✨ Genesis 10: Noah’s Sons and the Two Paths ✨

Noah’s sons — Shem, Ham, and Japheth — each received incredible gifts: land, language, and culture. But their stories took different turns.

👉 Shem’s line followed God, seeking peace and wisdom. (The messianic line comes through Shem.)

👉 Japheth’s descendants also walked with God.

👉 But Ham’s line? They turned away, chasing power and building empires like Babel, Nineveh, and Sodom.

Even though they strayed, God still provided for them. He gave gifts and called them back to Him. 💛

Let’s look at one individual who is named…Nimrod. He is …

➡️ a mighty hunter and ruler

➡️ He was a hunter of men more than animals; hunting here means conquering others

➡️ He builds the city of Babel

The descendants of Ham are raised to seek power in all things.

🦋 True freedom is found within God’s law, which promotes the good of the neighbor, community, and self.

🛣️ Like Noah’s descendants, we face the choice between the narrow path of faith and the wide path of the world.

🎓This is why when looking for a college, make sure there’s a church nearby you will want to attend. (This should be a deciding factor.)

Other key takeaways . . .

😊 God’s grace extends to both the righteous and the unfaithful, providing blessings to all because Jesus died for everyone.

↩️ There is always a way back to God, no matter how far one strays.

📏 Measuring how well your faith is flourishing based on how well your circumstances are going is a dangerous trick.

✝️ Jesus Christ conquers fear and worry, offering forgiveness, love, and inclusion of all nations in his church.

❤️ Faith is not about earning God’s love but trusting in His grace, which is renewed daily for sinners

🌈 God’s blessings and preservation are a reflection of His enduring love, not of human merit.

Contributor Michelle Bauman is the Director of Y4Life.

Contributor Rev. Harrison Goodman is the Higher Things Content Executive.

#higherthings #lcms #lutheran #genesis