Introduction: Unity & Diversity

Unity & Diversity Intro & Objectives Objectives: Ancient & Modern A) Genealogical     Unity (Genesis 5 & 11)     Diversity (Genesis 10) B) Tower of Babel (Genesis 11) C.) The Destruction of Cultures Assignment

Genesis 10 and 11 enable us to jump ahead in our understanding of the development of the nations. They not only enable us to trace Abraham's line back to Noah's godly line but also to discover the keys to understanding our modern linguistic and cultural groups.

Objectives

•     Show the connection between the ancient and modern worlds through genealogical records.
•     Establish the development of the multiplicity of languages.
•     Deepen our faith and commitment to the God of the scriptures.
•     Caution the class on the subtle threats and dangers of today's world culture.

When we think of our lives as far removed from the world revealed in the scriptures, we tend to distance ourselves from God Himself. We might think, "That is the God of long ago. He is not relevant to our own age with modern economies, educational systems, United Nations, and pollution problems."

Genesis 10-11 actually enables us to bridge this supposed gap between the ancient and modern societies and mentalities. Chapters 10 and 11 do this through successive genealogies and explanation of 'modern' phenomena such as the diversity in the world and multi-linguistic groups.

We should add that no where else do we find anything like this knowledge being revealed here in God's Word. It is absolutely fantastic to discover these links here in God's Word written thousands of years ago. Ancient cultures never could look beyond their own culture. They would always brag of their accomplishments and speak excessively of them. Only in God's Word do we find this detailed and yet honest revelation of the history of the world. By honest, we mean humble acknowledgement of mistakes by God's people.

Genesis is the key to unlock ancient and modern history.

Genesis blatantly confronts secularism. Secularism asserts that man has no roots - no meaning in life except for what thrills one might find for the moment. Genesis, however, asserts man's roots are founded in God and that everything around us makes us dependent upon Him. Man is made for God and personal fulfillment only can found by having God's purpose accomplished in ones life.

A.Genealogies: Unity

when God’s grace begins to pour into our lives.

The genealogies of Genesis 5 and 11 have similarities.

• They both mark off ten generations.
• They end by noting the three sons of the last person, Noah and Terah.
• The genealogies are accurately self-referenced.

This is done by giving both the age of the father when he died and when his son was born. This of course does not give us outside reference to the world's chronology, but for internal accuracy nothing can be better in such limited situations.

The sin of Noah and his son was told in order to keep our perspectives clear about the new society God which was formed after the flood (Genesis 9:20-27). God was not disillusioned. People are always in hope of discovering some utopia - perfect society. God's Word assures us it will not be found after the flood through Noah. Sin had even infiltrated this new society through Noah! Genesis 11:1-9, which perhaps happened during Peleg's day, shows us how the world from Noah's time again declined into an intolerable state. God took some drastic steps at that stage which would impede the speed by which man's wickedness would grow.

The genealogy of chapter 10 shows how all the people of the world derived from these three sons of Noah: Japheth, Ham and Shem. Shem's generations are expanded in chapter 11.

In the two charts below, we find the record of the first two millenniums since creation. Each of the ten generations are marked. Adam headed off the first; Noah was born at the second. We will find in the next session of Abraham who headed off the third generation.

The pattern and effect of depravity becomes more clear as we get an overall picture of time. The wickedness of man began to expand more quickly as time went on. This is perhaps because of the lessening influence of the great patriarchs. The first decline took 1656 years before God stepped in with the flood. The danger that showed itself at the tower of Babel only took hundreds of years. God used a whole new set of special restraining methods to retard this growth of wickedness. These methods did not solve the problems of evil but only restrained them.

Reflections

What millennium do you live in? We now live around the beginning of the seventh millenium. Jesus was born around the fourth. Do you sense the spread of wickedness?

A. Genealogies: Diversity

We need to get a perspective on how the world became so diverse. The scriptures unlock this mystery by revealing us the creation and spread of cultures through Noah's sixteen grandsons. On can note this through the chart below.

Noah's Children and Grandchildren

JAPHETH Gomer (France, Spain, Germany, Wales) Magog (Romania, Ukraine) Madai (Medes>Iran) Javan (Greek) Tubal (Georgia) Meshech (Moscow) Tiras (Macedonia, Yugoslavia)

HAM Cush (Ethiopia) Mizraim (Egypt) Put (Libya) Canaan (Palestine) :Heth (Hittites, Jebusites, Amorites)

SHEM Elam (Iran) Asshur (Assyria) Arpachshad (Chaldea) :Eber: Hebrew :Joktan: Arabia Lud (Lydia) Aram (Syria)

Tower of Babel (Genesis 11)