QT 8/13/2025 Gen 10:21–32, We really need God to live life

Genesis 10:21–32 (ESV) —

21 To Shem also, the father of all the children of Eber, the elder brother of Japheth, children were born. 22 The sons of Shem: Elam, Asshur, Arpachshad, Lud, and Aram. 23 The sons of Aram: Uz, Hul, Gether, and Mash. 24 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 Joktan fathered Almodad, Sheleph, Hazarmaveth, Jerah, 27 Hadoram, Uzal, Diklah, 28 Obal, Abimael, Sheba, 29 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 These are the sons of Shem, by their clans, their languages, their lands, and their nations.

32 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.

 

NOTE: From the descendants of Shem, we get Eber, which apparently is another name for Hebrews. Although it appears only Peleg's descendants seem to carry on the name. Most of Shem's descendants were in the Arabian peninsula, Mesopotamia, area in Iran, and possibly as far west as India. There is no one accepted view on what is meant be the earth being divided. I am going with the assumption that it was the scattering of the tribes after the tower of Babel incident. Certainly, a miraculous changing of languages would probably cause a separation of the tribes.

 

The importance of this section is that it explains the creation of nations. And the phrase in verse 32, "after the flood," highlights the fact that the flood changed everything. It was not like this prior to the flood. There were no nations, nor were there events that changed everything. Survival ultimately required moving into new places. Even centuries later, in the early years of the US, many people groups immigrated to the US because of overcrowding in the cities in Europe.

 

So what is the point? In one sense, these verses are the setup for the next story, the tower of Babel, a story which occurs in the midst of these generations, all descended from one man, and then are separated. Again, my guess is that this occurred around the time of Peleg's birth. The story is setting itself up for another fall of man, first in Eden, then in the time after Eden, and then in the time after the flood (tower of Babel). A fourth try will be when God chooses a nation from the line of Eber. That will also fail. Ultimately, every attempt of God is thwarted by Man's sin. The lesson should be clear, man cannot exist apart from God.

 

PONDER:

1. Who do I rely upon to live my life -- is it God or is it really just me?
2. What can I do to rely upon God more in everyday life?

 

PRAYER: Father, I need your help. My natural tendency is to live in my own strength. I know I need you. And I know I fail when I try to do things in my own strength. Give me grace and mercy to grow closer to you.