The Table of the Nations

God’s Work Among the Nations: The Table of Nations

Genesis 10:1

These are the family records of Noah’s sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth. They also had sons after the flood.

As you read the following lists of descendants of Noah you will notice several names that you may be familiar with because they are mentioned repeatedly in other places in the Bible: e.g. Magog, Javan, Cush, Egypt, Canaan, Babylon, Assyria, Nineveh, Philistines, Sidon, Jebusites, Amorites, Hivites, Gaza, Sodom, and Gomorrah.

Here we see a dramatic foreshadowing of the work of God that we will see unfolding in the rest of Scripture. It is first here that we see the names of nations that God will use to accomplish His plan across the whole earth.

Reading this list is like reading a map of the ancient world. At this point, Moses, through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit is displaying a snapshot of the nations that existed at that time and where they came from. Moses and the other writers of the Bible will continually mention many of these people groups, and they will play a prominent role in God’s created plan.

Not only were these nations important to the ancient generations, some of them still exist today. Battles, wars, and terrorist attacks are still fought today (thousands of years later) because of the people and places that are first mentioned here in this list. This list is a key artifact to understanding the world in which we live: past, present, and future.

The LORD said to Abram: Go out from your land, your relatives, and your father's house to the land that I will show you. I will make you into a great nation, I will bless you, I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, I will curse those who treat you with contempt, and all the peoples on earth will be blessed through you. (Gen. 12:1-3 CSB)

One of the most significant things that God says about the nations is that He tells His people not to be like them. Don’t be like the other nations. They are wicked; don’t do what they do and don’t worship their gods. That’s one of the reasons why the nation of Israel was in Egypt so long is that God was planning to give the promised land when the wickedness of the Canaanites was full.

You are not going to take possession of their land because of your righteousness or your integrity. Instead, the LORD your God will drive out these nations before you because of their wickedness, in order to keep the promise He swore to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. (Deut. 9:5 CSB)

I have come down to rescue them from the power of the Egyptians and to bring them from that land to a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey-- the territory of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites. (Exod. 3:8 CSB)

In Genesis chapter 10 Moses introduced many of the nations who would play a significant part in Israel’s history and the history of the promised land. The Israelites were told not to be like these nations who were being driven out because of God’s judgment on them. Yet we know that Israel would eventually fall under the same sins and the same judgment as the other nations. 

Not only do we see the story of Israel beginning to form but we see the story of all the nations of the earth as they rebel against God, reject His blessings, and find redemption through Jesus Christ. Genesis 10 isn’t just a list of nations, it is the beginning of a story of God’s work among the nations that culminates with Christ’s rule over the redeemed earth.

Thought for prayer and meditation: Lord, help us to see Your plan for the nations of the earth. May Your will be done on earth as it is done in heaven!