Genesis 10 - Noah’s Family Tree - Nimrod (9/11, Operation Iraqi Freedom - Micah 5)
Nimrod is a father of many cities/nations, but not much is said about him in particular. There are 4 verses in the Bible discussing him, every one of them referring to his valor and mighty feats…
- Genesis 10:8 - Cush was the father of Nimrod, who became a mighty warrior on the earth.
- Genesis 10:9 - He was a mighty hunter before the LORD; that is why it is said, “Like Nimrod, a mighty hunter before the LORD.”
- 1 Chronicles 1:10 - Cush was the father of Nimrod, who became a mighty warrior on earth
- Micah 5:6 - who will rule the land of Assyria with the sword, the land of Nimrod with drawn sword. He will deliver us from the Assyrians when they invade our land and march across our borders.
Looking at the first 2 verses, then introduce a slightly longer passage in Genesis 10…
10 The first centers of his kingdom were Babylon, Uruk, Akkad and Kalneh, in Shinar. 11 From that land he went to Assyria, where he built Nineveh, Rehoboth Ir, Calah 12 and Resen, which is between Nineveh and Calah—which is the great city.
Now, Babylon, Uruk, Akkad, and Kalneh are not listed as sons of Nimrod… apparently, no actual sons are listed for Nimrod. However, there are several mentions of these cities in scripture, which are worth reviewing. Ditto for Ninevah, Rehoboth Ir, Calah, and Resen.
It would seem that at some point, Nimrod left the plains of Shinar and migrated north to Assyria, right around the city of Assur. This suggests to me that Nimrod had created several cities before God confounded the languages in the area in response to the Tower of Babel. One might consider the notion that these cities were created after the Tower, but notice how verse 10 refers to them collectively as Nimrod’s kingdom, and verse 11 essentially records his abandonment of that kingdom. He went north, and created 4 more cities… I suspect with those people who could understand the same language he now did. Being the natural leader he was, it was easy.
If accurate, then Nimrod’s reputation was great, both before and after the Tower of Babel event.
Now, Micah 5:6 is interesting. Micah 5 is a prophecy of Christ, protecting the Jewish people in Assyria, which is in the northern heart of Iraq today. According to the prophecy…
3 Therefore Israel will be abandoned
until the time when she who is in labor bears a son,
and the rest of his brothers return
to join the Israelites.
This is a multiple prophecy. Israel, through Mary, bore her Son Jesus. I believe the England and the United States may also be a separate fulfillment of this prophecy, as it was born like the pain of child birth from England. I believe this in part because it was in 1948 when Israel became a nation again, and Jews started returning there. This was due in no small part to the United States winning WWII. And don’t lose sight of England, the country whose labor pains birthed our great nation, and then later fought by our side and helped negotiate the establishment of Israel at the close of WWII.
Make no mistake that God the Son has a presence in this world through Christianity, and God the Father through the continued protection of Israel. With that in mind…
4 He will stand and shepherd his flock
in the strength of the LORD,
in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God.
And they will live securely, for then his greatness
will reach to the ends of the earth.
In other words, Christ will protect Israel. For now, it is through the United States and England. And during this time, despite the threats of war and destruction, Israel continues to live securely, and through the greatness of Christ our country continues to reach the ends of the earth… and we know this to be a threat to Satan because of the political forces (national and international) that put our greatness at risk. And it was in this context that 9/11 occurred…
5 And he will be our peace
when the Assyrians invade our land
and march through our fortresses.
We will raise against them seven shepherds,
even eight commanders,
6 who will rule the land of Assyria with the sword,
the land of Nimrod with drawn sword.
He will deliver us from the Assyrians
when they invade our land
and march across our borders.
And in fact, we have been delivered from Iraq, with England as our principal ally, and Christians being the principal support of our war in Iraq.
Now, it is also quite possible that verses 5 and 6 refer to an attack that has yet to take place, but here’s the thing. In 2009, when Obama took office, there remained exactly 7 “shepherds” in Iraq. They included the remaining 5 non-US non-Iraqi countries who withdrew that year (Australia, El Salvador, Estonia, Romania, United Kingdom), and then the United States and Iraq itself. As for the United States, it had 2 commanders in chief that year… President Bush as the year began, and President Obama who took over… “seven shepherds, even eight commanders” indeed.
Now it is interesting to include Iraq itself as one of the 7 shepherds against Assyria, but it is in fact true that we raised that shepherd against Assyria.
Therefore, I think the concluding months of Operation Iraqi Freedom may well be the fulfillment of this prophecy against Nimrod. In that case notice the next verses that describe the conditions on earth today…
7 The remnant of Jacob will be
in the midst of many peoples
like dew from the LORD,
like showers on the grass,
which do not wait for anyone
or depend on man.
8 The remnant of Jacob will be among the nations,
in the midst of many peoples,
like a lion among the beasts of the forest,
like a young lion among flocks of sheep,
which mauls and mangles as it goes,
and no one can rescue.
Truer words are hard to find. In that case, we should heed the words that follow, but with notice to how is being spoken to, Israel…
1 Marshal your troops now, city of troops,
for a siege is laid against us.
They will strike Israel’s ruler
on the cheek with a rod.2 “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,
though you are small among the clans of Judah,
out of you will come for me
one who will be ruler over Israel,
whose origins are from of old,
from ancient times.”
In other words, 9/11 and Iraqi Freedom happened, in part, to triumph over Israel’s enemies, so that they will be ready when a ruler from ancient times comes to power and accomplishes the following…
9 Your hand will be lifted up in triumph over your enemies,
and all your foes will be destroyed.10 “In that day,” declares the LORD,
“I will destroy your horses from among you
and demolish your chariots.
11 I will destroy the cities of your land
and tear down all your strongholds.
12 I will destroy your witchcraft
and you will no longer cast spells.
13 I will destroy your idols
and your sacred stones from among you;
you will no longer bow down
to the work of your hands.
14 I will uproot from among you your Asherah poles
when I demolish your cities.
15 I will take vengeance in anger and wrath
on the nations that have not obeyed me.”
Iraq was but the first. Afghanistan the second. Perhaps Egypt is now being lined up to be the third. Democracies are indeed difficult regimes from which to do evil upon the Israel… though not impossible. I do not quite see Israel being ruled by someone with ancient origins, let alone raising its hand in triumph. Perhaps that ruler will be the Jewish Messiah, who I know as Jesus. In that case, I believe we are further from that time than we think, but closer than we are prepared for.