Articles
No One May Boast
Reading: Genesis 10
The clans of the sons of Noah grew and spread across the planet as the Lord directed (v. 32; see 9:1, 7). In this family tree we see a contrast between the descendants of Ham and those of Shem. In Ham’s lineage (6-20) we can recognize the origin of many of the enemies of God’s people, from the nations of Egypt and Assyria, to the Canaanites and the Philistines. Meanwhile, God will use the lineage of Shem (21-31) to bring about His chosen people Israel and, ultimately, Jesus the Messiah (see Luke 3:23-36).
Reading through this family tree with only human eyes may lead one to believe that Ham’s clans had the blessings of God: they had Nimrod the mighty hunter (v. 9), with kingdoms and great cities (10-12) covering large areas of land (18-19). Such remarkable accomplishments aren’t recorded on Shem’s side, but that doesn’t mean that God favored Ham; we see many of these peoples opposed to God despite their advantageous physical and cultural circumstances. Instead, it is Shem’s descendant Abraham who was called a friend of God (James 2:23) and received the covenants of promise.
Like the lineage of Shem, Jesus himself “had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him” (Isaiah 53:2). God uses what is foolish, weak, low and despised by the world to shame those who count themselves wise, strong, and prominent (1 Corinthians 1:27-28). Those who are in Christ look past the circumstances of life, whether good or ill, to see the beauty in humble obedience to their Creator.
