The Table of Nations – Genesis 10
turn to Genesis 10. Don’t read, but point out some versus
Ever wonder where all the different languages, cultures, races come from? This is the explanation for that. If you just read through this quickly, it can be a boring list of names. But if you look into it a little bit, you can see that this is the origins of the countries of the world. This is a list of Noah’s sons, and their sons, but these names become the leaders of their clans, which become the leaders of nations. So in this book, the Bible explains where Noah’s sons and grandsons went to, but it also explains to us where all people came from.
I for instance, Japeth is considered to be the father of the European nations.
Look at verse 10:2.
Gomer – Germany
Magog – Russia
Madai – Persia or Iran
Javan – Greece, etc
This is not an exact science. You can’t match these names perfectly to each country, but it does give you a foundation or an idea of how they are laid out. It seems strange that eight people from Noahs ark could turn into 7 billion people that we have today, but it actually is pretty simple.
The formula for population growth: P x E to the RT power Show them the back of the map chart The rest of Genesis shows where each of the sons went and where some of the modern-day countries are. A lot of the names that you see here are mentioned throughout the rest of the Bible. For instance, Magog or (Russia) is mentioned a lot in and times prophecy.
Look at verse 25 – explain the continents shape
It also mentions Nimrod. He is a mighty warrior. The first that concurs land and builds the first empire Babylon
Babylon will be the birthplace of false religion, commercialism, and the worship of money, (the root of all evil)
So where did the different races come from?
Acts 17:26 26. From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands.
Explain micro versus macro evolution. It’s always a loss of information, not an addition of DNA information
The Tower of Babel
Read genesis 11:1-9
This event occurred before the nations of chapter 10 spread far, for 11:1-9 explains why the nations scattered with different languages (see 10:5). The story is more than a fanciful tale, for it reflects practices known from archaeology. Yet, this turning point in man’s plunge into sin has lessons for us. The structure of 11:1-9 is a key to understanding it.[11] The story is built like an hourglass:
11:1-2 narrative
11:3-4 discourse (“Come, let’s . . .”)
11:5 turning point
11:6-7 discourse (“Come, let us . . .”)
11:8-9 narrative 3.
Compare 11:1-2 to 11:9. What has changed?
Archaeology has revealed many of these temple – towers that were built in Mesopotamia between 2820 200 BC. Their names show that they were “meant to be a staircase from earth to heaven. The house of the link between heaven and earth The house of the seven guides of heaven and earth The house of the foundation – platform of heaven and earth The house of the Mountain of the universe The Babylonians also developed the zodiac and the horoscope in order to learn and control human destiny by reading the stars. The chief gods or the sun, the moon, and the planets.
Verse 1 – 1. Now the whole world had one language and a common speech.
What is wrong with that? Don’t give answer yet, but see if anyone knows.
Verse 2 – 2. As people moved eastward, they found a plain in Shinar and settled there.
Is there anything significant about moving east?
Genesis 4:16
Genesis 13:11
God planted the garden toward the east in eden
Cherubim guarded the garden to the east
parts of the burnt offering were thrown to the east
the tabernacle faces east
Positive, Godly things come FROM the east.
But traveling to the east is a bad thing.
Verse 3 – They said to each other, “Come, let’s make bricks and bake them thoroughly.” They used brick instead of stone, and tar for mortar.
They used brick instead of stone, and tar for mortar.
what is significant about that? Stone made by God, bricks by man. Mortar makes it water proof.(didn’t trust God’s promise)
Verse 4 – Then they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we may make a name for ourselves; otherwise we will be scattered over the face of the whole earth.”
The first “Come, let’s . . .” at Babel was uttered by the humans (11:3).
What was wrong with their purposes for building the city and tower?
a. to “make a name [renown, honor before men] for ourselves”
Gen 1:28
Gen 9:1
b. to avoid being scattered over the earth (see 1:27; 9:1)
c. to reach the heavens (to contact and manipulate astral gods so as to control nature and human events)
- What sinful attitudes, values, and fears do the people’s goals indicate to you?
Read James 4:13-17
13 Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” 14 Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. 15 Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.” 16 As it is, you boast in your arrogant schemes. All such boasting is evil. 17 If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them.
How are the attitudes in “come let us” and James alike?
For Thought and Discussion:
Does Babel have any lesson relevant to modern efforts to unite mankind? If so, how? If not, why not?
Verse 5 – 5. But the Lord came down to see the city and the tower the people were building.
What was the tower supposed to do? Did it succeed? Came down…
Verse 6 – The Lord said, “If as one people speaking the same language they have begun to do this, then nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them.
Why did God frustrate the people’s attempt at united accomplishment? Was is punishment or mercy?
Verse 7 Come, let us go down and confuse their language so they will not understand each other.”
Why is God centered on their “same” language?
Verse 8 – So the Lord scattered them from there over all the earth, and they stopped building the city
How did God “scatter” them?
Compare the unity of Babel to the unity “in Christ” that God planned for mankind
Ephesians 2:11-22;
4:1-16;
Revelation 5:6-10;
7:9-10
a. What are the goals of unity in Christ, according to these references?
b. How is unity in Christ accomplished?
c. Therefore, what was wrong with the unity at Babel? How would sinful man’s united success in technology, astrology, magic, self-preservation, and renown have hindered God’s plan to redeem the race from sin (see 11:4,6)?
Was God selfish or tyrannical in frustrating man’s unity at Babel? Why or why not?
In what ways are modern people like the ones who built the tower of Babel?
The bible is a tale of two kingdoms. Mans, and Gods. 2 capitals Babylon and Jerulseum. They start here.
Do the human attitudes or God’s response in this story offer any warnings that you might take to heart? If so, what
Genesis (LifeChange Book 16) (p. 81). The Navigators. Kindle Edition.