Genesis 10:1-32 – God is in control

This chapter contains three lists of names of the generations of Noah’s descendants after the flood. Three lists of the family line of his three sons, Japheth, Ham and Sham are given in these 32 verses. This chapter shows us conclusively that the three sons literally fulfilled God’s instruction to be fruitful, multiply and fill the earth. Imagine how wonderful the world would be since the cataclysmic flood had gotten rid of evil. But alas it is not to be. The propensity to sin remained with Noah since he had inherited Adam’s fallen nature. Hence the otherwise would be wonderful and peaceful new start to humanity would continue if not for the unfortunate incidence of Noah’s drunkenness. It resulted in the wrong act of Ham and the curse Noah pronounced on Canaan, the descendants of Ham.

These lists of the descendants of Noah’s three sons - Japheth, Ham and Shem would show us how the words of Noah’s curse of Ham and the blessings on Japheth and Shem would play out. In these three lists we see the clans, languages, lands and the nations of the three sons of Noah. They constitute a potpourri of ethnic, linguistic, geographical, and political designations arising from the descendants of Noah. We shall not go into detail of each of his sons, but suffice to say that Japheth had seven sons, Ham four, and Shem five. 

In the progression of time, we will discover that the constant stumbling blocks to the progress of Israel as a nation would come from Ham’s descendants – Cush, Egypt, Put and Canaan. From Canaan came Israel’s many adversaries that sought to stumble their journey with God as they made their way toward the Promised Land. Some of the common ones listed would be the Jebusite, the Amorite, the Girgashite, and the Hivite etc.  However, the greatest significance of these three lists of names of Noah’s three sons would be Eber, one of Shem’s descendant recorded in verses 24-25. It is understood that the word Hebrew is related to the name Eber. This gives us an indication that the Hebrew people find their ancestry in Eber. We will discover that Abraham, the father of faith hailed from the line of Peleg, the son of Eber. It was through him that the blessings Noah bestowed on Shem find their fullest expression.  

The plan of God will continue to progress through His chosen vessels. His purpose can never be thwarted. What He had in mind when He created Adam continues to play itself out despite the fall. He continued to use different chosen instruments along the way to bring progression to His work. The presence of evil may seek to hamper what God wants to accomplish. But it can never halt the progression of His plan and purpose. God is more than a match for His adversaries. At every turn of the way, He has a way and He will bring His purpose to a climatic triumph. We shall see them unfold progressively. Glory to His name!