Origin Story: Genesis 10:1–32, “Your Past Isn’t the End.” October 25, 2026.
Our church family is in a fun season. The Lord is answering prayers. Men and women are taking ownership. Somebody said this week, “I am starting to see people for who they are, and not just members of a church.” Isn’t that beautiful? I’ve never understood how the local church has been reduced to a worship service on Sunday. I love preaching. I love those moments when our worship team slows down the song, and then the drum starts to build, the violin comes in the vocals start to sing. It’s awesome!
But the magic of the local church in Austin is getting to peak behind the curtain at the lives of the people. I know it’s scary. I know there are fears like, “What will people say / think?” And, I am not naïve. I’ve been hurt by people in the local church. And, it stings! But, the joys of those relationship have far outweighed the hurts.
In our passage this morning, we’re going to see a lot of names. Honestly, it’s the part of the Bible we usually skim over, but these are people who have stories, lives and personalities, so it will be challenging, but lean in a little, we might be surprised. Let’s look at Genesis 10:1-2:
Genesis 10:1, “1 Now these are the records of the generations of Shem, Ham, and Japheth, the sons of Noah; and sons were born to them after the flood.”
If you are new with us this morning, we’ve been teaching through Genesis. Genesis 1-2, everything is perfect. Genesis 3-6, violence and corruption. Genesis 7-9, judgment and consequences. And, in Genesis 10 we are going to see the nations! (SLIDE: Recap)
Genesis 1-10:
- Genesis 1-2: Everything is perfect!
- Genesis 3-6: Violence and corruption.
- Genesis 7-9: Judgment and consequences.
- Genesis 10: The nations!
Look at verses 2-5:
Genesis 10:2-5, “2 The sons of Japheth were Gomer and Magog and Madai and Javan and Tubal and Meshech and Tiras. 3 The sons of Gomer were Ashkenaz and Riphath and Togarmah. 4 The sons of Javan were Elishah and Tarshish, Kittim and Dodanim. 5 From these the coastlands of the nations were separated into their lands, every one according to his language, according to their families, into their nations.”
See? Isn’t it exciting to watch me pronounce these names? Keep in mind, this is the beginning of humanity spreading throughout creation. In Genesis 9 the Lord had told them to be “fruitful and multiply and fill the earth,” but we’re going to see next Sunday, in Genesis 11 they don’t!
Instead, they gather in a city and build a tower known as the Tower of Babel. We will talk about that next Sunday, but the key this morning is to see the disobedience of humanity doesn’t stop the Lord from accomplishing His purposes! Did you see that in verse 5? People are spreading out to the coastlands. Nations are being established. Genesis 10 is highlighting the beauty of cultures and language and ethnic groups beginning to multiply around the world. It’s starting right here!
In our church in Austin around the Domain, we have a good measure of diversity, which is funny, because we’re not trying to be diverse. The Lord is bringing people to Austin from all over the world, therefore, our call as a church family is to reach the people of our city and as a result we see different cultures, languages, and ethnic groups in our church family. Isn’t that beautiful?
Especially in a small church! Most small churches are filled with people who are all related. That’s weird! But in our church family we get to meet people with different backgrounds, educations, financial standing, language, culture, and yet the name of Jesus is drawing the people of the world to Himself. Isn’t that encouraging? Let’s look at verses 6-7:
Genesis 10:6-7, “6 The sons of Ham were Cush and Mizraim and Put and Canaan. 7 The sons of Cush were Seba and Havilah and Sabtah and Raamah and Sabteca; and the sons of Raamah were Sheba and Dedan.” Last Sunday we saw the shame of Ham in Genesis 9, but in Genesis 10 we see Ham’s judgment isn’t the whole of his family history. Do you see that? It’s just one line.
In addition, the reference to “Mizraim” in verse 6 is the Hebrew word for “Egypt,” so in verse 6 we are seeing nations that are still familiar today. That’s one of the benefits of studying through Scripture, because God’s Word is rooting our lives in a broader and larger story than just what’s right in front of us. Look at verses 8-12:
Genesis 10:8-12, “8 Now Cush became the father of Nimrod; he became a mighty one on the earth. 9 He was a mighty hunter before the Lord; therefore it is said, “Like Nimrod a mighty hunter before the Lord.” 10 The beginning of his kingdom was Babel and Erech and Accad and Calneh, in the land of Shinar. 11 From that land he went forth into Assyria, and built Nineveh and Rehoboth-Ir and Calah,12 and Resen between Nineveh and Calah; that is the great city.”
Be encouraged, all those times someone was calling us a “nimrod” they were just recognizing our biblical potential! The person of Nimrod ends up playing a prominent role in Babel, which we will touch on in Genesis 11, and eventually Nineveh (Jonah), so that sometimes followers of Jesus can describe living in a city as horrible and instead we need to get out into the country where the Lord lives! (Anyone hear / believe this?)
Look, I get it. The city of Austin can get annoying. I’ve been in Austin for 20-years. It doesn’t take much for me to start talking about the good ol’ days, but what a blessing to live in a city like Austin. First, God’s call to Noah and his family were to be fruitful and multiply. That’s not our call today. As a follower of Jesus today, our call is to make disciples of all the nations. You might get married. You might have children. You might move. Doesn’t matter. The call is to make disciples of the nations. Therefore, when it comes to our city of Austin we get to see the Lord bringing the nations to us!
When you live in a city like Austin we are surrounded by people chasing after dreams, building their lives, and learning about themselves along the way. It’s the main reason I like dabbling in stand-up comedy! When people chase after dreams it creates opportunities for spiritual conversations about Jesus. Sometimes chasing those dreams comes with heartache, and people start to ask questions about life.
Sometimes building that career will leave people dissatisfied or humbled or discouraged. What a great opportunity to point people to the life and truth in Jesus? So, yeah, we have some traffic, and yes, our city is changing. And, yes, our political leaders are annoying. And, someday Buddy Henderson will run for mayor and fix all our problems, but until them we can rejoice at the opportunities the Lord gives us to make disciples of the nations! Look at verses 13-14:
Genesis 10:13-14, “13 Mizraim became the father of Ludim and Anamim and Lehabim and Naphtuhim 14 and Pathrusim and Casluhim (from which came the Philistines) and Caphtorim.”
In this next chunk of verses, we are going to see people groups who eventually stir up a lot of problems. In the history of Egypt we see Pharaoh enslave Israel. That’s not good. The Philistines are going to create some challenges for Israel. There are still parts of Libya and North Africa, represented in these verses, still creating challenges today.
But, that doesn’t mean God’s Word is making sweeping judgment about the whole nation. That’s silly! Violence and corruption isn’t just a particular ethnic group. Violence and corruption applies to all people! In the same way, we need to remember one part of someone’s life doesn’t tell the whole story about a person. We might hear how someone votes… and we might think, “Only an evil person would vote for that person.” But that would be an overstatement, right?
We might hear someone has some layers of their story that make us uncomfortable, but that doesn’t mean the Lord isn’t working in the life of that person, right? As a follower of Jesus, we don’t want to close the door on someone just because of the bits and pieces make us uncomfortable, because we know the bits and pieces don’t make up the whole of what Jesus is doing in our lives. Amen?
In our church in north Austin, I love the curiosity Lord is stirring in us for one another. Let’s keep the curiosity going. Let’s not just settle for 1-2 stories. There’s layers and layers of what the Lord is doing in the life of the people in this room, and if we’re not careful we will spend the next 6-months talking about the Dallas Cowboys! Amen? Look at verses 15-18:
Genesis 10:15-18, “15 Canaan became the father of Sidon, his firstborn, and Heth 16 and the Jebusite and the Amorite and the Girgashite 17 and the Hivite and the Arkite and the Sinite 18 and the Arvadite and the Zemarite and the Hamathite; and afterward the families of the Canaanite were spread abroad.”
Generally speaking, when you see a people group in the Bible end with an -ite, it’s not a good sign. And, although we want to see all of humanity as valuable because we are made in the image of God. It also doesn’t mean we have to agree with everything we see in humanity. Even on a relational level, we can extend forgiveness to someone in our life and at the same time, if those people are causing physical harm in our life, we should create boundaries with those people.
Even on a personal level, if you gossip and slander me to other people, I can still value you as a person made in the image of God, but we’re going to need to talk about the gossip and the slander. This why the principle of Matthew 18 is so important to our church family. The whole idea of a church is that it is filled with people who are sinners, which means there is a high probability that we are going to hurt one another, offend one another, and rub one another the wrong way. It will probably be me!
Therefore, in those moments we want to extend grace to one another. We want to assume the best about each other, but if the offense continues to happen, we need to take tangible steps of reconciliation where we agree this “offense” is not okay. There’s a wedge of sin in our relationship that needs to be removed so we can acknowledge, forgive, reconcile, and the name of Jesus can be exalted. Those moments are amazing!
I can tell you from experience, the process of Matthew 18 sounds great in a sermon, but in real life, with real hurts and real offenses, it is really hard. Our culture has discipled us to cut people out of our life, cancel those relationships. And, at best our culture has taught us tell everyone else about those offenses, but God’s Word has given us the gospel to reconcile. Let’s each of us right now, decided in our hearts, when that day should come, we are committed to reconciliation. Amen? Look at verses 19-20:
Genesis 10:19-20, “19 The territory of the Canaanite extended from Sidon as you go toward Gerar, as far as Gaza; as you go toward Sodom and Gomorrah and Admah and Zeboiim, as far as Lasha. 20 These are the sons of Ham, according to their families, according to their languages, by their lands, by their nations.”
Again, in Genesis 10 we are seeing people become clans, tribes, and nations. Some of these people groups are going to be in conflict with one another. Sometimes of these people groups, cultures and ethnicities are going to disappear from history. It happens! I know it’s weird today to think about nations overtaking nations. Maybe that’s happening right now in France and Germany and England? I don’t know! But, it means on some level, our American culture isn’t guaranteed to continue. I don’t want that to happen. I love our country, but as followers of Jesus, our primary purpose and identity isn’t our American culture. It’s because in Christ, we have been given a higher citizenship. A heavenly citizenship, so that our allegiance, language, and culture is ultimately in Christ! Let’s jump down to verse 32:
Genesis 10:32, “32 These are the families of the sons of Noah, according to their genealogies, by their nations; and out of these the nations were separated on the earth after the flood.”
Just as the chapter started; sons of Noah become clans, clans become tribes, tribes become nations, so that even though the they didn’t want to be fruitful and multiply, the Lord makes sure to accomplish His purposes! Specifically, through the line of Shem we see these families scattered until eventually the Lord is going to call Abraham to establish the people of Israel.
Look, just like with Noah, there’s nothing special about Abraham. Abraham is growing up in a family that worships the moon, and yet the Lord calls Abraham to Himself, and like Noah, Abraham is credited with the righteousness of God to establish a people who will bring forth the Savior. His name is Jesus!
Sometimes we think of the New Testament like the Old Testament didn’t work, so they audible to Jesus as a better option. The plan was always Jesus. The people of Israel were given the law that they could never meet to see their need for a Savior. They were given priests to make sacrifices on their behalf that would never be enough, so they would see their need for a Mediator. They were given kings as leaders that would always fail so that people would see their need for a Leader. His name is Jesus!
Genesis 10 is like a list of names where a person is thinking, “Maybe this generation will get it?” Nope! Maybe this generation will fix it? Nope! Maybe this generation be the answer? Nope! Nope! Nope! So that eventually Jesus shows up as the ultimate Savior, Mediator, and King! The answers for humanity were never meant to come from within. The answers for humanity were always meant to come through the One who could do what the people couldn’t do.
He lives a perfect life. He is obedient to the Father. He stands in our place. He takes the judgment we deserve, and He conquers death in the resurrection, so that we might have life in Him. I was hanging out with a friend this week, and he asked, “How did you become a Christian?” He said, “Was it just about going to heaven?”
I said, “No, it’s never been about heaven. It’s always been about the life that comes with Jesus.” Through faith in Jesus’ life, death and resurrection, we are reconciled to the Father.” Just like when we offend one another and need to reconcile, our sin has offended God, and we need to be reconciled. Therefore, Jesus comes to say, “That’s sin. That’s offensive. I will pay the price. I will make you right. I will reconcile you to the Father!” That’s the gospel!
And, if we can be reconciled to the Father we can be reconciled to one another, and if we can be reconciled to one another, we can get a taste of heaven on earth. We can say, “Oh yeah, this season of my life is a part of my story, but it’s not my whole story.” Yeah, my resume of life has some missteps here and there, but the Lord is working in my life, so that you might not forgive me or accept me, but the promised One from Genesis 3 has come to call me His!
Let’s be honest, sometimes our failures bring earthly consequences. And, sometimes those earthly consequences bring earthly boundaries, and that’s okay, because my heavenly hope is in Jesus. Amen? That’s why we’re in awe of Jesus. That’s why we want to walk with Jesus. We want to obey Jesus, because He knows what’s best for us. We want to follow Jesus, because He is the only One who sees our failures and comes to call us His.
North Village Church
This article was written by Pastor Michael Dennis, Lead Pastor at North Village Church. North Village Church is a non-denominational church in North Austin, TX, near the Domain and serving the 78757 community. Established in 2009, we are built around Jesus and Bible teaching. If you are looking for a church in North Austin, we would love to meet you. We worship together every Sunday at 10:30 a.m., encourage Christ-centered fellowship through groups, and offer opportunities such as Theological Training so that we can be rooted in God’s Word. North Village Church is made up of professionals, married couples, singles, and families who want to experience the life-transforming power of Jesus. Families can connect through our Kids Ministry and Youth Village.
NVC Online
Unable to attend our Christian church in Austin in person? NVC Online streams worship every Sunday at 10:30 a.m. Central Time. You can also watch sermons on demand and follow North Village Church on Instagram for Christ-centered encouragement.