What does it mean?
God blessed Noah and his sons in much the same way that He had blessed the first man and woman in Gn.1:28. He told them to be fruitful and multiply; however, instead of telling them to rule over the living creatures of the earth God put the fear of man into the creatures. Also, instead of giving them the vegetation of the earth for food, God gave them the living creatures for food but not while they still had life in them. There is also a remembrance that above all creatures, man is special because man was made in the image of God; therefore, man shall not be killed. God then made a covenant for man and all living things, that He would never again destroy all flesh with a worldwide flood again. As a sign of the covenant God created the rainbow. Through Noah’s sons the entire earth was populated. This means that every person on the earth has a common ancestry in Noah and his wife. It did not take long before sin entered into the family. Noah cursed Canaan but blessed shem and Japeth before he died. The sons of Noah and their sons separated and populated the earth after the flood. However, they were not willing to separate but instead began to build a city and exalt themselves, so God gave them different languages and scattered them over the face of the whole earth. Why were there people in North and South America when the explorers came across the Atlantic? The answer is God scattered them there. The word of God then focuses on the family of Shem to his descendant Terah the father of Abram, Nahor and Haran; and Haran was the father of Lot but Haran died. Abram’s wife was Sarai and Nahor’s wife was Milcah. The text makes special note that Sarai was barren. Terah took his family and they settled in Haran. After separating the people of the earth God focused His attention on Abram the son of Terah and Abram’s barren wife Sarai.
What Shall I do?
I know that the Lord is a covenant making and a covenant keeping God. I shall trust the Lord our God who has revealed Himself in Jesus Christ the Lord. God has promised eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord; therefore, I shall trust in the Lord Jesus Christ to raise me from the dead and save me from hell. God started over with Noah but man quickly returned to sin and rebellion; therefore, of all the families that He scattered around the world He set is sight on Abram who He later called Abraham and his wife Sarai who He later called Sarah. Through this couple God would bring a people and a Savor, who is Christ Jesus the Lord. I do not understand what is happening on the earth today with the global corona virus pandemic and the actions of the worlds governments but I do know that God is sovereign and He “causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” (Rom.8:28) Therefore, I shall trust God: Father and Son and Holy Spirit. I also know that all persons are created in the image of God. Therefore, when I go to work today, I shall care for my patients with the dignity that they are images of our creator God.
