The Sons of Canaan, Part Three
A Devotional Series from Genesis
Online Bible Audio/Readings Links (ESV)
7/28 Reading Portions: Judges 11:12-40; Acts 15; Jeremiah 24; Mark 10
Genesis 10:17-20
the Hivites, the Arkites, the Sinites, the Arvadites, the Zemarites, and the Hamathites. Afterward the clans of the Canaanites dispersed. 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 sons of Ham, by their clans, their languages, their lands, and their nations.
FLESH
Six more sons of Canaan are named in these remaining verses, but the only one of special note here are the Hivites. Shechem, the son of Hamor was a Hivite; he was the rascal who defiled Dinah, the sister of Jacob’s twelve sons (Gen 34:1-2). Hamor wanted Dinah as his wife, but the sons of Jacob insisted that the Hivites of their clan must be circumcised to marry their sister. Shechem and Hamor agreed, got their clan to agree, and while they were healing, Simeon and Levi killed all the Hivite males of Hamor’s clan (Gen 34:3-31). The Hivites are an example of a gospel challenge: We must discern as children of God that the Hivites, as worldlings, will perform external religious actions to satisfy their greed and fulfill the lusts of their flesh (Gen 34:20-24). They possess no grief over sin and can muster no repentance for their evil because they are unconverted in heart. Just because someone goes to church or bows his or her head before a meal doesn’t mean he or she is a Christian; just as in the days of John the Baptist or the Apostle Paul, not every circumcised Jew was a faithful worshipper of YHVH God (Matt 3:9; Rom 9:6-8).
As we have seen the past few days, the genealogies of Canaan give us insights into the human condition and warn us of the struggles we may face in our own flesh as well as warning us of the behavior we may face when we encounter the backslidden believer or the reprobate, unbelieving wretch. Moreover, the descendants of a wicked father, Ham (Gen 9:22), and inheritors of a wretched curse, as pronounced upon Canaan (Gen 9:25), will surround gospel believers in our situations and circumstances and by their worldly and fleshly desires will unwittingly or willingly attempt to usurp our gospel blessings in Christ. We must recognize that wicked men and wicked nations may prosper materially but true treasure is found in Christ alone (Matt 6:21); that prosperity may sometimes lead to greater wickedness (Luke 12:15-19); and the most prosperous in earthly wealth cannot escape the punishment of sin (Luke 12:20-21) unless they have surrendered to Christ. Thankfully, we have a Savior in Jesus Christ, who has not appointed us unto God’s wrath, but taking that punishment on Himself for our sakes, we have salvation in Him. Indeed, Jesus is true, eternal riches (2 Cor 5:21; 1 Thess 5:9). Hallelujah! What a Savior!