Genesis 36:20-30: a reflection

20These are the sons of Seir the Horite, the inhabitants of the land: Lotan, Shobal, Zibeon, Anah, 21Dishon, Ezer, and Dishan. These are the chiefs who came of the Horites, the children of Seir in the land of Edom. 22The children of Lotan were Hori and Heman. Lotan’s sister was Timna. 23These are the children of Shobal: Alvan, Manahath, Ebal, Shepho, and Onam. 24These are the children of Zibeon: Aiah and Anah. This is Anah who found the hot springs in the wilderness, as he fed the donkeys of Zibeon his father. 25These are the children of Anah: Dishon and Oholibamah, the daughter of Anah. 26These are the children of Dishon: Hemdan, Eshban, Ithran, and Cheran. 27These are the children of Ezer: Bilhan, Zaavan, and Akan. 28These are the children of Dishan: Uz and Aran. 29These are the chiefs who came of the Horites: chief Lotan, chief Shobal, chief Zibeon, chief Anah, 30chief Dishon, chief Ezer, and chief Dishan. These are the chiefs who came of the Horites, according to their chiefs in the land of Seir.

In the genealogies of Genesis, alongside the line of God's chosen people, we find recorded the descendants of peoples outside the covenant, such as these sons of Seir the Horite, with their names and generations carefully noted. These were not God's covenant people; they were other peoples, the inhabitants of Seir. And yet their generations are recorded, their names remembered, their chiefs listed. This tells us something about the reach of God's knowledge: it extends to all peoples, not only to his covenant people. God knows and, in his word, records not only the line of his chosen ones, but the nations and peoples of the earth, their generations and names. God's knowledge and awareness are not confined to his own people but reach to all peoples, all nations. God knows the peoples of the earth, not only his covenant people; his awareness extends to all. The nations and peoples are known to God, not only his own. God's knowledge reaches to all peoples, not only his chosen ones.

Notice whose generations are recorded here: not God's covenant people, but the descendants of Seir, another people outside the covenant line. And yet they are recorded, their names and generations noted, in God's word. This reveals that God's knowledge and awareness extend beyond his covenant people to all the peoples of the earth. He is not the God of one people only, unaware of or indifferent to the others; he knows the nations, their generations, their names. The peoples of the earth, even those outside the covenant, are known to God. This is worth pondering, for it reminds us that God's awareness is universal, reaching to all peoples, all nations, all the families of the earth. No people is beyond his knowledge; no nation is outside his awareness. The whole earth and all its peoples are known to God, held in his knowledge. This speaks of the greatness of God, whose knowledge is not confined to one people but embraces all; and it foreshadows the gathering in of all peoples that God intends. God knows and is aware of all the peoples of the earth. His knowledge embraces all nations, not only his own. All peoples are within the reach of God's knowledge and care.

That is worth taking to heart, for God's knowledge extends to all peoples, not only his covenant people, and no nation is outside his awareness. We can think of God as concerned only with his own people, unaware of or indifferent to the others; but God records even the generations of peoples outside the covenant, knowing the nations of the earth. God's knowledge and awareness reach to all peoples, all nations. This speaks of his greatness and foreshadows his purpose to gather in all peoples. Do not think God unaware of or indifferent to the peoples beyond his own; his knowledge extends to all, as he recorded even the generations of Seir. Remember that God's knowledge and awareness extend to all the peoples of the earth, not only his covenant people, as the generations of Seir the Horite, a people outside the covenant, are recorded and named in God's word; for God is not the God of one people only, unaware of or indifferent to the others, but knows the nations and peoples of the earth, their generations and names, so that no people is beyond his knowledge and no nation outside his awareness, which speaks of the greatness of his knowledge embracing all and foreshadows his purpose to gather in all the families of the earth, whom he knows and holds in his awareness.

Lord, in the genealogies of Genesis, alongside the line of your chosen people, we find recorded the descendants of peoples outside the covenant, such as these sons of Seir the Horite, with their names and generations carefully noted. These were not your covenant people; they were other peoples, the inhabitants of Seir. And yet their generations are recorded, their names remembered, their chiefs listed. This tells me something about the reach of your knowledge: it extends to all peoples, not only to your covenant people. You know and, in your word, record not only the line of your chosen ones, but the nations and peoples of the earth. Show me whose generations are recorded here: not your covenant people, but the descendants of Seir, another people outside the covenant line. And yet they are recorded, in your word. This reveals that your knowledge and awareness extend beyond your covenant people to all the peoples of the earth. You are not the God of one people only, unaware of or indifferent to the others; you know the nations, their generations, their names. This reminds me that your awareness is universal, reaching to all peoples, all the families of the earth. No people is beyond your knowledge. This speaks of your greatness, whose knowledge is not confined to one people but embraces all; and it foreshadows the gathering in of all peoples that you intend. Take that to my heart, for your knowledge extends to all peoples, not only your covenant people, and no nation is outside your awareness. I can think of you as concerned only with your own people; but you record even the generations of peoples outside the covenant. Keep me from thinking you unaware of or indifferent to the peoples beyond your own; help me remember that your knowledge extends to all, Lord, as you recorded even the generations of Seir, embracing all the nations of the earth in your knowledge and care, whom you purpose to gather in.