Genesis 11:10 These are the generations of Shem: Shem was an hundred years old, and begat Arphaxad two years after the flood: 11 And Shem lived after he begat Arphaxad five hundred years, and begat sons and daughters. 12 And Arphaxad lived five and thirty years, and begat Salah: 13 And Arphaxad lived after he begat Salah four hundred and three years, and begat sons and daughters. 14 And Salah lived thirty years, and begat Eber: 15 And Salah lived after he begat Eber four hundred and three years, and begat sons and daughters. 16 And Eber lived four and thirty years, and begat Peleg: 17 And Eber lived after he begat Peleg four hundred and thirty years, and begat sons and daughters. 18 And Peleg lived thirty years, and begat Reu: 19 And Peleg lived after he begat Reu two hundred and nine years, and begat sons and daughters. 20 And Reu lived two and thirty years, and begat Serug: 21 And Reu lived after he begat Serug two hundred and seven years, and begat sons and daughters. 22 And Serug lived thirty years, and begat Nahor: 23 And Serug lived after he begat Nahor two hundred years, and begat sons and daughters. 24 And Nahor lived nine and twenty years, and begat Terah: 25 And Nahor lived after he begat Terah an hundred and nineteen years, and begat sons and daughters. 26 And Terah lived seventy years, and begat Abram, Nahor, and Haran.
It should be obvious from the Word of God, that God chooses people based on His choice, and not their assumed rights. God accepted Abel’s offering because Abel chose to believe in God and thus follow His commands. God rejected Cain’s offering because he chose to reject God and thus did not submit to His authority. God chose Enoch because he chose to believe in God and walk with Him. God rejected the majority in Genesis 6 because they chose to reject Him and chose to live in wickedness. God chose Noah because he chose to believe in God and walk with Him. In chapter 10 and 11 we see that God gives us much more information on the descendants of Shem than of Ham and Japheth. God is God and He can do as He pleases. Man does not even have the right to breathe. Man chose to defy God and became a sinner. He has the right to death and judgment. It is the grace of God that gives life to those who choose to turn to God and be forgiven and saved. In our text, God again pointed to the descendants of Shem. All the descendants of Shem are “Semites”. When we talk about antisemitism we generally refer to the hatred toward Israel. As we noted in an earlier devotional, Iran and other people are also the descendants of Shem. Those people chose to reject God and thus hate His choice of Israel as well. God does not need to explain Himself to man. He does so because He loves man and wants man to trust Him. Man has the privilege of believing in God and being forgiven and saved. He then can enjoy blessings that are reserved for those who walk with God. In our text, God further revealed the developments that took place within the family of Shem. In this context, God chose to follow one line of the descendants of Shem. This line came through Arphaxad. We see that people still lived a fairly long life at this time. This would give the fathers the opportunity to pass on the truth to many generations. God was blessing man with the opportunity to not just hear the truth but also observe the truth lived out before them. As we have noted many times, the sad reality is that most people then and now choose not to live for God and thus encourage rebellion rather than faith in God. We noted before that Eber was an important son in Shem’s lineage. Eber was the father of Peleg who begat Reu. Reu begat Serug, who begat Nahor. Nahor also had children and we are introduced to his son Terah. Terah had sons as well, and we are told of three of his sons: Abram, Nahor, and Haran. God has His reasons for giving us this brief list of the genealogical record of Shem. We know that He was giving us the brief history leading up to the time of Abram. As we move on in this, we continue to learn that not many people choose to follow God in any generation. Jesus stated:
Matthew 7:12 Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets. 13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: 14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
It is natural to go the way of sin. We are all born as lost sinners. God knows things about each individual that we do not know. He knows how prone to sin we all are. He also knows that there are a few people who have more of a tender heart toward Him than others do. Those few will heed His call to salvation. The rest will stubbornly and blindly follow their own hearts. That will lead them to destruction. As we follow this lineage that God gave us, we will see that Abram was one who had a teachable heart toward God. God could work with him and He would build a nation from this man and his wife. That nation is unique among all nations. As is also quite common among us as people, we often do not appreciate a good thing until it is gone. God blessed Israel greatly. They were the envy of the nations. However, they squandered that blessing and chose to be a pagan nation just like the nations around them. That would not be a benefit for them nor for all the other nations of the world. Chapter 11 gives us the foundation of the nation of Israel. They are a nation that was started by God and developed by God. They were given special laws by God and they were given a parcel of land by God. All the things they were given were theirs for ever. The sacrificial system they were given was a typology leading to the Lord Jesus Christ. He fulfilled all that typology and thus there is no need for a temple in Jerusalem today. The secular Jews are still looking for a temple and preparing for the antichrist to give them their wish. They will regret that choice when it comes, but for now many are blindly pushing to that end. God shows us that He is in charge. He does what is right and good. It is important for us to see that and to know Him and follow Him. He is faithful. He will always be faithful. His promises are sure. Trust Him and serve Him. Pastor Bartel
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