Genesis 10-  Some people hate to read genealogies.. and some find them fascinating.  This chapter is all about the sons of Noah.. Shem, Ham, and Japheth.   It tells us the names of their children and grandchildren.. and the generations that followed. These families became the source of all the nations that we know today.  We all can look back at our ancestors..to some extent.. but if we could go back far enough we would find Noah in our lineage. 

Verse 5 tells us that the descendants of Japheth went to the "coastlands of the nations".  We recognize a few names listed here... Magog.. Tarshish.. Kittites.   These are northern tribes ( north of Israel) and may have extended into Greece and Cyprus.  

Verses 6-20 tell about the descendants of Ham.  Ham had 4 sons and their descendants inhabited the eastern and southern areas of Mesopotamia.  Arabia, Egypt, northern Africa.. are some of the nations that rose up from the sons of Ham.  Verses 8-9 give us a side note on Cush's son Nimrod.. "he began to be a mighty one in the earth."  His name is significant for it can be rendered "rebellion".  Nimrod seems to have established one of the first tyrannical powers.. Babylon is named as a center of his kingdom.  Nineveh was one of the cities that he built. The Canaanites are descendants of Ham.  

Verses 21-31 give us the descendants of Shem. It is from this group that Assyria, Turkey, Lydia, and eventually Israel will come.  Another side note is presented here.. verse 25 "Two sons were born to Eber: one was named Peleg, because in his time the earth was divided; his brother was named Joktan." 

So, what do we learn from this chart of the nations? Once again we see the Lord making distinctions.. separating nation from nation.  He wrote this story and He acted in these lives to bring about His purposes.  Just as He has written our nation's story.. and He works in each of our lives to bring about His eternal purpose.  I was thinking about my own lineage.. to the fact that my parents' parents and their parents' parents.. and back and back and back.. all came together to form a family.. and the end result was "me".  It's really an amazing thing to think about.. God has brought me into this world.. to be part of His plan.  He has a purpose, not only for me, but for my children and grandchildren.. and on and on.. until the day of His choosing.. when all of history will have been written and time will be no more. 

Father, thank You for loving me and making me Your own.  I hope that some day I will meet those who have gone before me.. that they will have known Jesus as their Lord and Savior.. and will tell me their story of salvation.  Oh what a day that will be!  May we all sing Your praises together for eternity! Amen.