Genealogies and Women

[Servant Boy]

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Genesis 10:2-4,6-7,21-22,32 The sons of Japheth were Gomer and Magog
and Madai and Javan and Tubal and Meshech and Tiras. The sons of Gomer
were Ashkenaz and Riphath and Togarmah. The sons of Javan were Elishah
and Tarshish, Kittim and Dodanim... The sons of Ham were Cush and
Mizraim and Put and Canaan. The sons of Cush were Seba and Havilah and
Sabtah and Raamah and Sabteca; and the sons of Raamah were Sheba and
Dedan... Also to Shem, the father of all the children of Eber, and
the older brother of Japheth, children were born. The sons of Shem
were Elam and Asshur and Arpachshad and Lud and Aram... 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.

Genealogies are generally boring and we often wish we could skip them
and probably do. However, knowing that this is God's word compels us
to consider what God has had penned and why. To help me understand, I
referred to Barnes' notes on the Bible and here are a couple comments
I found interesting.

In this chapter there are 70 names, exclusive of Nimrod, of heads of
families, tribes, or nations descended from the 3 sons of Noah - 14
from Japheth, 30 from Ham, and 26 from Shem. Among the heads of tribes
descended from Japheth are 7 grandsons. Among those from Ham are 23
grandsons and 3-great-grandsons. Among those of Shem are 5 grandsons,
one great-grandson, 2 of the fourth generation, and 13 of the fifth.
Whence, it appears that the subdivisions are traced further in Ham and
much further in Shem than in Japheth, and that they are pursued only
in those lines which are of importance for the coming events in the
history of Shem.

During this period the race was rapidly increasing under the covenant
made with Noah. From Shem to Abraham were ten generations inclusive;
and, therefore, if we suppose the same rate of increase after as we
have supposed before, there would be about fifteen million inhabitants
when Abraham was thirty years of age. If, however, we take eight as
the average of a family, and suppose eleven generations after Shem at
the one hundredth year of Abraham's life, we have about thirty million
people on the earth. The average of the three sons of Noah is higher
than this; for they had sixteen sons, and we may suppose as many
daughters, making in all thirty-two, and, therefore, giving ten
children to each household.

Considering the above, I do believe this genealogy now becomes
significant to us because we are witnessing how God brought His
covenant with Adam and Noah to pass. Suddenly the one family that we
previously thought improbable has grown at an explosive rate and we
are now considering 30 million people on earth located in different
regions, of different races and new cultures.

One question that has been on my mind is why there is only a mention
of men, does this mean women have no significance to God and what are
we to understand from it?

First we must remember that God created both men and women in His own
image and therefore God loves us all (Gen. 1:31). When the fall of man
occurred, God certainly punished women to be subjected to their
husbands and this has caused women to at times suffer greatly under
their husbands.

However, God hates exploitation and abuse of all kinds (Exodus 22:22;
Deuteronomy 27:19; Isaiah 10:1, 2). The Mosaic Law condemned rape and
prostitution. (Leviticus 19:29; Deuteronomy 22:23-29) Adultery was
prohibited, and the penalty was death for both parties. (Leviticus
20:10) Rather than discriminate against women, the Law elevated and
protected them from the rampant exploitation common in the surrounding
nations. A capable Jewish wife was a highly respected and esteemed
individual. (Proverbs 31:10, 28-30) The Israelites’ failure to follow
God’s laws on showing respect for women was their fault, not God’s
will. (Deuteronomy 32:5) Ultimately, God judged and punished the
nation as a whole for their flagrant disobedience.

The fact that men Scripturally have been assigned to take the lead in
the congregation and the family does not mean that women are being
discriminated against. To prosper, both the family and the
congregation need women and men to play their respective roles with
love and respect.—Ephesians 5:21-25, 28, 29, 33.

Jesus consistently treated women with respect. He refused to follow
the discriminatory traditions and regulations taught by the Pharisees.
He talked to non-Jewish women. (Matthew 15:22-28; John 4:7-9) He
taught women. (Luke 10:38-42) He protected women from being abandoned.
(Mark 10:11, 12) Perhaps the most revolutionary step for his time was
that Jesus accepted women into his inner circle of friends. (Luke
8:1-3) As the perfect embodiment of all of God’s qualities, Jesus
showed that individuals of both sexes have equal value in God’s eyes.
In fact, among the early Christians, both men and women received the
gift of the holy spirit. (Acts 2:1-4, 17, 18) For those anointed, who
have the prospect of serving as kings and priests with Christ, there
will be no distinction of gender at all once resurrected to heavenly
life. (Galatians 3:28) The Author of the Bible, Jehovah, does not
discriminate against women.

I pray today that you and I have learnt that all of God's word is good
and when read with God's leading, we can begin to appreciate and
understand God in a right and fitting manner and therefore continue to
submit ourselves to His yoke rather than the impossible yoke of Satan.

In His Loving Service,
ServantBoy