Nations and People Groups 6 of 6

 

Nations and People Groups 6 of 6

Genesis 10:  ²¹ And children were born also to Shem, the father of all the children of Eber, the brother of Japheth the elder. ²² The sons of Shem were Elam, Asshur, Arphaxad, Lud, and Aram. ²³ The sons of Aram were Uz, Hul, Gether, and Mash. ²⁴ Arphaxad begot Salah, and Salah begot Eber. ²⁵ To Eber were born two sons: the name of one was Peleg, for in his days the earth was divided; and his brother’s name was Joktan. ²⁶ Joktan begot Almodad, Sheleph, Hazarmaveth, Jerah, ²⁷ Hadoram, Uzal, Diklah, ²⁸ Obal, Abimael, Sheba, ²⁹ Ophir, Havilah, and Jobab. All these were the sons of Joktan. ³⁰ And their dwelling place was from Mesha as you go toward Sephar, the mountain of the east. ³¹ These were the sons of Shem, according to their families, according to their languages, in their lands, according to their nations.

 

³² These were the families of the sons of Noah, according to their generations, in their nations; and from these the nations were divided on the earth after the flood.

 

 

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Shem was the youngest son of Noah. He seemed to be the one who watched Noah’s interactions with the LORD. When Canaan may have sent his father, Ham, into the tent of Noah in an act of defiance, it was Shem who came up with the idea that would preserve Noah. He and his older brother Japeth would walk into Noah’s tent backward and cover his nakedness.

 

My Observations:

• Shem respected GOD and did not scoff at HIS ways.
• Shem tried to mirror Noah by doing what pleased GOD.
• Noah’s curse included a blessing for Shem’s family.

 

Following GOD became complex early on. Satan had a great plan to steal humans and to protect himself from GOD’s judgment. He made the first humans’ sin, causing all humans to have a sin nature. The “seed of Adam” would be passed down with a nature that opposed GOD. BUT GOD had a plan.

 

GOD chose people who fought against this natural inclination to sin. While not perfect, Shem’s family preserved their love of GOD by fighting their sin nature. GOD blessed this family to the point that eventually JESUS would come as a human through this lineage. Salvation was in this plan!

 

Challenge

• Why does GOD go into detail about the family of Shem to Moses?
• Have you ever wondered why GOD chooses imperfect people to do important things?
• Knowing that GOD wants ALL humans to believe in HIS SON, are your words defiant or reliant in HIS eyes?

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1 Thessalonians 5: ¹² We beg you, our friends, to pay proper respect to those who work among you, who guide and instruct you in the Christian life. ¹³ Treat them with the greatest respect and love because of the work they do. Be at peace among yourselves.

 

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Sitting in a conference room freshly out of college, a person walked in and everyone stood up. I did not know what was going on, so I stood up too. They shook hands and when he left said “Don’t you know who that was?” I didn’t.

 

Months later, I was “in charge” of an assignment. I walked into the room and no one paid me any attention. I started doing the work and got a grievance filed against me for doing the work.

 

• I was furious that I was not recognized for my title.
• I wanted the same level of respect as that other guy who had a title.
• I later made the mistake of treating people with titles different than people without titles

 

Paul, Silas and Timothy begged people to treat those called by GOD, to speak on HIS behalf, with respect. These people were often looked down on and murmured against. They implored the people to not only recognize them as servants of the Most High GOD, but to treat them with the highest respect as a way to get them to think opposite of disrespect.

 

My Observations

• GOD is the only being who deserves the utmost respect from me.
• GOD wants me to treat all HIS children with the highest respect.
• Titles should not blind me into providing respect, rather I should give it to those who are looked down on, forgotten and lack power.

 

Seeking titles to gain respect may not be the best path. I mean, when I wanted a title so I could “help others” I found myself having to change for the worst because of that title and I could not “help” people the way I envisioned. GOD, on the other hand, wants servants who do not want HIS title.

 

Servants of GOD point their lives to HIM and want HIM to be know and exalted. In the process of speaking about HIM, their lives diminish. Other believers in JESUS must recognize the important message being told by those GOD has chosen as HIS speakers. I gladly give the highest respect to those who place GOD above all and are servants at heart.

 

Challenge

• Are the writers speaking of a hierarchy type of respect or honorable?
• Have you ever seen a servant who treated everyone with respect, regardless of his or her title?
• Will you treat everyone with respect, especially those who do not have titles, so they can be recognized by using their GOD given gifts for the LORD today?

Ignorant

Luke 9: ⁴⁶ Then a dispute arose among them as to which of them would be greatest. ⁴⁷ And Jesus, perceiving the thought of their heart, took a little child and set him by Him, ⁴⁸ and said to them, “Whoever receives this little child in My name receives Me; and whoever receives Me receives Him who sent Me. For he who is least among you all will be great.”

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While talking to a “helper”, in the middle of my sentence one of the higher-ups walked into the room. Without finishing my sentence, I immediately turned around to greet the “noble” person and walked away from the “help.”

• There were times when I treated people differently.
• There were times when I viewed those with a title as being greater than those who did not have one.
• There were times when I placed a higher value on the “wisdom” of those in higher positions than those without positions.

After a dispute over who would be “greatest” JESUS looked into their heart at the root of their desires. HE may have seen arrogance and the ability to ignore the words people they did not value. JESUS may have known their ability to devalue the words of children so HIS illustration was clear.

• GOD wants me to value “everyone” because HE does.
• GOD wants me to seek to server everyone, not just the rich and powerful.
• GOD wants me to stop looking to be the greatest and allow HIM to have that classification.

Whenever I think I am greater than someone else, things go horribly wrong. My arrogance is increased followed by ignorant words that blow off those I thought were beneath me. JESUS wants me to be a servant and receive everyone HE sends to me or sends me to. GOD is the only one who is great.

• Do you chase those who have titles?
• Do you think someone is greater than another person?
• Will you seek to serve those who you feel do not deserve your servanthood?

Great Expectations

Matthew 21: ³³ “Listen to another parable: There was a landowner who planted a vineyard. He put a wall around it, dug a winepress in it and built a watchtower. Then he rented the vineyard to some farmers and moved to another place. ³⁴ When the harvest time approached, he sent his servants to the tenants to collect his fruit.

³⁵ “The tenants seized his servants; they beat one, killed another, and stoned a third. ³⁶ Then he sent other servants to them, more than the first time, and the tenants treated them the same way. ³⁷ Last of all, he sent his son to them. ‘They will respect my son,’ he said.

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What I noticed about this passage is GOD is the owner of everything. HE created people for HIS pleasure and had some great expectations that HIS creation would grow and multiply. HE desired a wonderful relationship with HIS creation so HE put people in charge of HIS created kingdom.

Those in charge soon realized they could have heaven on earth and would do anything to keep it. When people tried to give to the poor or serve one another, the greedy made more rules to make it increasingly harder for them to live. They sold their souls for money.

• GOD wants me to “collect HIS fruit.”
• GOD wants me to watch over HIS vineyard until it grows.
• GOD wants me to “Respect HIS SON.”

Since GOD owned everything HE decided to give it all to HIS creation. But instead of appreciating the gift, we treated it like we deserved it. We pouted for more and complained when we did not get our way. When GOD sent people to tell us our wrongs, we did not believe and slandered them and killed HIS SON.

• The more I can act like HIS expectations the better.
• The more I can appreciate HIS gift the better off I am.
• The more I can understand HIS expectations of me the more I can appreciate HIS gift for me.

GOD’s expectations were only out of love for me. HE gave me so much, and in return only wants me to express my enjoyment of what HE has done. My expectations of HIM are great!

• Are you complaining?
• Do you worry?
• Can you stop and praise GOD for giving you so much?