THE TABLE & THE TOWER

GENESIS 10-11

Pastor Rick Jackson

Genesis chapter 10 has been called "The Table of the Nations" and chapter 11 gives the history of the Tower of Babel. These two chapters wrap up the first section of Genesis sometimes referred to as the universal section since it deals with mankind in general. In the last few verses we are introduced to Abram who will change the direction of Genesis. The first 11 chapters cover over 2000 years and the remaining 39 chapters only cover about 350 years. Chapters 1-11 are centered around 4 key events (Creation, the Fall, the Flood and the Tower of Babel) whilst chapters 12-50 are centered around 4 key individuals (Abraham, Isaac, Israel & Joseph). These chapters are like a High School commencement. They spell the end of an era but more importantly, the commencement of a new era. The rise of Abraham brings us closer to the seed of the woman who we learn will also be of the seed of Abraham, Isaac, Israel, and Judah! (Note that Christ will come thru Judah not Joseph but Joseph plays an important part... every part is important but every part is not the same!)

Deuteronomy 32:8 When the Most High divided to the nations their inheritance, when he separated the sons of Adam, he set the bounds of the people according to the number of the children of Israel.

Acts 17:26 And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation;

I. THE PARTIAL LINE OF JAPHETH [v. 1-5]

1. THE PHRASE REPEATED [v. 1]

2. THE PEOPLES REPRESENTED [v. 2-4]

J. Vernon McGee notes the work of H.S. Miller, a scholar with a masters in ethnology as giving where the peoples of the world originated. "Russians, Bohemians, Polish, Slovaks, Croatians, etc. came from Magog. The Indians and the Iranic races: Medes, Persians, Afghans, Kurds, etc., all came from Madai. From Javan we have the Greeks, Romans, ...French, Spanish, Portuguese, Italians, etc. Coming from Tiras are the Thracians, the Teutons, the Germans... Scandanavians
(and) ...the English people."

3. THE PATTERN REHEARSED [v. 5]

Chapter 10 is a genealogical chapter not a chronological chapter. It is not a full genealogy but a particular genealogy, picking out the necessary individuals. Chapter 11 gives the details only hinted at in verses 5, 8-10, 20, 25, 31-32.

II. THE PARTIAL LINE OF HAM [v. 6-20]

1. THE POWERFUL REBEL [v. 6-10]

Nimrod is singled out because he evidently was a leader at Babel perhaps the instigator of the tower. He was a mighty hunter (some say of dinosaurs, some say the souls of men, perhaps he used his hunting prowess to impress the men of his day). God noticed what he was doing and at the right time He moved to nip the rebellion in the bud.

2. THE PEOPLES REPRESENTED [v. 6-19]

From Ham there came the "Ethiopians ...the Phoenicians ...Hittites... Jebusites... Amorites... Girgashites... Hivites... Egyptians." JVMcG

3. THE PATTERN REHEARSED [v. 20]

III. THE PARTIAL LINE OF SHEM [v. 21-32]

1. THE PROMINENCE RELATED [v. 21]

It is thought from the name "Eber" sometimes called "Heber" comes the term "Hebrews"

2. THE PEOPLES REPRESENTED [v. 21-30]

The line actually begins again at Genesis 11:10!

3. THE PATTERN REHEARSED [v. 25, 31-32]

The division is mentioned again. Is it a land division or a language division is view here. Probably both. Obviously the history of the Tower of Babel is about to be given. When the people separated because of the languages then land shifts undoubtedly occurred (earthquakes, ice bridges melting, erosion of weak land bridges, etc.).

IV. THE TOWER OF BABEL [11:1-9]

1. THE ATTITUDE [v. 1-4]

Concerning Abraham, Hebrews 11:10 says "For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God."

2. THE ALTITUDE [v. 4-6]

Genesis 6:5 And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.

3. THE APTITUDE [v. 7-9]

V. THE REST OF THE STORY

1. THE TALLY OF TIME [v. 10-25]

2. THE TRAIL OF TRIALS [v. 26-32]

In which we meet:

Terah- the man who stopped

Nahor- the man who stayed

Lot- the man who strayed

Abraham- the man who obeyed