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Word from Scotland
by Sandy Shaw
Over these past weeks we have spent much time reading of, and observing, the various stages in the Creation narrative and we spend one last day as we move into Genesis Chapters 10,11, where we read of the sons of Noah and how the scenario develops – some of it good – some of it not so good – perhaps not so exciting and thrilling, but so like life!
Japheth means to enlarge - Japheth may you grow and extend - you will dwell in the tents of Shem - and you will share in the blessings of God.
At the beginning of Chapter 10 - we read of them each going their own way.
We are reading now of the origin of races and nations, and this remains a mystery today to most anthropologists and ethnologists.
Japheth goes north and west.
Ham went south. Do you know that this is the part of the Bible used by South Africa to justify apartheid - the black people descending from Ham? There is no justification for this whatsoever.
One interesting thing arises - a man named Nimrod emerges.
He becomes a mighty warrior and a mighty hunter - even in the eyes of God he was mighty. Things were right to begin with - but pride returns - and Nimrod got ideas about his own strength and ability - which he begins to use against men - and he began to build a kingdom.
Nimrod began to asset himself.
In Shinar, Chapter 11 verse 2, the people thought they would build something that would make them really great and powerful.
They set out to build a massive tower. They wanted to make a name for themselves.
We know today that around the tops of these towers were the signs of the Zodiac.
Soon, man is back into what we call horoscopes and the occult - not all that long after the Flood.
God and His goodness and Grace were quickly forgotten.
They ended up Babbling. They built and blasphemed and ended up confused at Babel.
Plans made apart from God usually end up in disaster.
These verses have so much to reveal to us and teach us about ourselves.
Let us learn the lessons which GOD wants to teach us - and rely upon the grace and control and guidance and love of God.
But read on and flow with the Word of God. There at the end of Chapter 11, we read of Abraham. Remember what flows on from these significant verses – Abraham – Isaac – Jacob, who is renamed Israel – Joseph – Moses – Joshua – Samuel – Saul – David – and right on to Jesus Christ, the promised Messiah and Redeemer and Saviour.
“Loving Father, we bow and worship. We give thanks for Your Holy Word. Enable us to see clearly the pattern from Creation to Jesus Christ – and right on to the circumstances in which we find ourselves today, when we pray – ‘Come Lord Jesus’. Risen and living and loving Jesus – You came right on time at Bethlehem. We know Your return will be right on time. Amen”
Alexander 'Sandy' Shaw is pastor of Nairn Christian Fellowship in Nairn, Scotland. Nairn is 17 miles east of Inverness - on the Moray Firth Coast - not far from the Loch Ness Monster!
Gifted as a Biblical teacher, Sandy is firmly committed to making sure that his teachings are firmly grounded in the Word.
Sandy has a weekly radio talk which can be heard via the Internet on Saturday at 11:40am, New Orleans time, at wsho.com.
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