Genesis 10:4, 5

And the sons of Javan; Elishah, and Tarshish, Kittim, and Dodanim. By these were the isles of the Gentiles divided in their lands; every one after his tongue, after their families, in their nations.

Now the line of Javan continues, and one of the names that stands out immediately is Tarshish. Tarshish is generally identified with the area of Spain, though some have suggested England. Most lean toward Spain. Either way, the point is clear. The families of Japheth are spreading westward, and the coastlands and islands of the Gentiles are beginning to fill.

That is what Moses is showing us here. The nations are forming. Languages are developing. Families are spreading into their appointed places. The world is beginning to take shape.

But Tarshish catches my attention for another reason. It is the place Jonah tried to reach when he wanted to run from the presence of the Lord. He headed for Tarshish because it represented distance. Escape. Get as far away as possible. But Jonah found what every man eventually finds. You can board a ship, but you cannot outrun God.

So even in a verse like this, there is a quiet reminder. The nations may divide. The peoples may spread. Men may travel to the farthest coastlands they can imagine. But the Lord is already there. The God who oversees the families of the earth is also the God who meets a runaway prophet in the middle of the sea.

Beloved, the world may be wide, but no one gets beyond the reach of God.