The Descendants of Noah

Genesis 10:1–32
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Chapters 10 and 11 of Genesis deals with genealogies. Without these two chapters of genealogies we would be in ignorance as to the circumstances which led up to God abandoning His dealings with the nations and the calling of Abraham to be the father of His chosen people, Israel. In chapter 10 we can see a threefold division of the human family today as they are revealed in the three sons of Noah: Japheth, Ham and Shem.

1. The Japhatic Races (vv.1-5) - Fourteen families are listed starting with Japheth. The Russians, Bulgarians, Bohemians, Polish, Slavaks etc. came from Magog. The Indians and Iranic races came from Madai. The Greeks, Romans, French, Portuguese, Italians etc. came from Javan. The Germans, Scandinavians and Anglo-Saxons came from Teras. The majority of us in America descended from these lines.

2. The Hamantic Races (vv.6-20) - Thirty families are listed starting with Ham. These include Egyptians, Ethiopians, Arabians, Babylonians and Africans. The Bible depicts these descendants as being black (Jer. 13:23) and tall (Isa. 45:14). From this Hamantic race comes notorious Nimrod who was most likely responsible for the tower of Babel.

3. The Semetic Races (vv.21-32) - Thirty-Six families are listed starting with Shem. It was through these families that the royal line led to Abraham and eventually to Christ. 

Application

People with great gifts can become proud. This is probably what happened to Nimrod. If I am tempted to be proud I need to realize that I do not have any reason to be proud.