Journal Through The Bible: Week 2 Tuesday

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Genesis 10:1-11:9

Chapter 10 is the table of nations through whom we all descend. The first part of chapter 11 tells why there are different language families throughout the world.

Does God make any promises in this passage? If so do they apply to me?

There are no direct promises in this passage, however, in 11:6-7, God states that confusing the languages places certain limits upon sinfulness. This affects each of us since the lack of a universal language prohibits each of us from directly encouraging everyone else in evil.

The obverse is also true. Due to the language barrier it is harder to take the gospel to other cultures.

Are there references to Jesus in this passage?

Aside from the fact that there are more references to the world's genealogy generally and Jesus' genealogy specifically we are told that God said, "let 'us' go down" in 11:7. This would be a reference to the trinity: Father, Son (Jesus), and the Holy Spirit.

Are there references to future events (in the future for us, that is) in this passage?

Not specifically, but in his book Heaven Randy Alcorn points out that in Revelation 22:2 John says that the leaves of the Tree of Life are for the "healing of the nations" and that this is the third time in two chapters (Revelation chapters 21 and 22) that the inhabitants of the New Earth are called nations. (The others are Rev. 21:24 and 26.)

I, personally, have no problem with this. We are are all of one race (the descendants of Adam and Eve), which makes us all related by blood in one degree or another (speaking genealogically) but we are currently divided into tribes and cultures (or nations). It is not hard to imagine that we could reside accordingly upon the New Earth, too. The difference being that without the sin nature that caused the language barriers there will be no wars or fighting like we see on this earth. 

Does God make any commands in this passage? If so, to whom? And are they commands that I also must obey?

There are no new commands but by dividing the languages God forced His command given in chapter 9 to replenish the earth to be carried out.

Did you find anything else of interest to you? Please share!