DEVOTION
GENESIS
SHEM
Gen 10:1-32
10:1 This is the account of Shem,
Ham and Japheth, Noah's sons, who themselves had sons after the flood. 2 The
sons of Japheth: 6 The sons of Ham: 22 The sons of Shem: 32 These are the clans
of Noah's sons, according to their lines of descent, within their nations. From
these the nations spread out over the earth after the flood.
NIV
This is a very shortened version of
the whole of Chapter 10, which is an account of the sons, grandsons,
great-grandsons, and on of each of the clans of people and the territories they
spread out to. One that is notable was the grandson of Ham, Nimrod, whom we are
told grew into a mighty warrior, a great hunter before the LORD. He built the
city of Nineveh, the city that God sent Jonah to, who had to spend those three
days in the belly of a great fish before he obeyed and went to declare the
judgement of God on that city. We know that story, plus the judgement brought
through Nahum and Zephaniah. We are only told that the line of Japheth became
maritime people, who could have become what is known as Vikings, who were a
war-like people. Only the line of Shem will bring the good news to mankind, for
Jesus comes through his line. We know that Canaan, the son of Ham, was to be
slaves to the sons of Shem, whose line would become Israel, who occupied the
land of Canaan. Shem was the one who
covered the nakedness of his father. This reminds us that Jesus covers our nakedness,
for without the righteousness of Christ we will stand naked before the Lord. Anyone
who is not covered by the righteousness of Christ will stand naked before the
judgement seat of the Lord, having no defense, no covering for their sins, and
will be completely destroyed in the flames of the lake of burning sulfur. The word
used is perish. However, those of us who have been adopted as children of God
through our acceptance of Jesus as our Lord and Savior have had our nakedness covered
by the righteousness of Jesus, washed clean by his blood, so we will stand in
white robes, whiter than new-driven snow before the throne of God and hear
those words, "Well done, good and faithful servant, enter into the joy of
your master." Although Jesus said these in a parable, the words will ring
true on that last day when we are covered in his righteousness.
