We Are Different Yet The Same (Genesis 9:18-19; 10)
Here is the video of the sermon. If you’d like to read the text, simply scroll down and pretend this video does not exist.
Our country is becoming more and more divided. We currently decide to divide over just about everything. We are now told to divide over the way we look, education level, job, and much, much more. But that is not the picture that we find in Scripture. In Scripture we see that humanity is much more united than divided. Though there are differences, that our text today would indicate are by design, we have a common ancestry and common need for salvation.
The first part of the Book of Genesis tells us why things are the way they are. That is Genesis 1-11. There is an obvious shift in the content of the Book of Genesis when Abram is introduced to us. Here, in Genesis 10 there is an explanation of why there are different nations, societies and cultures. And it did not take place because of a curse, this was taking place before the episode with the Tower of Babel. People were spreading out in Genesis 11:2. This spreading was sped up by what takes place in the next chapter. And the list in Genesis 10 is the family tree that encompasses before the Tower of Babel and after the Tower of Babel.
This is, admittedly, not a text that I would choose to preach a sermon from. For the most part, it is just a list of people and their heritage. But I do believe that this text, when understand to us preaches a wonderful message to us.
Differences between people are by design and good, but we also have a common ancestry and common need for salvation.
Introductory Interpretive Explanation
As you probably already know, if the New Testament explains a topic or text I believe that it is important for us to let that aid us in our understanding of the Old Testament. Much of the New Testament is a commentary upon the Old Testament in light of the finished work of Christ. And because this is interpreted with the enlightening of God the Holy Spirit, why would I ignore what it says when interpreting the Old Testament?
Paul discusses the content of our text today in Acts 17 as he is speaking at the Areopagus.
“So Paul, standing in the midst of the Areopagus, said: “Men of Athens, I perceive that in every way you are very religious. For as I passed along and observed the objects of your worship, I found also an altar with this inscription: ‘To the unknown god.’ What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you. The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man, nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything. And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, that they should seek God, and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him. Yet he is actually not far from each one of us, for “‘In him we live and move and have our being’; as even some of your own poets have said, “‘For we are indeed his offspring.’ Being then God’s offspring, we ought not to think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by the art and imagination of man. The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent, because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.” Now when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked. But others said, “We will hear you again about this.” So Paul went out from their midst. But some men joined him and believed, among whom also were Dionysius the Areopagite and a woman named Damaris and others with them.” (Acts 17:22-34 ESV)
It is helpful to look at this text because in it we see that God is Creator of everyone. It is God who made all of humanity, with all of its differences. It is God who determined the allotted periods and boundaries that all of humanity would live. And this was done so that we would seek for God. And one day, God will judge the world in righteousness.
So, as I look at Genesis 10, I have Acts 17:22-34 running in my mind. Paul understood that it was God who had created people and determined the way nations would come into being. It was God who made all of those nations with one man. And it was God who created the boundaries. And all people will one day be judged by Him.
This will help us to see that differences between people are by design and good, but we also have a common ancestry and common need for salvation.
We All Have The Same Forefathers (Genesis 9:18-19, 10:1)
I have heard a lot of folks talk about doing genealogies over the years. It’s interesting, but to be honest I’m afraid to do so because I’m afraid of what I’d find out. There might be some family members back there somewhere I’d rather not know about. But if we were able to travel back far enough and look at our family tree, then we would see that we all have the same two forefathers: Adam and Noah.
The Scripture is clear on this. We have a common ancestry. We look and act very different from one another, but we have the same ancestry.
Adam was created in God’s image and so was Eve (Genesis 1:27). And their children also bore God’s image, and so did their children…and their children…. (Genesis 5:1-3, 9:6). And after the flood, Noah’s children and the children that would come after were not supposed to murder each other because they were all created in the image of God.
“Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed, for God made man in his own image.” (Genesis 9:6 ESV)
Our common ancestry means that we are all owed honor, dignity, and respect as image bearers. Every human being, regardless of wealth, race, culture, or disability has been endowed with the image of God and is owed honor, respect, and dignity.
This is why we stand against bullying, racism, abuse, and abortion. This is why we care for the poor, help the sick. This is why we care for those with special needs.
We all have the same forefathers and so are all created in God’s image. Even though there are a lot of differences between us, we have this common ancestry, common heritage, and commonality.
The world is trying to divide us up. Our society is attempting to bring many divisions among us. We need to understand that we hold this in common. We have a common heritage and are all created in the image of God.
Differences Are Good And By Design (Genesis 10:1-32)
This family tree and its spreading are not part of any curse. The process of spreading out was taking place before Babel and was expedited by Babel. It seems that the spreading out and filling the Earth by these three lineages was by design. As the people of the Earth multiplied and spread things changed. Over time the people changed and how they interacted with one another changed in many ways.
We cannot ever think that a group of people is better than another because of the differences in a society. Japheth began to the North and spread. Ham began to the South and spread. Shem began in the middle and spread. Remember, God cursed Canaan, and no one else. He promised His presence to be with Shem, and we see that in the calling of Abraham and the nations that would come from Abraham. And we also see the blessing of Shem in that Christ would come through this family.
But what is it that we notice? Though they are different, they are created in God’s image.
When I was a kid, I was told that I was supposed to be color blind and to act as if there were no cultural differences between me and anyone else. Looking back, I realize that is weird. There are a lot of differences between me and a man who has lived his whole life in China and I should acknowledge that. But I also understand that these differences are good and by design. I understand that he is also created in the image of God and that his life has as much value and dignity as my own because of that fact.
Nations Are By Design And The Family Is The Building Block
I must begin by stating that I am not saying that the modern nation-state is taught and found to be good in Genesis 10. That is most certainly not what I am saying. There is much wickedness found in the world that comes from modern governments, so let me be clear. I am not discussing here, the modern idea of the nation-state.
Even though this is the case, there is an obvious setting up of societies and governments found in Genesis 10. Families grew. Families governed themselves. And as these groups got larger they governed themselves. And out of this governments were formed. One government in particular is discussed in this text, and that is Nimrod because he founded Babel (Genesis 10:10). It is a way of setting up the story of the Tower of Babel in Genesis 11.
This means that the basic building block of society is the family and not the government. The very foundation upon which government was created is the family.
We now live in a country that has lost sight of this fact. The government itself believes that it is the fundamental element of our society. That is not the case. The family is.
For decades pompous men and women have taken office thinking that the answers to all the world’s problems are found in them. And they also think that they are in charge of the most important jobs on the planet. But they’re not.
I am rather fond of Calvin Coolidge’s opinion on Federal Government. Here is what our nation’s 30th president had to say about the Federal Government.
“If the federal government should go out of existence, most people would not note the difference.”[1] (Calvin Coolidge)
And I also agree with Coolidge when he said this about the Federal Government,
“Four-fifths of our troubles in this life would disappear if we would only sit down and keep still.”[2] (Calvin Coolidge)
And I believe this to be true. But we often behave as if this is not the case. We get wrapped up in national news and don’t have dinner with our families. We think more about what happened with the President than what is happening in our own town. We neglect our families while paying close attention to national affairs. And we just care more about what is happening around the globe than right around us.
We can’t get this wrong. We have obligations to God, to our husband or wife, to our sons and daughters, to our own fathers and mothers, to our church, schools, city, and state. When I’m done with all of that, what time do I have for Washington?
I have a wife to love and provide for, children to provide for and bring up in the fear and admonition of the Lord, and a church to shepherd. What time do I have for Washington?
And what happens to Washington when the most basic part of our civilization breaks down? What happens to our nation when its families fall apart? It falls to pieces.
Give government its due, but only give it its due.
We Are All In Need Of A Savior (Acts 17:22-31)
There is one more commonality among us, but this is found more evidently in Acts than it is here. When Paul references the teaching found in this passage, he does so to point people to the Savior. It is there that Paul said,
“The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent, because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.”” (Acts 17:30-31 ESV)
Within our common heritage, we also have a common fall. When Adam sinned, he brought corruption to all of us. But then Christ came and brought life to all who would believe.
“Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned– for sin indeed was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not counted where there is no law. Yet death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those whose sinning was not like the transgression of Adam, who was a type of the one who was to come. But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if many died through one man’s trespass, much more have the grace of God and the free gift by the grace of that one man Jesus Christ abounded for many. And the free gift is not like the result of that one man’s sin. For the judgment following one trespass brought condemnation, but the free gift following many trespasses brought justification. For if, because of one man’s trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ. Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men. For as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous.” (Romans 5:12-19 ESV)
Adam sinned and brought death to us all. But God the Son took on human flesh and accomplished all righteousness. He also died on the cross and paid the punishment for sin. And all those who trust in Christ are saved from the wrath and curse of God. They are brought into fellowship of God and saved from the judgment.
Our common heritage gives us a common need for a Savior. We are all sinners who deserve to receive God’s justice. But He offers to us grace. He offers us mercy. He offers to us salvation in Christ. And all those who turn from ruling their own lives and trust in Him will be saved.
Conclusion
Our country is dividing, let us not be so ignorant of the way things are. Let us be people who understand the goodness in our differences and just how united we are. But most of all, let us understand that we are all in need of a Savior and turn to Him.
R. Dwain Minor
[1] http://www.manythings.org/voa/history/167.html
[2] http://www.manythings.org/voa/history/167.html