The stereotyping of individuals according to their national, racial, and ethnic heritage has gone on for thousands of years, a tendency that has in turn led to various descriptive phrases, nicknames, and even unflattering jokes concerning certain groups of people. This goes on even today, although the emergence of so-called “politically correct” behavior has driven some of this talk underground, at least in western countries, even if the attitude persists. Also, there is a great deal of controversy concerning such stereotyping. Some who have done research into the subject claim that most of our ideas about the character and personality of certain ethnic groups are flawed, and that even people within a particular group often differ widely when asked about the general features and attributes of those from that group. Others, however, claim that despite the influence of law, culture, and other environmental factors, there are blends of qualities and character traits that seem to pervade certain ethnic and racial groups. The subject thus tends to become a very delicate one.
All Nations of One Blood
If we turn to the Word of God, we find that God indeed “made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth” (Acts. 17:26). Also, it was not God’s initial intention that the human race should be broken up into nations. Rather, it was man’s sin that occasioned this. However, we also read that “known unto God are all His works from the beginning of the world” (Acts 15:1818Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world. (Acts 15:18)), and thus God purposed the choosing of Israel as His people long before the division of the world into nations. In the same way God accomplished His purposes in David as king, and eventually in Christ, even though Israel was thoroughly wrong in asking for a king.
Noah’s Sons
But right from the very beginning, after the flood, we find the Spirit of God showing us the character of each of Noah’s sons and their descendants. Japheth was the eldest of the three, and it is clear that his posterity spread over most of Europe and northern Asia. Of Japheth, Noah prophesied, “God shall enlarge Japheth, and he shall dwell in the tents of Shem; and Canaan shall be his servant” (Gen. 9:2727God shall enlarge Japheth, and he shall dwell in the tents of Shem; and Canaan shall be his servant. (Genesis 9:27)). Most of the empires of the world, with the exception of early ones such as Egypt, Assyria, and later Persia, have been of Japheth. Since the times of the Gentiles began, most of the world power has been concentrated in Japheth’s posterity, and all of the great colonial powers were from his family.
We find Ham mentioned next, and in keeping with God’s order, his descendants were allowed a measure of prominence at the beginning, as typifying the first man. Ham had sinned in connection with his father Noah, and his son Canaan was cursed as a result. Thus we find Nimrod, the founder of Babylon, first mentioned as “a mighty one in the earth” (Gen. 10:88And Cush begat Nimrod: he began to be a mighty one in the earth. (Genesis 10:8)). From Ham also came Egypt (Mizraim is the Hebrew name for Egypt), many of the African races, and also the Canaanites, who inhabited the land of Palestine before the Israelites drove them out.
Because of Ham’s sin, Noah prophesied that Canaan would be the servant both of Japheth and Shem. Such has generally been the case down through the ages, just as women have suffered from the curse because of Eve’s sin in the Garden of Eden.
Shem
Finally Shem is mentioned, from which came the people of Israel, as well as most of the peoples of the east, including the Arab world, and perhaps others from the Far East. As he spread abroad, Japheth has indeed encroached on Shem—”He shall dwell in the tents of Shem” (Gen. 9:2727God shall enlarge Japheth, and he shall dwell in the tents of Shem; and Canaan shall be his servant. (Genesis 9:27)), but it was concerning Shem that Noah prophesied, “Blessed be the Lord God of Shem” (Gen. 9:2626And he said, Blessed be the Lord God of Shem; and Canaan shall be his servant. (Genesis 9:26)). It was through Shem that God raised up Israel, and then ordered that His beloved Son should be born into this world of the family of Shem, in Israel. Again, God allowed the first man, typified in Ham, to take precedence in the early years, but then raised up Israel from the family of Shem, typifying the second man whose heart turned toward God. Of course, we know that the descendants of Shem also turned to idolatry, so that all the world was guilty, but it was Abraham who responded to God’s call, and who is the father of faith. “So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham” (Gal. 3:99So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham. (Galatians 3:9)).
National Traits
Since nations came into existence, there have been traits that have distinguished certain nations, and some of these are found in Scripture. The Spirit of God called the Chaldeans “that bitter and hasty nation” (Hab. 1:66For, lo, I raise up the Chaldeans, that bitter and hasty nation, which shall march through the breadth of the land, to possess the dwellingplaces that are not theirs. (Habakkuk 1:6)), while of the Edomites Scripture says, “His anger did tear perpetually, and he kept his wrath for ever” (Amos 1:1111Thus saith the Lord; For three transgressions of Edom, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because he did pursue his brother with the sword, and did cast off all pity, and his anger did tear perpetually, and he kept his wrath for ever: (Amos 1:11)). In the New Testament, Paul quotes a Cretan writer as saying, “Cretans are always liars, evil wild beasts, lazy gluttons,” and then goes on to comment, “This testimony is true” (Titus 1:12-1312One of themselves, even a prophet of their own, said, The Cretians are alway liars, evil beasts, slow bellies. 13This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith; (Titus 1:12‑13)). The one who wrote these words about his fellow countrymen (Epimenides) lived in the 6th century B.C., so that this character of the Cretans was of long-standing. Thus it is not wrong to notice certain characteristics in the nations of the world, for God’s Word takes notice of the sinful character of certain peoples.
However, lest we should be lifted up in pride because the nation into which we have been born does not, perhaps, exhibit a particular bad trait or behavior, we must remember that “all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Rom. 3:2323For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; (Romans 3:23)). Generally, every nation has that about its culture and behavior that may be objectionable, but also has good points that distinguish it in a right way. The Word of God judges every culture, bringing to light that which needs our attention in the sight of God. But if a nation seeks God, even in only an outward way, then God’s blessing rests on them, for we read, “Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people” (Prov. 14:3434Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people. (Proverbs 14:34)). Thus nations that have embraced the light and truth of Christianity have been blessed in a temporal way, and now that many of them are throwing off God’s claims, chaos and trouble are the result.
The Heavenly Calling
We must recognize, however, that God is not dealing with nations today, except in His providence and government of the world. God established government in the earth after the flood, and this has never been rescinded, so that Paul could remind believers in his day that “the powers that be are ordained of God” (Rom. 13:11Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. (Romans 13:1)). But today God is calling out a people from every nation to form His church, giving them a hope and an outlook that transcends this world and its division into nations. What a privilege today to be “partakers of the heavenly calling” (Heb. 3:11Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus; (Hebrews 3:1))! We who have believed on Christ in this dispensation can look on this world as intelligent observers, but we are no longer part of its nations, governments, and politics; we have a hope that transcends it all. May we value this precious position more, as the world grows darker!
W. J. Prost