Who begat you?

Genesis 10-11

So.....who begat you?  It occurs to me that we all claim to be sons of Adam and yet we are also sons of Noah!  And some of those names are familiar, aren't they?  Amazing that cities and places can really mark a life lived--a real person going through all the same things we do.  These people set down their families and cities grew around them.  Communities developed as each need was met.

I've always marveled at how so many people in the world could have started from just one family.  But then, I look at how fast our family reunion has grown over the years.  At one part of the reading, I had to draw a family tree just to get it straight and sure enough, I realized that someone had to marry a close relative to keep it all going.  The famous Abram's brother married his own niece.  And as we read the Bible, I know that kind of thing will continue; just not as big of a deal back then as in our society.  Even today, they say we are all only separated by 7 generations before we find someone that is related to ourselves and each person we meet.

I always try to keep their society and culture in mind as I read.  It was very different from ours.  Did you notice that daughters were not mentioned by name?  But as a sideline at the end of each of the genealogies.  Interesting. Other things throughout the Bible will reflect this different society and culture as well and it is important as you glean the message from the Word that you analyze it with the correct mindset.  It still always amazes me that it applies to us today.  I guess because even though culture may change, human nature doesn't and God really doesn't change.  His truths are the same now as they were then and always will be.

So today we connect one main character--Noah--to our next main the next main character in the Bible--Abram. But stuck in the middle of all these "bagats" there was this story of the tower of Babel.  This story shows how quickly mankind can become "full of himself."  The world was just destroyed 4 generations previous if we are to read the Bible straight through.  Perhaps it was longer from the flood than that, but you know the people knew the story of the flood.  And you might think that it was a good thing for man to be working together on a great project.  Many times, a mutual project can pull a group together for good. But God didn't see it that way.  He does know our hearts after all, and He was thinking about how man getting together was a bad thing.  Probably because they were getting together to glorify themselves.  Never a good thing--for we are to live for the glory of God.  But, just think what we could do if we WERE trying to glorify God and all of us got on board!!  Now that's my idea of heaven!  All God's children on the same page working for His glory!
It's definitely something to consider as you look at your own family along with your church family!
Don't have much of that?  It might be time to look for some.  Most would welcome you with open arms.  God can lead you there.  

Lord, help us see the trends in our families that can tie us together and glorify you!