In the record of Noah's descendants we see already the conflict between the kingdom of God and the kingdoms of evil which God's people must confront.
Scripture: Genesis 10:1-32
Sermon Notes:
- Noah’s descendants spread out through the earth and become nations.
- The story of Shem’s line becomes prominent in Scripture as it details God’s plan to re-unite the nations in Christ.
- In Scripture the natural family is not the primary family; the family of grace is primary over the blood lines and birth priority, e.g., Isaac, Jacob, Judah.
- The table of nations also provides information about the history, geography, and culture of the ancient world.
- Though the earth was purged of evil in the flood, the evil and rebellion in man’s heart quickly emerges again.
- Nimrod’s name means rebel; he established an empire city and as a tyrant he preyed on other men.
- God permits evil kingdoms to arise so His grace may be manifested in the overthrow of these kingdoms.
- History is a conflict between the kingdom of God, and the evil kingdoms which God’s people must confront.
- Shem’s descendants are listed last because the rest of Genesis details his lineage to the coming Saviour.
- We are all descended from Noah and thus racism is a fallacious lie. Righteousness exalts a nation; not skin colour or ethnicity.
- All people are fallen in Adam and the gospel restores us to unity in Christ.
- When a nation puts its faith in Christ and starts to live righteously, then that nation is exalted (Prov. 14:34).
- No nation is inherently superior. What makes a culture great is faith in Christ and His transformation of it (Eph. 2:11-22).
- The story of Babel involved a syncretistic utopian vision to deify man that he might define truth and reality for himself.
- Following after Nimrod’s rebellion, modern Christians like Tom Harpur wish to paganise Christianity denying the historical Jesus.
- To say that many paths lead to God, or that many roads lead to spiritual fulfillment, is a claim to have a semi-divine perspective without appealing to special revelation.
- Humanism seeks to recreate a paradise on earth apart from God.
- Humanists view a pagan religious unity (e.g. moral acceptance of the LGBTQ agenda) as a prelude to socio-political unity.
- Rejecting God’s divine revelation, humanism seeks to redefine everything by man’s word (cf. Ps. 115:2-8).
Application Questions:
- What is the significance of the table of nations in Genesis 10?
- What is the biblical importance placed on the natural family versus the family of grace and faith?
- How can we work to purge our racist impulses and seek unity under Christ?
- Critique interfaith movements. How can someone “know” that all faiths lead to God?
- Why is the LGBTQ agenda so militantly promoted by humanists?