Month: December 2024

Genesis 11:14-15 When Shelah had lived 30 years, he became the father of Eber. And after he became the father of Eber, Shelah lived 403 years and had other sons and daughters.

Lord, I am so tired, so weary. I know I am focusing on the trees that surround me, which are looming large. I’ve lost Your perspective. These trees that I am slogging wearily through are not nearly as important as they feel. They are just all that I can see at present. Help me.

Genesis 11:16-17 When Eber had lived 34 years, he became the father of Peleg. And after he became the father of Peleg, Eber lived 430 years and had other sons and daughters.

Father, Help me to metaphorically climb the rock face so that I can get out of these trees, so that the view can open up, so that I can see all that exists just beyond those looming trees I can’t see past at present. I know You have a whole world of possibilities waiting for me to catch my breath. Help me.

Genesis 11:18-19 When Peleg had lived 30 years, he became the father of Reu. And after he became the father of Reu, Peleg lived 209 years and had other sons and daughters.

Precious Savior, Thank You for the growth and wisdom that comes from sitting with You each morning, from studying Your word each day. Help me not to get stuck in this forest of weary. Help me to keep life in proper perspective. Help me to focus on You. Always. Amen.

Genesis 11:20-21 When Reu had lived 32 years, he became the father of Serug. And after he became the father of Serug, Reu lived 207 years and had other sons and daughters.

Have a blessed day.

Genesis 11:1 Now the whole world had one language and a common speech.

Commentary helped me to understand what’s going on in these first four verses. The survivors of the flood were told to “fill the earth” (meaning spread out), they choose to stay together. They were told that God would not flood the earth again. They chose to build a tall, waterproof tower that could withstand another flood. That doesn’t sound like trust and obedience.

Genesis 11:2 As people moved eastward, they found a plain in Shinar and settled there.

Honestly, it sounds like a child or a stubborn fool: I know what’s best, and I can do it myself. Unfortunately, I have been guilty of thinking or saying or acting in this manner more than once. When I make my life about me–my ideas, my hopes and dreams, my goals, my wisdom–I will fall short every single time.

Genesis 11:3 They said to each other, “Come, let’s make bricks and bake them thoroughly.” They used brick instead of stone, and tar for mortar.

Precious Savior, Thank You for the independent streak You have given us. Help us to use that independence to bring You praise and glory, to comfort Your people, and not to draw separations between us and You, between our goals and Yours for us. Help us to root ourselves in You. First and always. Amen.

Genesis 11:4 Then they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we may make a name for ourselves; otherwise we will be scattered over the face of the whole earth.”

Have a blessed day.

Genesis 10:15 Canaan was the father of Sidon his firstborn, and of the Hittites,

Sometimes the Bible feels bogged down in minutiae. In the devos we are doing for my church this week, we are looking at the genealogy of Jesus. In my personal studies, I am reading about the genealogy of Noah’s descendants. At the moment, it all feels like a lot for very little purpose.

Genesis 10:16 Jebusites, Amorites, Girgashites,

Interestingly, though, my oldest decorated our Christmas tree last night. Every ornament on the tree tells a story, contains a little piece of our family history. I love decorating the tree each year because I get to relive all those stories as I put ornaments on the tree. In hindsight, perhaps there is some correlation between remembering ancestors and remembering the stories connected to ornaments. It keeps us grounded. It reminds us. It encourages us and sometimes cautions us.

Genesis 10:17 Hivites, Arkites, Sinites,

Precious Savior, Thank You for precious memories, for the ability to relive them each year as we decorate the tree. Thank You for genealogies that can do the same–remind us, encourage us, caution us. Help us every day, with every breath, to draw closer to You. Amen.

Genesis 10:18 Arvadites, Zemarites and Hamathites.

Have a blessed day.

Genesis 10:10 The first centers of his kingdom were Babylon, Uruk, Akkad and Kalneh, in Shinar.

Let’s back up two verses: Genesis 10:8-9 Cush was the father of Nimrod, who became a mighty warrior on the earth. He was a mighty hunter before the Lord; that is why it is said, “Like Nimrod, a mighty hunter before the Lord.” Commentary assures me that the phrase “Like Nimrod, a mighty hunter before the Lord,” is not a compliment. It’s the complete opposite, in fact.

Genesis 10:11 From that land he went to Assyria, where he built Nineveh, Rehoboth Ir, Calah

Nimrod was a soldier, a warrior, a hunter, not of animals but of men. He fought ruthlessly and ruled ruthlessly and put himself above God. He was vile and violent and tremendously successful. Others turned from God out of fear of Nimrod’s power (at least that’s what I gather from commentary).

Genesis 10:12 and Resen, which is between Nineveh and Calah—which is the great city.

Precious Savior, It is beyond disconcerting when a tyrant comes to power–someone who has vastly different ideas and ideals, who rules through fear and force and coercion. Whether it is a position of power on a grand or a small scale, it can be terrifying. But You are still on Your throne. Always. You are in control. Always. Help us hold onto Your hope, no matter what we face. Amen.

Genesis 10:13-14 Egypt was the father of the Ludites, Anamites, Lehabites, Naphtuhites, Pathrusites, Kasluhites (from whom the Philistines came) and Caphtorites.

Have a blessed day.

Genesis 10:1 This is the account of Shem, Ham and Japheth, Noah’s sons, who themselves had sons after the flood.

Remembering where we came from is important, but it’s not destiny. We all have folks in our family lineage whom we love and who love us. We also have those who were less than supportive, whom we’d really rather not become.

Genesis 10:2 The sons of Japheth: Gomer, Magog, Madai, Javan, Tubal, Meshek and Tiras.

Remembering our roots is important. But remembering that we are not defined by those roots, that we have the power to become who we choose, that’s the true gift. You don’t get to choose your ancestry, but you do get to choose who you will become. Choose wisely.

Genesis 10: 3 The sons of Gomer: Ashkenaz, Riphath and Togarmah.

Precious Savior, Thank You for roots that run deep, that remind us of who we are, where we come from. Thank You that our roots, our genealogies, do not determine our futures. Thank You for the ability to choose who we become. Help us to choose love, choose grace, choose You. Amen.

Genesis 10:4-5 The sons of Javan: Elishah, Tarshish, the Kittites and the Rodanites. (From these the maritime peoples spread out into their territories by their clans within their nations, each with its own language.)

Have a blessed day.