Who is Japheth

Read Genesis 10:2-5

Japheth is a very interesting character, Ham has some very well known offspring, and Shem obviously has Abraham and through him the Israel, but in between them both sits this brother, who is given the promise that he may dwell in the tents of Shem.

Shem’s descendants become the people of God, Ham’s descendants become the enemies of God, so who is Japheth and his descendants? One might appear quite familiar if we remember the story of Jonah and that is Tarshish. In Jonah’s time Tarshish had become a city synonymous with being on the other side of the world. Which leads neatly to what happened to Japheth’s descendants. They were enlarged as Noah prophesied. 
Japheth's descendants would spread out and occupy much of the earth, particularly north and west. It talks about them dwelling in tents of Shem, being tents of the Lord. Here is a very early reference to God’s inclusion of the gentiles into his plan of salvation. Through Shem would Japheth be blessed.

I assume almost all of us would be gentiles, not descended from Israel. But yet here is the immensity of God’s grace. We were not his chosen people, but yet we have been made part of his chosen people by faith. But yet we ought to remember that we do not deserve a place among this family, we are grafted in by his grace (Romans 11:17-21)

For see in his Japheth’s family is one called Magog, who you will recognise if you know the book of Ezekiel or Revelation. This son who becomes representative for all the gentile nations that oppose God and wage war against him. This reminds us, that God’s salvation of his people has been extended to us Gentiles, but again it is through faith. The gentiles who remain in unbelief shall perish, just as the unbelieving Jews shall.

There is no access to this family except by faith, lineage, good works, worldly success will not get you in. The only door is through humble acceptance and steadfast belief in Jesus’s sacrifice on the cross to remove our sin and satisfy the wrath of God. For in him we all become one family.

Prayer:
“Thank you Father, that me, though a Gentile, is part of your plan, that through Abraham and his descendants you have made a way for me to be reconciled to you. And I am made one with you and brought into a new family by faith. Keep my hope in you steadfast, help me in my unbelief, and I pray that would come again quickly Jesus, to take all your people to be with you in a new heavens and new earth where death and sin shall be no more. In Jesus name, Amen.”