Narrative Lectionary Key Verse for Today
“These are the families of Noah’s sons, according to their genealogies, in their nations; and from these the nations spread abroad on the earth after the flood.”
NL Daily Devotion for Wednesday, September 12, 2018
by Rev. Stefanie Fauth, Clergy Stuff
It feels as if the Old Testament writers care a lot about lineage. There's explanations of this man and all of his sons all over the place. Sometimes we hear of the women in their lives, but as the writers were from a time where men were who counted, this is what we have.
It might feel dry and boring - but what does it say to us?
Lineage matters.
Where you come from will shape you.
If you come from a family with certain privileges (such as parents who had a healthy relationship, being in a privileged racial group, or having financial resources) you life might be easier that others. You might not even be aware of how much of an advantage it might be.
If you come from a family who struggled for whatever reason, you will be affected by it. The effect can last for generations.
A friend of mine will not drink - she won't even have wine at communion - because her great-grandfather was an alcoholic. She might never have struggled, but that history left an imprint.
No matter what our lineage - priviliged or not - we can rest assured that each one of us is a beloved child of God. Our story matters. Our history matters. We are each important. Our stories deserve to be told.
Narrative Lectionary Daily Reading:
Genesis 10:15-32
Canaan became the father of Sidon his firstborn, and Heth, and the Jebusites, the Amorites, the Girgashites, the Hivites, the Arkites, the Sinites, the Arvadites, the Zemarites, and the Hamathites. Afterward the families of the Canaanites spread abroad. And the territory of the Canaanites extended from Sidon, in the direction of Gerar, as far as Gaza, and in the direction of Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, and Zeboiim, as far as Lasha. These are the descendants of Ham, by their families, their languages, their lands, and their nations.
To Shem also, the father of all the children of Eber, the elder brother of Japheth, children were born. The descendants of Shem: Elam, Asshur, Arpachshad, Lud, and Aram. The descendants of Aram: Uz, Hul, Gether, and Mash. Arpachshad became the father of Shelah; and Shelah became the father of Eber. To Eber were born two sons: the name of the one was Peleg, for in his days the earth was divided, and his brother’s name was Joktan. Joktan became the father of Almodad, Sheleph, Hazarmaveth, Jerah, Hadoram, Uzal, Diklah, Obal, Abimael, Sheba, Ophir, Havilah, and Jobab; all these were the descendants of Joktan. The territory in which they lived extended from Mesha in the direction of Sephar, the hill country of the east. These are the descendants of Shem, by their families, their languages, their lands, and their nations. These are the families of Noah’s sons, according to their genealogies, in their nations; and from these the nations spread abroad on the earth after the flood.
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