1 Chronicles 1:8-16: a reflection

8The sons of Ham: Cush, Mizraim, Put, and Canaan. 9The sons of Cush: Seba, Havilah, Sabta, Raama, Sabteca. The sons of Raamah: Sheba and Dedan. 10Cush became the father of Nimrod. He began to be a mighty one on the earth. 11Mizraim became the father of Ludim, Anamim, Lehabim, Naphtuhim, 12Pathrusim, Casluhim (where the Philistines came from), and Caphtorim. 13Canaan became the father of Sidon his firstborn, Heth, 14the Jebusite, the Amorite, the Girgashite, 15the Hivite, the Arkite, the Sinite, 16the Arvadite, the Zemarite, and the Hamathite.

This portion of the long genealogy in Chronicles traces the descent of many nations and peoples, the sons of Ham and their many descendants, the peoples of Egypt, Canaan, and beyond. It is a record of the nations, showing how the many peoples of the earth descended from one family, all part of one human story, all under God's view. The genealogy of the nations reminds us that all the peoples of the earth are related, one humanity, and all within the scope of God's concern.

Notice the scope of this record: it embraces all the nations, the many peoples of the earth. It does not trace only the line of God's chosen people, but the descent of many nations, showing that all the peoples of the earth belong to one human family, descended from a common origin. All these nations, in their variety, are part of one human story, and all are within the view and concern of God, who made them all. The genealogy of the nations shows the wide scope of God's care, embracing not one people only, but all the peoples of the earth.

That wide scope is worth taking to heart, for we can think of God's concern as narrow, focused only on our own kind. We can imagine that God cares only for our own people, our own group, our own kind; but the genealogy of the nations shows that all the peoples of the earth are one human family, all within the scope of God's concern. God's care embraces all the nations, all the peoples of the earth, not one kind alone; and all human beings are our kin, one family. Do not think of God's concern as narrow, focused only on your own kind; God's care spans all the nations, all the peoples of the earth, who are one human family. See all people as your kin, within the scope of God's concern, as the genealogy of the nations shows all the peoples of the earth descended from one family and held within the view of the God who made them all.

Lord, this portion of the long genealogy in Chronicles traces the descent of many nations and peoples, the sons of Ham and their many descendants, the peoples of Egypt, Canaan, and beyond. It is a record of the nations, showing how the many peoples of the earth descended from one family, all part of one human story, all under your view. The genealogy of the nations reminds me that all the peoples of the earth are related, one humanity, and all within the scope of your concern. Show me the scope of this record: it embraces all the nations, the many peoples of the earth. It does not trace only the line of your chosen people, but the descent of many nations, showing that all the peoples of the earth belong to one human family. All these nations are part of one human story, and all are within the view and concern of you, who made them all. Take that wide scope to my heart, for I can think of your concern as narrow, focused only on my own kind. I can imagine that you care only for my own people, my own group; but the genealogy of the nations shows that all the peoples of the earth are one human family, all within the scope of your concern. Your care embraces all the nations, not one kind alone; and all human beings are my kin, one family. Keep me from thinking of your concern as narrow, focused only on my own kind; your care spans all the nations, Lord. Help me see all people as my kin, within the scope of your concern.