King James Bible Study – [And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. – Mark 8:34]
Date: Sunday, January 04, 2026
Chapters: Genesis 9-11
Message: Genesis: The Rainbow Promise
Hello My Friend,
As we continue in the reading of Genesis, we learn that life on earth after the Great Flood took on a whole new structure, it would be quite different from what Noah and his family remembered. God, sets boundaries and rules for them in regards to life and makes a covenant with life itself, [Genesis 9:9-11 And I, behold, I establish my covenant with you, and with your seed after you; 10 And with every living creature that is with you, of the fowl, of the cattle, and of every beast of the earth with you; from all that go out of the ark, to every beast of the earth. 11 And I will establish my covenant with you; neither shall all flesh be cut off any more by the waters of a flood; neither shall there any more be a flood to destroy the earth.]
As I mentioned yesterday, there were many firsts that would take place after the Great Flood. God, goes on to describe to Noah what those might be. Since man had been living as barbarians for quite some time it was time God set some ground rules. First, God does bless Noah and his sons.
[Genesis 9:1-4 And God blessed Noah and his sons, and said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth. 2 And the fear of you and the dread of you shall be upon every beast of the earth, and upon every fowl of the air, upon all that moveth upon the earth, and upon all the fishes of the sea; into your hand are they delivered. 3 Every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you; even as the green herb have I given you all things. 4 But flesh with the life thereof, which is the blood thereof, shall ye not eat.]
Again, this is where both man and beast would become carnivorous, it is probable that man had already been eating animal flesh, but now they are now permitted by God to eat it. God had one important rule: beasts and humans alike, none were to consume humans nor eat meat that still had life in it. Whether this is referred to as the consumption of raw flesh from a living animal was just killed or of blood itself, the command served a purpose. It was given to guard humanity from slipping back into barbarism, or the kind of kills that disregarded the value of life, [Proverbs 12:10 A righteous man regardeth the life of his beast: but the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel.]
God goes on to give the first command regarding someone who had been killed either by man or beast, [Genesis 9:5-7 And surely your blood of your lives will I require; at the hand of every beast will I require it, and at the hand of man; at the hand of every man’s brother will I require the life of man. 6 Whoso sheddeth man’s blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man. 7 And you, be ye fruitful, and multiply; bring forth abundantly in the earth, and multiply therein.]
From the very beginning life comes from the blood, without the blood there is no life in the body. To demonstrate how precious human life is to Him, God even required that an animal be put to death if it killed a person. And regarding human violence, we are to never think that it is acceptable to take a life, even our own. Take note that God still points out that He first created man in His image, that proves to me that even though we all have a little bit of wicked in us we are still precious to Him, [Psalms 139:15-17 My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. 16 Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them. 17 How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them!]
A covenant is a solemn promise or commitment established on specific conditions, often accompanied by a sign or token to confirm it. To remind humanity of His promise never again to destroy all life on earth by a flood, God establishes the Rainbow covenant, [Genesis 9:12-15 And God said, This is the token of the covenant which I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for perpetual generations: 13 I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between me and the earth. 14 And it shall come to pass, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the bow shall be seen in the cloud: 15 And I will remember my covenant, which is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and the waters shall no more become a flood to destroy all flesh.]
Each time the rainbow appears, it stands as a visible reminder of God’s mercy, His faithfulness, and His enduring commitment to preserve life. Yet the rainbow signifies more than His promise never again to destroy the earth with a flood. It also points us toward the greater hope He offers—everlasting life through His Son, [Genesis 9:16-17 And the bow shall be in the cloud; and I will look upon it, that I may remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is upon the earth. 17 And God said unto Noah, This is the token of the covenant, which I have established between me and all flesh that is upon the earth.]
The God who preserved humanity in Noah’s day is the same God who now preserves human souls not through an ark, but through Christ Himself, [Psalms 145:20 The LORD preserveth all them that love him: but all the wicked will he destroy.]
Now, you would think that since they were the sole survivors that they would fear God and not succumb to their sinful flesh. However, we soon discover that sin just comes naturally to us and if we do not know any better we would surely make a mess of things. Noah, discovered this first hand when he went back to his job as a farmer and what now learned what happened to grapes when they sit in the sun for a long period of time.
[Genesis 9:18-22 And the sons of Noah, that went forth of the ark, were Shem, and Ham, and Japheth: and Ham is the father of Canaan. 19 These are the three sons of Noah: and of them was the whole earth overspread. 20 And Noah began to be an husbandman, and he planted a vineyard: 21 And he drank of the wine, and was drunken; and he was uncovered within his tent. 22 And Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father, and told his two brethren without.]
I never fully understood the depth of Ham’s disrespect until I found myself caring for my mother during moments when she was not in her right state of mind. That experience helped me see how vulnerable a person can be—and how sacred it is to protect their dignity. Ham, by contrast, seems to have acted carelessly, even mockingly, when he saw his father’s condition. Instead of quietly covering Noah, he went to tell his brothers, exposing his father’s shame rather than shielding it. It is probable that Canaan was the one who discovered him which could explain why Noah’s reaction was so strong when he awoke and understood what had happened.
[Genesis 9:23-27 And Shem and Japheth took a garment, and laid it upon both their shoulders, and went backward, and covered the nakedness of their father; and their faces were backward, and they saw not their father’s nakedness. 24 And Noah awoke from his wine, and knew what his younger son had done unto him. 25 And he said, Cursed be Canaan; a servant of servants shall he be unto his brethren. 26 And he said, Blessed be the LORD God of Shem; and Canaan shall be his servant. 27 God shall enlarge Japheth, and he shall dwell in the tents of Shem; and Canaan shall be his servant.]
Why did Noah curse Canaan and not Ham? The curse targeted Canaan because the offense involved him. Noah was not lashing out in anger, he was speaking under divine insight about what would come from Canaan’s line. As the generations of Noah are listed, notice the sons of each of the three and how they will play key roles in how God would use them to not establish and strengthen His people, but judge them as well. The account begins with the descendants of Japheth.
[Genesis 10:1-5 Now these are the generations of the sons of Noah, Shem, Ham, and Japheth: and unto them were sons born after the flood. 2 The sons of Japheth; Gomer, and Magog, and Madai, and Javan, and Tubal, and Meshech, and Tiras. 3 And the sons of Gomer; Ashkenaz, and Riphath, and Togarmah. 4 And the sons of Javan; Elishah, and Tarshish, Kittim, and Dodanim. 5 By these were the isles of the Gentiles divided in their lands; every one after his tongue, after their families, in their nations.]
Through Japheth’s descendants, God would not only establish and strengthen His people, He would also use them to create the Christian nation. Japheth’s descendants make up those of European descent, also known as the Gentiles and that includes Greeks, Romans, Italians, and Germans. I often find myself drawn to the names of their descendants, especially Japheth because I am one of his children. And they definitely did follow Shem to seek God, [Romans 2:9-11 Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile; 10 But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile: 11 For there is no respect of persons with God.]
Now, we come to the descendants of Ham. Here we begin to see why not only Canaan, but much of Ham’s lineage, would eventually separate themselves from the others—both geographically and spiritually. Their choices, their cultures, and their future paths would diverge sharply from the lines of Shem and Japheth. In fact, it was one of Ham’s own descendants who established the first earthly empire.
[Genesis 10:6-11 And the sons of Ham; Cush, and Mizraim, and Phut, and Canaan. 7 And the sons of Cush; Seba, and Havilah, and Sabtah, and Raamah, and Sabtecha: and the sons of Raamah; Sheba, and Dedan. 8 And Cush begat Nimrod: he began to be a mighty one in the earth. 9 He was a mighty hunter before the LORD: wherefore it is said, Even as Nimrod the mighty hunter before the LORD. 10 And the beginning of his kingdom was Babel, and Erech, and Accad, and Calneh, in the land of Shinar. 11 Out of that land went forth Asshur, and builded Nineveh, and the city Rehoboth, and Calah,]
Ham’s descendants settled in regions that would later become some of the most recognizable—and spiritually troubled. These places eventually became known for their idolatry, rebellion, and cultures that stood in stark contrast to the ways of God. Ham’s descendants make up of those of the African and Asian nations, including Ethiopians and Babylonians. Yet God even gave them the opportunity to come to, think Jonah and Nineveh, [Jonah 1:1-2 Now the word of the LORD came unto Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, 2 Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it; for their wickedness is come up before me.]
God was not praising Nimrod here, He was pointing out that he was rebellious from the start. Nimrod was the kind of man who gloried in his own strength, boasting in his ability to conquer powerful beasts for sport and personal fame. His hunting was not an expression of noble leadership or God‑given authority; it was an act of pride, defiance, and self‑exaltation. In this way, his reputation as a “mighty hunter” becomes a symbol of rebellion rather than superiority. As for Canaan, you hardly need to read far into Scriptures to understand why Noah declared that Canaan’s descendants would become “a servant of servants.” Their future was foreshadowed in the very places they settled. Take note of the cities associated with Canaan’s descendants.
[Genesis 10:15-19 And Canaan begat Sidon his firstborn, and Heth, 16 And the Jebusite, and the Amorite, and the Girgasite, 17 And the Hivite, and the Arkite, and the Sinite, 18 And the Arvadite, and the Zemarite, and the Hamathite: and afterward were the families of the Canaanites spread abroad. 19 And the border of the Canaanites was from Sidon, as thou comest to Gerar, unto Gaza; as thou goest, unto Sodom, and Gomorrah, and Admah, and Zeboim, even unto Lasha.]
Wow! Canaan’s descendants make up those of the African nations, including Egypt, Palestine, and Syria. Names like Sidon, Gaza, Sodom, Gomorrah, and the broader land of Canaan itself remind us of how deeply rooted the spiritual corruption of Canaan’s descendants became. These regions eventually grew into centers of idolatry, immorality, and open rebellion against God—cultures that stood in direct contrast to His holiness. Understanding where the descendants of Canaan came from helps us see how these nations drifted so far from God. Their history reveals a pattern of spiritual decline that began generations earlier. And now we come to the descendants of Shem.
[Genesis 10:21-26,32 Unto Shem also, the father of all the children of Eber, the brother of Japheth the elder, even to him were children born. 22 The children of Shem; Elam, and Asshur, and Arphaxad, and Lud, and Aram. 23 And the children of Aram; Uz, and Hul, and Gether, and Mash. 24 And Arphaxad begat Salah; and Salah begat Eber. 25 And unto Eber were born two sons: the name of one was Peleg; for in his days was the earth divided; and his brother’s name was Joktan. 26 And Joktan begat Almodad, and Sheleph, and Hazarmaveth, and Jerah, 32 These are the families of the sons of Noah, after their generations, in their nations: and by these were the nations divided in the earth after the flood.]
Eber, who is Shem’s great grandson, is prominent here because his descendants would make up what would be known as the Hebrews (Israelites). Shem’s, relation to Japheth is expressed here to show that they were alike in their disposition, and to signify, that in times to come they would unite in their spiritual beliefs as the Gentiles would desire the same relationship with God that they had, [Isaiah 42:5-6 Thus saith God the LORD, he that created the heavens, and stretched them out; he that spread forth the earth, and that which cometh out of it; he that giveth breath unto the people upon it, and spirit to them that walk therein: 6 I the LORD have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles;]
At this point in history, everyone still spoke the same language, though regional differences may have produced slight variations in speech—much like accents today. Even so, humanity remained united in one tongue. Instead of spreading across the earth as God had commanded, the people chose to stay together in one place. Under the influence and leadership of Nimrod, they set their hearts on building a city and a tower.
[Genesis 11:1-4 And the whole earth was of one language, and of one speech. 2 And it came to pass, as they journeyed from the east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar; and they dwelt there. 3 And they said one to another, Go to, let us make brick, and burn them throughly. And they had brick for stone, and slime had they for morter. 4 And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth.]
Their goal was not obedience, but self‑exaltation—a desire to make a name for themselves rather than honor the name of God. These people had no concern for God, they were the scientists of today who wanted to see what was outside of the earth, and claim a name for themselves. So many people believe in heaven, and even that they will be there when they die, but they do not want to do it God’s way. Sadly, due to the imaginations of their own hearts, people make up their own ideas on how to get there, but God knows their hearts and intentions. He literally came down from heaven Himself and confound their tongues.
[Genesis 11:5-9 And the LORD came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of men builded. 6 And the LORD said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do. 7 Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another’s speech. 8 So the LORD scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth: and they left off to build the city. 9 Therefore is the name of it called Babel; because the LORD did there confound the language of all the earth: and from thence did the LORD scatter them abroad upon the face of all the earth.]
Not only did God confine their speech by making several languages, which is also known as tongues, He confined their beliefs. And the “Us” He is talking to is the Godhead, His Son, and Holy Spirit, they always have been and they always will be individual persons, while all being God Himself, just in His different forms. This makes no sense to the unbeliever and half of believers, but God’s Word is actually like a foreign language to those who are not saved. He will actually only show us what it means through our faith, [And he said, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to others in parables; that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand. – Luke 8:10]
How foolish it was for them to believe they could build a tower high enough to reach heaven itself. And even if they had managed to rise above the atmosphere, what exactly did they expect to find? Their ambition was rooted in pride, not in a desire to know or honor God. Science continues to show that God does not reveal His mysteries to those who have no intention of following Him—He resists the proud but gives grace to the humble, [1 Peter 5:5 Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.]
Imagine, for a moment, if humanity could reach heaven by its own inventions—whether by tower or rocket. What would they do with such access? The same human pride that corrupts the earth would corrupt heaven as well. God, in His mercy, prevents such folly. Heaven is not reached by human achievement, but by God’s invitation alone, [For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. – Romans 1:20-21]
Now, as we just read about the descendants of each of Noah’s three sons, a more detailed account is given to Shem’s, this is because Abraham would come from his lineage, [Genesis 11:10,12,14,16,18,20,22,24,26 These are the generations of Shem: Shem was an hundred years old, and begat Arphaxad two years after the flood: 12 And Arphaxad lived five and thirty years, and begat Salah: 14 And Salah lived thirty years, and begat Eber: 16 And Eber lived four and thirty years, and begat Peleg: 18 And Peleg lived thirty years, and begat Reu: 20 And Reu lived two and thirty years, and begat Serug: 22 And Serug lived thirty years, and begat Nahor: 24 And Nahor lived nine and twenty years, and begat Terah: 26 And Terah lived seventy years, and begat Abram, Nahor, and Haran.]
Nahor would become an important figure in the unfolding story that eventually leads to the twelve tribes of Israel. Even before God called Abraham to journey into Canaan, Abraham’s father, Terah, had already set out with that destination in mind. Yet he stopped short and settled in Haran, where he eventually died. As the genealogy continues, we begin to recognize several familiar names—individuals whose descendants will play significant roles in God’s plan, shaping the future of Israel and the nations around them.
[Genesis 11:28-31 And Haran died before his father Terah in the land of his nativity, in Ur of the Chaldees. 29 And Abram and Nahor took them wives: the name of Abram’s wife was Sarai; and the name of Nahor’s wife, Milcah, the daughter of Haran, the father of Milcah, and the father of Iscah. 30 But Sarai was barren; she had no child. 31 And Terah took Abram his son, and Lot the son of Haran his son’s son, and Sarai his daughter in law, his son Abram’s wife; and they went forth with them from Ur of the Chaldees, to go into the land of Canaan; and they came unto Haran, and dwelt there.]
We can now see how Lot came to travel with Abraham from the very beginning. What may at first seem like a long list of names actually becomes a window into how the world took shape. As we read these genealogies, we begin to understand how nations formed, families spread, and how God worked through history to bring about His purposes. These names are not filler; they are foundations. Through them, we see how God shifted His dealings with humanity, moving from broad, universal commands to a focused covenant with one man—Abraham. The story of redemption begins to take clearer shape right here, in these very names.
[Hebrews 11:37-40 They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented; 38 (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. 39 And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise: 40 God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.]
Today’s Prayer:God, We know that the second we received Your Son as our Saviour that You established a covenant with us that promises that You will give us eternal life through Him. And as new creatures it is Your desire that we fear You and stay faithful to Your teachings so that we can teach them to our children. History gives us ample testimonies of how blessed or cursed we are as a nation based on our faithfulness to You. Lord, Give us Your power, wisdom, and guidance to learn of Your ways, and give us Your mercy, and grace to live in obedience to Your Word so that our future has blessings to look forward to rather than curses. I love You, and pray this in Your name, Jesus. Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
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