“Like Nimrod, a mighty hunter before the Lord.” Genesis 10:9
In reading through Genesis in my Bible study, I came across the genealogies of the sons of Noah. I used to think genealogies were long and boring, but recently, I have been fascinated by the details. It says, “Cush (son of Ham) was the father of Nimrod, who grew to be a mighty warrior on the earth. He was a mighty hunter before the Lord; that is why it is said, “Like Nimrod, a mighty hunter before the Lord,” Genesis 10:8-9. Then it goes on to speak of the centers of his kingdom, the cities he built were Babylon, Erech, Akkad, Calneh in Shinar, Assyria, Ninevah, and a few other great cities. Well, these were all enemies of Israel, so how could he be “mighty before the Lord?”
I did a little more digging and discovered Nimrod was a famous figure in the world at that time, but definitely did not serve God. The name Nimrod means “rebel.” It appears he was “mighty on the earth” after the flood and was the first to establish an empire. History tells us he was an empire builder. Nimrod was his Hebrew name, but it’s pretty well documented he was Sargon the Great who ruled from Akkad. He was a warrior who conquered city states in Mesopotamia and united them under his leadership. He was a brilliant military leader and presented himself as a “man of the people,” chosen by the “gods” to rule, a humble orphan who never knew his father. His empire included the “plains of Shinar” where the Tower of Babel was built. The citizens wanted to “make a name for themselves,” build a tower that reached to the heavens and not be dispersed over the face of the whole earth.” Genesis 11:4. God told them after the Flood to “be fruitful and multiply, increase greatly on the earth and multiply in it.” Genesis 9:7. Their ambitions were not God’s ambitions! God had other plans for mankind! He went down to view the city and the tower and confused their language so that they could not understand each other. The Lord dispersed them over the face of the earth, His plan, and the building of the tower ceased. The expression, “before the Lord,” seems ironic and probably is viewed negatively. Nimrod’s aggressive behavior made him famous but was counter to what God intended for man at creation.
God, in his sovereignty uses the foolishness of man to bring about His purposes. The sons of Ham were talented and famous men, big in this world, but God used them for HIS purposes. We are having an election in the United States today. By this evening, we are supposed to find out who will be the next president to represent us. It has been a bitter battle between two different ideologies. Two flawed men are running for president with different ideas on what is best for the country. One upholds Christian principles, the other has different values on family and the economy. But, God! God is sovereign over all and His plans won’t be thwarted! He determines the outcomes according to His wise purposes. He has absolute authority and rule over His creation and all the nations of the world. He governs human history and determines the course of mankind. If God be for us, who can be against us?
As Nebuchadnezzar said, “His dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom endures from generation to generation; all the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing, and he does according to his will among the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay his hand or say to him, ‘What have you done?’” Daniel 4:34-35. PRAISE GOD!! HE IS IN CONTROL!
Your friend, Jean