Daily Devotions
Genesis
"So God blessed Noah and his sons… 'Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth." Genesis 9:1
Text: Genesis 10:1-32
THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE GENEALOGICAL RECORD OF THE SONS OF NOAH
Obviously, the author must have thought it significant to track the genealogical record of Noah’s sons. Let us consider the following thoughts.
1. Evidence of the power of God’s blessings
It was God who declared to Noah that He would bless his three sons. The genealogical records of the three sons bear witness of the fact that they were indeed greatly blessed by the Lord!
2. Filling the earth
That was some task! Mishaps could occur that would hinder the filling of the earth!
a) Barrenness could occur.
b) Uncommon hardship like famine, pestilences, natural disasters – these could severely hamper God’s plan of blessing.
With the power of God backing up His promise, the blessings of God were poured out and flowed freely!
WHAT ABOUT THE ORIGINAL CURSE THAT GOD UTTERED?
There is no mistaking the terrible significance of the curse that God uttered when Adam and Eve fell from grace (Cf. Genesis 3:17-19). Then there was also the curse that God pronounced on Cain after he slew his brother Abel (Cf. Genesis 4:11). How do we understand these pronouncements? Let us ponder the following thoughts.
1. The Curses were directed to the Individuals concerned
This is the first reference. That this was the case was obvious! The curse of Cain was with direct reference to him alone!
2. The Power behind the Curses
A curse must be understood as God’s judgment! When He makes a judgment, He would of course make sure that His power would back it up. The question that is of great importance is the extent and the duration of a curse. Would a curse last forever?
3. From Being Accursed to Being Blessed
It would appear that after punishment has been meted out, the sting of the curse would be muted if not withdrawn entirely. The curse on Cain existed till he died.
The Great Flood destroyed all mankind except Noah and his family. With God’s pronouncement of blessing, this has muted the original curse on Adam. If man were to obey the Lord and walk in His ways, the curse would be reversed, and he would enjoy the fullness of blessing!