The history of Noah’s three sons is recorded. The present world has been divided in these three: The Israelites as well as many peoples living on the continent of Asia come from Shem. From Ham come most of the peoples of Africa as well as some now known as Arabs. Japheth is the father of the European peoples, as well as some North African peoples.
Verses 8-10. Nimrod means “we will rebel.” Nimrod was a hunter whose kingdom was called Babel (Babylon). Satan’s two methods to destroy man are the same as a hunter uses: deception and violence.
Nimrod is a picture of the antichrist who will lead the rebellion against the Lord after the church (all true believers) has been caught away from the world to heaven. Revelation 17 is the account of the mystery of Babylon, man’s last attempt to organize a world government.
Genesis 11
Verses 1-9. The word “Babylon” in Scripture is often used as a picture of idolatrous corruption. When Israel disobeyed Jehovah and became idolators, they were carried away as captives from their land to Babylon. Believers who dabble with the world will lose their spiritual strength and become captives of Satan.
The tower of Babel brought about a governmental scattering of the people by God. “Egypt” pictures the world from which the “church” has been called out, while “Babylon” pictures the world into which the professing church has gone.
Verses 10-26. Notice how the ages of people drop. Before the flood, Methuselah lived 969 years (Gen. 5:2727And all the days of Methuselah were nine hundred sixty and nine years: and he died. (Genesis 5:27)), but after the flood the longest any man has lived was Eber 464 years.
Verses 27-32. Abram, whose name was later changed to Abraham and whose life is a beautiful example of faith, is introduced to us.
Genesis 12
Verses 1-5. God called Abraham to separate himself from everything which a man might count dear his country, his people and his family. He is a picture of the believer whose “citizenship” is in heaven (Phil. 3:2020For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: (Philippians 3:20); “conversation” is the same as “citizenship”) though living in this world.
The promises made to Abraham, who was to walk as a pilgrim and stranger in this world, were great (ch. 12:2).
Verse 7. The Lord appeared to Abraham when he had arrived in Canaan. There he built an altar and worshipped the Lord. Those who worship the Lord in the place of His appointment will have a sense of confidence in their hearts.
Verses 10-20. Abraham had two failures. The first was when he stopped in Haran, rather than going all the way into Canaan (ch. 11:31). The second was when a famine in Canaan made him go down into Egypt.
Abraham tells his wife to lie about their marriage (vs. 19). How sad! Both of these failures picture how we as believers, when not walking by faith, at times “hold back,” while at other times we “go too far.”
Egypt pictures the world with all its attractions and culture. There Abraham became rich, even as we believers can do, if we allow ourselves to be tempted to go back into the world.
Perhaps the saddest thing about Abraham is that he did not love his wife, Sarai (later called “Sarah”), enough to publicly claim her as his own. He was concerned for his own life, fearing that he might die for her. What a beautiful contrast we see in the Lord Jesus who died to gain a bride the church for Himself.
Genesis 13
Verses 1-4. Abraham comes back “up” to his altar (a picture of a believer’s restoration). He had no altar of worship while in Egypt.
Verses 5-13. Abraham’s increased wealth, gained in Egypt, causes him much trouble. He and his nephew Lot could no longer remain together. Lot, who was not guided by the eye of faith, selects the area of Sodom in which to pitch his tent. Lot’s steps downward are gradual: (1) He “lifted up his eyes, and beheld,” (2) he “chose him all the plain of Jordan,” (3) he “dwelled in the cities of the plain, and pitched his tent toward Sodom,” (4) he “dwelt in Sodom,” and (5) he “sat in the gate of Sodom” (the place of authority).
Verses 14-18. How different things were for Abraham! Putting God first, he was blessed richly by Him with a glorious, lasting inheritance. May we also put God first and thus enjoy all our blessings.
N. Berry