Roots Genesis 10-11

Roots

Genesis 10:1, 32 “Now these are the generations of the sons of Noah, Shem, Ham, and Japeth: and unto them were sons born after the flood.” “These are the families of the sons of Noah, after their generations, in their nations: and by these were the nations divided in the earth after the flood.”

Alex Haley’s Roots was aired in 1977 as a 10 week miniseries in which black collaborators, guided by white men, captured young black African male youths, to be sold into slavery in the 18^th century. The 10 week miniseries chronicled certain black youth slaves from their initial capture and journey to America, and followed them into the 19^th century, thru adulthood and eventually tracing their African roots to discover their ancestral heritage.

            Knowing our ancestral heritage is vital to understanding who we are. It gives us identity and a sense of belonging. In the case of the Bible, knowing our roots also lets us know, with certainty, that we were fearfully and wonderfully made, designed and created by the Master as opposed to evolving from apes, or some other man contrived nonsense. Knowing your roots also helps explain why certain skills and traits are in your family tree, which may further explain why you or I are drawn to certain fields of interests. Biblical roots also trace the linage of Jesus Christ; Matt.1:1-17 establishes his right to the throne of David through Joseph, the husband of Mary, while Luke 3:23-38 traces his ancestors through Mary, to Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God. Seth was the substitute in the righteous line after Cain slew his brother Abel. Both establish Jesus as the lawful heir to David’s throne (hence he is often called the son of David) and both establish the righteous plan of God’s to redeem his people from the curse of death. Interestingly, He is not only called the son of David, through Joseph, but He is also called the Son of God through Mary.

            Certain members of my family have taken great pains to research and preserve our family history on both my mother and father’s side of the family. I know that my father’s family emigrated from England and were harness makers by trade; while my mother’s family, at one time, owned slaves in the South.

When my father’s family emigrated, harness makers were in abundance, so my grandfather became a telegrapher for the UPI. My grandfather on my mother’s side was a carpenter and cabinet maker by trade.

            Whenever we encounter long lists of names of people in Scripture, the first thing we are accustomed to doing is skip to another more interesting part of Scripture.  Genesis 10 is no different. However, it is important knowledge to understand:

·         Where the sons of Noah settled

·         Who they were (names)

·         In some cases what their occupations were

·         The language spoken (11:1 “…the whole earth was of one language, and of one speech”)

·         Nations from which the whole earth was occupied, as well as the directions in which they traveled

·         Names of significant people:

1.    Nimrod

2.    Gomer

3.    Magog

·         Certain cities were built which either still exist today or have significance in terms of geographical location

4.    Babel

5.    Land of Shinar

6.    Nineveh

7.    Rehoboth

Genesis 11 continues the saga of Ch.10

Vs.1 begins by informing us that everyone living on earth after the flood spoke one language. It is not a contradiction of 10:5; 20; 31 “…in their tongues, in their lands, after their nations”. Rather it continues the historical saga of man.

Vs.3-4 is the prelude to the unleashing of God’s anger by confusing their languages, and dispersing them abroad lest they become unrestrained to do after their imaginations vs.6.

·         This is the apex of diverse languages and speech.

Vs. 10 Babel became the name of the place where God confused their language causing them to disperse.

Vs.11-32 records the linage of Seth. Shem had a son, Arphaxad, who was born 2 years after the flood. Another important vittles to chew on, which alludes to a timeline of historical value. Seth’s linage also leads us directly to Abram (later called Abraham) who became the patriarch of Israel, the Hebrews. There also lists the longevity of Seth’s posterity:

·         Seth was 100 years old when his son was born, 2 years after the flood

·         He lived 500 years after Arphaxad was born, making Seth at least 600 years old when he died

A lot of folk lived for several centuries in those days.  

Faith Building Practice and Review

1.    Name 3 reasons for studying biblical lineages.

2.    What specific timeline are we studying in Ch.10 -11 Pre-flood; post-flood; mid-flood?

3.    How do we know?

4.    Name some specifics a person may learn from studying biblical ancestors.

5.    Have you studied your personal family tree?

6.    What did you learn about yourself from it?

7.    Why is the study of Seth’s linage so important?

8.    How long did Seth live?

9.    How many languages were spoken in ch.10?

10. How did diverse languages come into existence?

11. For what reason did God confuse their tongues?

12. Today there are a few living centurions. How would you like to live 600 years or more? Ever think about it?

13. Does this study make it easier to study or more difficult to study our biblical ancestors?

14. Why?

15. Are you beginning to see the righteous line of salvation established by God?

16. In the next section, Knowing God, is it not easier to see God’s persona?

17. Are you beginning to see why it’s far greater to Know God than to memorize Bible trivia?

Knowing God

A brief synopsis of the persona of God [not complete, add to the list]. Circle each attribute of God as illustrated in this lesson. Explain and designate the verse or passage.

·         Love

·         Gracious

·         Merciful

·         Righteousness

·         Longsuffering

·         Gentleness

·         Faithfulness

·         Compassionate

·         Forgiving

·         Friend

·         Anger

·         Sovereignty

·         Provider

·         Redemptive

·         Remnant lover and provider

       The ultimate goal of Bible study is to know God and not to merely memorize Bible trivia. As you study, identify the attributes of God. For instance: make a note when you read of God extending His forgiveness or compassion, and remember how He has done the same for you.

Response to: Will we ever be content with our bodies?

Our bodies were designed by our Creator to be loved and cared for. Unfortunately many of us get caught up in the vanity thing and are never satisfied, bo-tox etc.We need to pray for contentment where needed and lose or gain appropriate weight as applicable. True body image begins with the heart, not outward fashion, though clothing and personal hygiene speak volumes about our inner self. Hollywood and media hype often set unrealistic trends which may cause inner battles and struggles with our self image. Pasties, thongs, going topless etc. are also an expression of our inner self. In this scenario it is usually an inner negative self image seeking outward approval from others; wrong track to be on.

Genesis 7-8 The Flood

Genesis 7-8 the Flood

After 120 years of building the ark it was time to board taking two of every kind of animal, male and female and the fowl of the air by sevens, both male and female to replenish the earth after the flood. 

            It took seven days to fully load all the animals and fowl, afterward the door was shut and the floods began vs. 10.The only human occupants were Noah, his wife, and their three sons and their wives for a total of eight people to repopulate the earth. Noah was 600 years old when he entered the ark.

            Verses 11 & 12 shows that the rain continued for forty days and forty nights plus the fountains of the deep were broken up. The Amplified says the fountains of the great deep were broken up and burst forth, and the windows and flood gates of the heavens were opened.

This is the first mention of rain in Scripture. Genesis 2:5-6 states that the whole earth was watered by a mist as God had not yet caused it to rain. There are those who dispute a worldwide catastrophic flood that covered the entire earth, opting for a more localized flood, stating that there couldn’t possibly be enough rain or water from beneath to cause such a phenomenon, and scientists are still debating how much water it would take and where it came from.

We need to take God’s word as truth, believing it by faith. 1 Cor.1:27-29 But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty. And the base things of the world, and the things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: that no flesh should glory in His presence.

In other words, contrary to popular belief, we simply do not have all the answers for God hath not chosen to reveal them unto us.

            No matter how much water it took, nor where it came from, it was sufficient to cover the entire earth. Vs.17-20 states that the waters prevailed and increased greatly upon the earth…and rose fifteen cubits upward (one cubit is estimated from 17 to 21 inches, so taking an average of 18” times 15 = approx.221/2 feet above the mountains). Verses 21-23 every living creature that was not aboard the ark—died. Virtually every culture on earth has some variation of a catastrophic worldwide flood.

·         Verse 24 the waters prevailed on the earth 150 days after the waters stopped. 150 divided by 30 days = 5 months. 5 months after the flood stopped.

·         Ch.8:4 on the 17^th day of the seventh month the ark rested on the mountains of Ararat [in Armenia].

·         Three months later, on the first day of the tenth month the tops of the mountains were seen.

·         Ch.8:7 another 40 days and Noah opened the window and sent forth a raven which flew to and fro until the waters dried up from the earth.

·         Ch.8:8 a dove is sent forth and returns having found no dry ground.

·         Ch.8:10-11 another 7 days and the dove sent out again, returning with an olive branch. But they stayed another seven days before sending the dove out again; this time not returning.

·         Noah, his family and all the fowl and animals on the ark lived together until the waters abated and dry land appeared so Noah and the occupants of the ark could touch dry ground to replenish the earth.

·         Calculating from when Noah entered the ark at age 600, 7:11 until he left it, at age 601 8:13-14, he stayed in the ark 1 year and 10 days, until God told him it was safe to leave the ark 8:15-17.

Ice Age

            There are numerous suppositions concerning the Ice Age or multiples thereof. However, Scripture only touches on the subject one time, in Job 38:29-30. Out of whose womb came the ice? And the hoary frost of heaven, who has given it birth? The waters are congealed like stone, and the face of the deep is frozen. Amplified Bible

            We know there are glaciers all over the world and typically an Ice Age would cover approximately 30% of the land mass. However, to assert a worldwide Ice Age would be an extreme stretch on the imagination as it simply is not supported by Scripture. The typical argument is that “it takes water to make ice”, therefore since the world was covered with water in Noah’s day there must also have been an age of ice at the same time. However, the fact that the waters receded after only 1 year and 10 months, and the land was dry seems to refute that hypothesis.

            Surely when Moses left the ark, after 1year and 10 days, if the whole earth were frozen, the Lord God would have mentioned it. That appears to me to be a trifle bit of information to omit absentmindedly. Don’t you agree? The passage in Job 28 could very well have been a localized situation as opposed to global. Remember also that Job 38 are the words of the Lord God in His chastisement of Job.

An altar to the Lord God

This was a major event in Noah’s life as well as the lives of his family, so Noah built an altar to the Lord God to worship Him, and when the Lord God smelled the burnt offerings of every beast Noah offered, He accepted it and pronounced a covenant with Noah which stands to this day.

Recalling the past events, I suspect Noah’s offering was in regards to several facets:

·         Worship as the Lord of Lords, the Supreme God of gods.

·         Prayer of thanksgiving for sparing their lives from eternal destruction.

·         Prayer and thanksgiving for God’s provision.

·         Recognition of God’s boundless love for His creation, particularly mankind.

·         God’s righteousness in destroying the wicked.

Faith Building Practice and Review

1.    How many years did it take to build the ark?

2.    How long did it take to populate the ark with all the animals, fowl and humans?

3.    How long did it rain upon the earth?

4.    How old was Noah when he entered the ark?

5.    How old was Noah when he left the ark?

6.    How long was the ice age upon the earth?

7.    What type of winter clothing and gear did God provide for the polar ice caps during Noah’s day?

8.    How long was Noah’s stay on the ark?

9.    What insights do you have in regards to the altar Noah built?

10. How much water did it take to cover the mountains?

11. Where did the water come from?

12. How deep was the water above the mountains?

Knowing God

A brief [not complete; add to the list] synopsis of the persona of God. Circle each attribute of God as illustrated in this lesson. Explain and designate the verse or passage.

·         Love

·         Gracious

·         Merciful

·         Righteousness

·         Longsuffering

·         Gentleness

·         Faithfulness

·         Compassionate

·         Forgiving

·         Friend

·         Anger

·         Sovereignty

·         Provider

·         Redemptive

·         Remnant lover and provider

The ultimate goal of Bible study is to know God and not to merely memorize Bible trivia. As you study, identify the attributes of God. For instance: make a note when you read of God extending His forgiveness or compassion, and remember how He has done the same for you