Genesis 10:12 Daily Devotional & Meaning – True Greatness vs. Borrowed Greatness
- Benjamin Michael Mcgreevy
- Mar 22
- 6 min read
Daily Verses Everyday! Day 48
“And Resen between Nineveh and Calah: the same [is] a great city.”
Here, the genealogy pauses again to note not only individuals or nations but also the very structure of civilization in its infancy. We are introduced to Resen, situated between Nineveh and Calah, and the verse adds a detail we rarely see in genealogical records: “the same [is] a great city.” This is not simply about geography; it is a declaration that humanity has moved from tribes and families into the building of urban centers and places that shape culture, consolidate power, and define history. Notice what has been unfolding in this chapter: Japheth’s descendants spread outward into the coastlands, Ham’s line gave rise to Cush and Nimrod, and Nimrod’s ambition birthed Babel and the cities of Shinar. Then from Shinar, Asshur builds Nineveh, Rehoboth, and Calah, with Resen nestled in between.
Now, Scripture pauses to call Resen “a great city.” Why? For man, greatness is measured by size, strength, and influence. A city is great when its walls are high, its population large, its markets busy, and its armies strong. Resen located between two significant cities of Assyria Nineveh, which would later become the capital of a mighty empire, and Calah, a city of strategic strength, was part of a triangle of power that would dominate the ancient world. This corridor of cities would become the foundation of Assyria’s imperial might, remembered in history as one of the most ruthless and feared empires. In the eyes of men, Resen’s greatness was its placement: it joined two centers of strength and became part of a larger network of power.
It’s kind of like the dynamic of a high school classroom. Imagine two of the biggest, meanest, most influential kids in the class sitting just two seats apart. Their reputation already dominates the room: their power, their charisma, or perhaps just their ability to intimidate others. And then, right between them, sits another student. This student may not be as strong or as fearsome on their own, but by proximity, by association, they gain an air of authority. Others treat them with a kind of respect or perhaps fear, not because of who they are but because of where they are placed. Resen is like that. It gains its greatness not by its own inherent power but because it sits between Nineveh and Calah, two of the most formidable cities of their time. It is absorbed into their aura of dominance and becomes part of their network of influence.
But this raises a deeper question: what kind of greatness do we pursue? Too often, we confuse proximity to power with true greatness. We think that if we can sit close enough to the influential, if we can attach ourselves to the strong, we too will be great. This is the lesson of Resen: its greatness was not because it was mighty in itself but because of its location between mightier powers. The Bible calls it a “great city,” but we must pause and ask, great in whose eyes? Great according to which standard? In God’s eyes, greatness is not measured by geography, walls, or proximity to the powerful. Jesus would later tell His disciples in Mark 10:43, “But so shall it not be among you: but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister.” True greatness is not borrowed from others but flows from humility, obedience, and alignment with God’s purposes.
Think of Bethlehem, the small town where Christ was born. By worldly standards, it was insignificant, nowhere near the stature of Nineveh or Calah. Yet, in God’s story, Bethlehem became the greatest of all, for from it came the Savior of the world. Here, we understand the lesson: we can look great in the world’s eyes simply because of who we’re standing near, but in the end, that borrowed greatness will fade when those powers fall. Nineveh eventually collapsed under God’s judgment, Calah was forgotten in the ruins of history, and Resen—despite being called “great”—vanished into obscurity. The greatness that comes from proximity to power is temporary. The greatness that comes from walking with God is eternal.
So, the question arises: are we building our sense of worth and identity on borrowed greatness like our connections, our affiliations, our proximity to people of influence, or are we seeking the kind of greatness that only God can bestow?
Personally, this was always my struggle. Growing up, I had so many people tell me that one day I would be great, that there was something special about me, that my life was destined for significance. But no matter how much I heard it, nothing I did ever seemed good enough. I kept measuring myself by the standards of the world, the achievements of others, the applause of peers, the milestones society sets for what “success” looks like. Earlier in this book, I shared that I struggled with depression, and much of that darkness stemmed from this very tension: I didn’t see myself as good enough. I thought greatness was something I had to earn, prove, or borrow from others. Like Resen, I often felt as though my worth was determined by who I stood near, by how close I was to people of influence, or by how well I measured up to others’ expectations.
But in reality, that kind of greatness is fragile. It can be taken away with a job loss, a failed project, a change in relationships, or a shift in circumstances. It’s a greatness built on proximity rather than substance, and when the people or structures we rely on fall, that borrowed greatness crumbles with them. What I’ve had to learn and what God has been graciously teaching me, is that His definition of greatness looks nothing like the world’s. God isn’t impressed by the walls of our cities, the size of our platforms, or the strength of our alliances. He looks at the heart. He looks for faithfulness. He looks for humility. In His kingdom, greatness is not about how many people you lead but how well you serve; not about the size of your influence but the depth of your obedience; not about how strong you are but how surrendered you are.
This realization has been liberating for me. It means that my worth isn’t dependent on my accomplishments or my associations. It means I don’t have to live under the weight of others’ expectations or my own self-imposed standards. It means that even when I feel small or unseen, God sees me. Even when the world counts me insignificant, He calls me His child. And that identity is rooted not in proximity to human power but in belonging to the Almighty God, and that is the only greatness that will last.
Resen’s story reminds us that borrowed greatness fades. Nineveh’s walls fell, Calah’s power vanished, and Resen’s name was reduced to a footnote in Scripture. But the greatness that comes from God endures forever. It is the greatness of faithfulness, humility, and service. It is the greatness of being part of God’s kingdom, even if the world calls you small.
So I return to the question I asked before: what kind of greatness are we pursuing? Are we seeking the approval of others, trying to borrow importance by standing near those the world deems powerful? Or are we seeking the kind of greatness that comes from walking closely with God, even if it means obscurity in the eyes of the world? For me, this has meant letting go of the pressure to be “great” by worldly measures and instead learning to be faithful where I am. It has meant finding joy not in recognition but in obedience. It has meant discovering that God’s plan for my life, even when it looks small or slow, is better than any plan I could create for myself. And that’s the hope I want to leave you with from this verse.
If you’ve ever felt like me, like nothing you do is good enough, like the greatness others see in you never quite materializes, like you’re standing between people more powerful than you and wondering if you even matter, remember Resen, and remember Bethlehem. One was called “great” because of where it stood, and it faded into ruins. The other was small and insignificant, yet from it came the greatest story ever told.
In God’s eyes, true greatness is never borrowed; it is given. And it is given to those who humble themselves, trust Him, and walk in His ways.
If you would like to explore Genesis in a sustained, verse-by-verse way with space to reflect, journal, and trace how these foundational truths unfold through Scripture the Verse by Verse book expands these reflections into a unified reading experience. The book gathers these meditations into a structured journey through Genesis, designed to help readers linger in the text and engage God’s Word more deeply over time.
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