Year of the Bible: Part One of TwelveIhe Atụ

Nations Descending from Noah's Son, Shem.

Stop here and read today's scriptures.

Question: What do you think is the significance of the family line of Shem?

Prayer Focus: Ask God what your family significance is supposed to be? Who are you and your family intended to bless?

Go Deeper: The Baker Illustrated Study Bible tells us that "the line of Shem is very crucial. This section discovers the name "Eber," which is connected with "Hebrew." The Hebrews are more commonly known to us as the Israelites.

The Hebrew people are the family God chose as His people. In his book, Unlocking the Bible, David Pawson tells us Philosophers refer to the act of God choosing the Jews as "The scandal of particularity." Why didn't He save the Chinese through the Chinese or the British through the British? Pawson suggests that God's plan is offensive to people who are not Jews. Yet, Pawson tells a story of a father who brings home sweets for his three children. He could bring three chocolate bars or a bag of sweets and ask them to share. The first option is the most peaceful but treats the children as unconnected individuals. He uses the second approach to teach them more and create a family. "God's way, therefore, was to start a plan whereby his son would come as a Jew. He told the Jews to share his blessings with everyone else. He chose the Jews with the intention that all other people might know his gift through them."