Japhethites, Hamites and Semites 

     These are the clans of Noah's sons. 

     Everyone spoke the same language, convenient for... "building ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we may make a name for ourselves..." Does that inclination sound familiar? It should.

     The Lord confused their language so they ... stopped building the city. 

     Genesis chapter 11 includes more genealogy. Life expectancy had lowered to between 200 and 500 years. 

     A man named Terah lived 205 years. One of his sons was named Abram, who married Sarai, his half-sister. They had no children. 

     Does the name Abram sound familiar? Of course. 

     This is all we know about him, in chapter 11. If there is a divide in scripture, we have come to it. Men...not God...divided God's Word into two "testaments." In Genesis chapter 12, verses 1-3...

     The Lord said to Abram......I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing .......and all people on earth will be blessed through you. 

      Imagine being the human, at that moment. I can't. But can we somehow relate to Abraham as his story unfolds? 

      Abram was 75 years old when God spoke. He, his wife and his nephew Lot set out for a land occupied by Canaanites. God told Abram, "To your offspring, I will give this land." What's he to do in the meantime? A severe famine is in the land. 

 Next: Why Not Noah?