. In fact, there probably wouldn’t be nearly as many divisions in the church today if we had the benefit of our elders insight still with us.
How can anyone read these chapters and not be wistful over what we lost as humanity? Shouldn’t even a quick glance be enough to motivate us to remain obedient and reject sinful behavior? Just look at the mess disobedience caused! I am certainly not willing to leave an inheritance of punishment for my children. I want my family to look back on my behavior and be both proud and thankful. I can certainly say that about both sets of my grandparents.
Well, I can see that there simply isn’t any way to make notes about everything that you can see in 4 chapters. Maybe the Holy Spirit will use these few stray thoughts to help you recognize something helpful.
faithfully,
PR