Genesis 10 is one of the chapters in the Bible we’re often tempted to skip over. It’s a long list of names, nations, and places. We don’t recognize many of them, and what could be more boring than a list of names you don’t know? So, we might wonder: why is this in God’s Word and what does it have to do with us today? 

This genealogy traces the descendants of Noah’s sons to describe the nations that Israel would have known. It may not have been the most exciting part of Genesis for Israel either, but it would have encouraged them, humbled them, and motivated them to declare the glory of their God among the nations. It can do the same for us today.

The Power of God’s Blessings

Genesis 10 shows the power and certainty of God’s blessings. In Genesis 9:1, God blessed Noah and his sons and called them to be fruitful and multiply. The list of nations in Genesis 10 shows how God fulfilled that blessing. All of these peoples came from Noah and his sons.

Thus, there is an overall positive flavor to this genealogy. God is keeping his promise of blessing. Even Ham and Canaan and his descendants experienced this blessing. Even the nations who opposed Israel are recipients of God’s blessing of common grace.

We should behold the power of God’s blessings. His blessings always accomplish his will for them. If that was true for the blessing on the sons of Noah, how much more for all blessings we have in Christ?

The Basic Unity of All Humanity

Furthermore, all of these nations come from a common source: Noah and his sons. In their diversity, there remains a unity. All the nations of the earth share a basic unity. We all come from Noah and his sons, and this forms part of the basis for the dignity of all people. No ethnicity is more pure. 

Victor Hamilton writes, “Gen. 10 emphasizes Israel’s commonality with the other nations more than it does its uniqueness. What the chapter affirms is that all of humanity, in spite of geographical and linguistic differences, share a common origin. And in this common origin is to be found humanity’s nobility and inherent value.” ¹

Thus, there is no place for racism or ethnocentrism for the people of God. Even the nation of Israel descended from Shem was not inherently superior to any of these other nations. God did not choose them because of anything inherent in them. According to Deuteronomy 7, God chose Israel, the descendant of Shem, out of his pure grace, love, and faithfulness to his promises. 

God’s Sovereignty over the Nations

This list of nations also emphasizes that all peoples were created by God and are under his rule. Paul declares in Acts 17:26: “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.” 

Therefore, Israel did not need to fear any of the powerful, evil nations around them. The inclusion of Nimrod, Nineveh, Egypt, Babylon and others in this list demonstrates that the most powerful nations and kings are under God’s dominion. They are merely human powers. Contrary to the myths of that time, the mighty kings were not descendants of the gods. They were made of the same human stuff as everybody else, and they are under God’s rule.

No nation or king is outside of God’s domain. No nation can thwart his plan. He determines their times. He sets their boundaries. The king trying to extend his borders will only get as far as God has allowed. When God says “your dominion ends here,” it must be so. God is Lord over all nations. They all belong to him and answer to his Lordship.

Thus, we shouldn’t let global politics discourage us as if the course of history is up in the air or determined by one ruler or one nation. The Lord of the nations will accomplish his will. Yes, some look powerful, some are engaged in deep evil, many seem hopelessly corrupted. But we don’t need to fear any nation. None of them are outside the dominion of the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. All nations will answer to him, and he will accomplish his will.

Jesus, The Hope for All Nations

The reality of God’s Lordship over all nations should also motivate us to lift up his Name among all nations. Don’t miss the missionary impulse encouraged in this chapter. If God is the Lord of all nations, it means that all nations should turn and worship him. 

Psalm 96 reflects this impulse:

“Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples! . . . For all the gods of the peoples are worthless idols, but the Lord made the heavens. . . . Say among the nations, ‘The Lord reigns! Yes, the world is established; it shall never be moved; he will judge the peoples with equity,’” (Psalm 96:3, 5, 10).

We see a foundation for missions even in Genesis 10. Missions is not imposing one culture on another culture—it’s about declaring the glory of the God who is Lord over all cultures, peoples, and languages. It’s about directing all nations to their Creator, calling them to return to him through his plan of salvation.

God chose one nation to be the primary vehicle for this plan of redemption. He chose Shem, he chose Abraham, he chose Israel, and from this nation, the hope for all nations was born 2,000 years ago, Jesus Christ. 

God sent his Son to be born as a Semitic, Israelite man to purchase the salvation of his people from all nations. Jesus is the hope of the nations. 

All the nations have one Lord and one hope. We must declare this one Lord and one hope to all nations. 

As the song “Joy Has Dawned” by Keith and Kristyn Getty declares: 

“Joy has dawned upon the world
Promised from creation
God’s salvation now unfurled
Hope for every nation.“

This post was adapted from the sermon below:

1. Victor P. Hamilton, The Book of Genesis: Chapters 1-17, NICOT, p. 347. ↩︎