THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST: GENESIS and EXODUS (4)

Babel and the Spread of Nations

Key Passage: Genesis 11:1-9, 27-32

CHAPTER 10	CHAPTER 11
Descendants of Japheth \| Ham \| Shem 1 5 6 21 22 32	Old Problem: Pride 1 4	New Problem: Languages 5 9	New Focus: Abram 10 32
Family Tree of Noah	Tower of Babel

OVERVIEW Chapters 10-11 explain the origin of nations after the flood. Beginning with Noah and his three sons, God repopulates the world. But since the root of sin has not been removed from the hearts of the people, the fruit of sin becomes apparent once again in proud, disobedient actions. So God scrambles the languages, causing humanity to disperse over the face of the earth – as He had originally commanded. After describing generations of self-serving humans in general, the narrative shifts to one man in particular – Abram – from whom God will build a new nation.

OUR DAILY WALK What’s so important about obeying God? He’s patient and forgiving. And He will always give you another chance. Right?

Think back over the opening chapters of Genesis. In the garden of Eden, God gave Adam and Eve a forest of trees to enjoy and only one tree to avoid. What happened? They ate fruit from the forbidden tree and were promptly evicted.

After the flood, God gave Noah’s descendants one command: “Be fruitful…and fill the earth” (9:1). How did they respond? “Let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we may…not be scattered over the face of the whole earth” (11:4). Once again, judgment followed disobedience.

God’s commands are not to be analyzed, debated, or disregarded. They are to be obeyed. If you believe that, complete this sentence. “I will save myself some grief if I obey God today [how?].”

There are no new sins-we just keep rerunning the old ones.

INSIGHT 4,000 Years After Babel!

How many languages are there in the world today? According to Wycliffe Bible Translators, there are almost 7,000 – with about 500 of them with a complete Bible translation. Today, almost 2,000 language groups don’t have a single verse of Scripture available in their languages. These groups are mostly in these three areas: Central Africa/Nigeria; Mainland and Southeast China; and Indonesia/Pacific Islands. (source:www.sycliffe.org)