January 14, 2013
A NAME THAT STANDS OUT
Genesis 10
Braun Brown
Central Truth
Genesis 10 focuses in on the generations that came from the sons of Noah. As the list progresses throughout the chapter, the name of Nimrod stands out, but is it for the right reasons? Does your name stand out for the right reasons?
Key Verse | Genesis 10:8–9
Now Cush became the father of Nimrod; he became a mighty one on the earth. He was a mighty hunter before the Lord. (Genesis 10:8-9a)
Genesis 10
Nations Descended from Noah
1 These are the generations of the sons of Noah, Shem, Ham, and Japheth. Sons were born to them after the flood.
2 The sons of Japheth: Gomer, Magog, Madai, Javan, Tubal, Meshech, and Tiras. 3 The sons of Gomer: Ashkenaz, Riphath, and Togarmah. 4 The sons of Javan: Elishah, Tarshish, Kittim, and Dodanim. 5 From these the coastland peoples spread in their lands, each with his own language, by their clans, in their nations.
6 The sons of Ham: Cush, Egypt, Put, and Canaan. 7 The sons of Cush: Seba, Havilah, Sabtah, Raamah, and Sabteca. The sons of Raamah: Sheba and Dedan. 8 Cush fathered Nimrod; he was the first on earth to be a mighty man. 1 10:8 Or he began to be a mighty man on the earth 9 He was a mighty hunter before the LORD. Therefore it is said, “Like Nimrod a mighty hunter before the LORD.” 10 The beginning of his kingdom was Babel, Erech, Accad, and Calneh, in the land of Shinar. 11 From that land he went into Assyria and built Nineveh, Rehoboth-Ir, Calah, and 12 Resen between Nineveh and Calah; that is the great city. 13 Egypt fathered Ludim, Anamim, Lehabim, Naphtuhim, 14 Pathrusim, Casluhim (from whom 2 10:14 Or from where the Philistines came), and Caphtorim.
15 Canaan fathered Sidon his firstborn and Heth, 16 and the Jebusites, the Amorites, the Girgashites, 17 the Hivites, the Arkites, the Sinites, 18 the Arvadites, the Zemarites, and the Hamathites. Afterward the clans of the Canaanites dispersed. 19 And the territory of the Canaanites extended from Sidon in the direction of Gerar as far as Gaza, and in the direction of Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, and Zeboiim, as far as Lasha. 20 These are the sons of Ham, by their clans, their languages, their lands, and their nations.
21 To Shem also, the father of all the children of Eber, the elder brother of Japheth, children were born. 22 The sons of Shem: Elam, Asshur, Arpachshad, Lud, and Aram. 23 The sons of Aram: Uz, Hul, Gether, and Mash. 24 Arpachshad fathered Shelah; and Shelah fathered Eber. 25 To Eber were born two sons: the name of the one was Peleg, 3 10:25 Peleg means division for in his days the earth was divided, and his brother's name was Joktan. 26 Joktan fathered Almodad, Sheleph, Hazarmaveth, Jerah, 27 Hadoram, Uzal, Diklah, 28 Obal, Abimael, Sheba, 29 Ophir, Havilah, and Jobab; all these were the sons of Joktan. 30 The territory in which they lived extended from Mesha in the direction of Sephar to the hill country of the east. 31 These are the sons of Shem, by their clans, their languages, their lands, and their nations.
32 These are the clans of the sons of Noah, according to their genealogies, in their nations, and from these the nations spread abroad on the earth after the flood.
Dive Deeper | Genesis 10
In our home, we talk about representing our family name and how we want it to be quickly associated with the things of Christ. In chapter 10, we see a name that stands out, and, at first, it seems to be for a really good reason. "Cush fathered Nimrod and he was the first on the earth to be a mighty man. He was a mighty hunter before the Lord" (Genesis 10:8, ESV). Can't you just hear it, all the young guys in that day saying, "I want to grow up to be like Nimrod. He is a man's man."
Nimrod sounds like a person who should be admired until you read further and realize that he ends up being a ruler of several cities that were major enemies of Israel. Two of the cities were Babylon and Nineveh, which were known for giving themselves over to all kinds of foreign gods. It is interesting to note that Nimrod's name is associated with being a mighty warrior, but unfortunately he was fighting for the wrong cause and his own glory.
How about your name? What would be the tag line associated with it? Would it say, he was a great business man, a fantastic athlete, or possibly a lady of unmatched beauty, but that is where the story would end? Isaiah 40:7-8 (ESV) says, "The grass withers, the flower fades when the breath of the Lord blows on it; surely the people are grass. The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever." How quickly we can fall in love with our gifts and the glory they bring us rather than with the giver of the gifts.
Nimrod reminds me of so many of the great athletes of today whom we quickly idolize, but their time in the sun is short-lived, and we find ourselves disillusioned with them after their bodies are no longer able to perform up to our expectations. May our lives be a billboard that says it's not about my name being lifted up, but about the name of Jesus. Turn to Him for your strength, purpose, and hope once again today!
Discussion Questions
1. What is the evidence in your life that you want to make your name even greater than God's?
2. When others think of you, what do you think they associate your name with?
3. What are some steps you can take to be about eternal things?
4. What are the gifts God has given you? How can you use them for His glory?
5. Who is someone you can talk with about this? How can they hold you accountable, pray for you, or come alongside you?