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When Languages Were Changed
This chapter is based on Genesis 9:25-27; 11:1-9.
God had preserved only one family, the household of Noah, to
repopulate the deserted earth. To him God declared, “I have seen that
you are righteous before Me in this generation” (
Genesis 7:1
). Yet
in the three sons of Noah—Shem, Ham, and Japheth—the character
of their descendants was foreshadowed.
Noah, speaking by divine inspiration, foretold the history of the
three great races that would be fathered by these three men. Tracing
the descendants of Ham through the son rather than the father, He
declared, “Cursed be Canaan; a servant of servants he shall be to his
brethren.” The unnatural crime of Ham revealed the corruption of
his character. These evil characteristics continued in Canaan and his
descendants.
On the other hand, the reverence shown by Shem and Japheth
for God’s laws promised a brighter future for their descendants.
Concerning these sons it was declared, “Blessed be the Lord, the
God of Shem, and may Canaan be his servant. May God enlarge
Japheth, and may he dwell in the tents of Shem; and may Canaan be
his servant.” The line of Shem was to be that of the chosen people.
From him would descend Abraham, and the people of Israel, through
whom Christ was to come. And Japheth will “dwell in the tents of
Shem.” The descendants of Japheth were especially to share in the
blessings of the gospel.
The family line of Canaan descended to the most degrading
forms of heathenism. Though the prophetic curse had doomed them
to slavery, God bore with their corruption until they passed the limits
of divine restraint, then they became slaves to the descendants of
Shem and Japheth.
The prophecy of Noah did not determine the character and des-
tiny of his sons. But it showed what would be the result of the path
they had chosen and the character they had developed. As a rule,
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