GENESIS 11:10-26

INTRODUCTION

From Adam to Noah there were ten generations. By the end of that period man had become so sinful and disobedient that God brought a flood upon the whole earth to destroy mankind. Yet God preserved His godly line by saving the man Noah.

We see a parallel situation after the flood. From Shem to Abram there were ten generations. By the close of that time, mankind had become completely estranged from God; yet God did not respond to mankind’s wicked behavior with a flood. Rather God decided to preserve the godly seed through one nation and one man.

Because of man’s rebellion, God was no longer working directly with and through mankind as a whole. Yet in perfect timing and in accordance to His divine purpose, He was now ready to raise up a special nation to receive and transmit His Word to the other nations and to preserve the line of the promised Seed.

The opening words of this section of Genesis, “these are the generations of…” remind us that we are beginning a new section. The phrase occurs eleven times throughout Genesis and could be translated, “This is what x produced.” In no way can it mean, “This is the origins of x.” It is not dealing with ancestors, but with offspring.

Genesis highlights the importance of “seed”, or “offspring”. It is therefore most fitting to have this introductory expression drawing our attention to a family line. The very structure of Genesis calls us to look to a seed that God will use to gain victory over the devil and his offspring.

GENESIS 11:10-26

These are the generations of Shem. When Shem was 100 years old, he fathered Arpachshad two years after the flood.

And Shem lived after he fathered Arpachshad 500 years and had other sons and daughters.

When Arpachshad had lived 35 years, he fathered Shelah.

And Arpachshad lived after he fathered Shelah 403 years and had other sons and daughters.

When Shelah had lived 30 years, he fathered Eber. And Shelah lived after he fathered Eber 403 years and had other sons and daughters.

When Eber had lived 34 years, he fathered Peleg.

And Eber lived after he fathered Peleg 430 years and had other sons and daughters.

When Peleg had lived 30 years, he fathered Reu.

And Peleg lived after he fathered Reu 209 years and had other sons and daughters.

When Reu had lived 32 years, he fathered Serug.

And Reu lived after he fathered Serug 207 years and had other sons and daughters.

 When Serug had lived 30 years, he fathered Nahor.

 And Serug lived after he fathered Nahor 200 years and had other sons and daughters.

 When Nahor had lived 29 years, he fathered Terah.

And Nahor lived after he fathered Terah 119 years and had other sons and daughters. 

When Terah had lived 70 years, he fathered Abram, Nahor, and Haran.

THE FAMILY TREE

Here in verses 10-26 we have an example of a family tree. It reminds us that we are dealing with real people in real situations.

There are two types of family trees in Genesis. One type concentrates on presenting the trunk of the tree. It lists the descendants who belong to the main family line. Biblical historians call this a linear genealogy.

In the other type, the trunk often gets lost in the branches. Family members and their descendants are named who do not belong to the principal line. This is known as segmented genealogy.

The Bible uses genealogies to cover large periods of history in a brief and concise way.

The linear genealogy here in Genesis 11:10-26 moves us rapidly on from Noah’s son, Shem to Abram’s father, Terah.

A CHOSEN PEOPLE

The most important aspect of this genealogy is to draw attention to a special line through which God’s promise of a Redeemer would continue and in time be fulfilled. The names are links in a chain from Noah’s son, Shem, to Terah, Abram’s father.

These verses in chapter 11 narrow the line to reveal the special family to whom promises have been made. Despite the great confusion of languages and the scattering of the people all over the earth from Babel, God did not forget his promise, nor were His plans thwarted by this judgment. The special line continued.

Chapter 11 concentrates on the trunk of the tree. Only the main line of descent from Shem is given. That is because as we saw back in chapter 9, God had associated Himself in a special way with Shem. God was known as “the God of Shem”. Later, He would be known as the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

God had entered into a special relationship with these men, not because of anything in them for they were sinners as the rest, but because in grace God chose to set them apart for the accomplishment of His redemptive purposes.

As far as this world was concerned, these men were nobodies. They had not made a name for themselves like Nimrod. It reminds us that God has chosen the powerless, the insignificant and those whom the world considers unimportant so that no mere mortal can boast in God’s presence.

1 Corinthians 1:18-31 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written: "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate." Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know Him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe.

Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man's strength. Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. 

But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things — and the things that are not — to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before Him. It is by His doing that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God — that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption.   Therefore, as it is written: "Let him who boasts boast in the Lord.”

There is a message of hope for this sad world of lost sinners. God made promises at the time of Adam’s initial rebellion and it is the purpose of Genesis to show God keeping those promises. Of the three sons of Noah, it is Shem, by sovereign grace, who was in the line of promise.

God’s electing love should cause every Christian to humbly give all the glory to the God of all grace.