Genesis 11:1-9 The Tower of Babel Story Summary: Up until this point in the Bible, the whole world had one language - one common speech for all people. The people of the earth became skilled in construction and decided to build a city with a tower that would reach to heaven. By building the tower they wanted to make a name for themselves and also prevent their city from being scattered. God came to see their city and the tower they were building. He perceived their intentions, and in His infinite wisdom, He knew thisstairway to heaven would only lead the people away from God. He noted the powerful force within their unity of purpose. As a result, God confused their language, causing them to speak different languages so they would not understand each other. By doing this, God thwarted their plans. He also scattered the people of the city all over the face of the earth. Points of Interest from the Story: When God speaks in this story, He uses the phrase, let us go, referencing the trinity. Some scholars believe that this marks the point in history where God divided the earth into separate continents. God says in Genesis 11:6, If as one people speaking the same language they have begun to do this, then nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them.(NIV) God realizes that when people are unified in purpose they can accomplish impossible feats, both noble and ignoble. This is why unity in the body of Christ is so important. To build, the people used brick instead of stone and tar instead of mortar. They used man-made materials, instead of more durableGod-made materials. The people were building a monument to themselves, to call attention to their own abilities and achievements, instead of giving glory to God. Question for Reflection: Are there any towers you are building in your life? Tower of Babel, Bible, & globalization In chapter 11 of the Book of Genesis, God stopped the masses of people that united under one spoken language and built structures towards the heavens, by confusing their languages and scattering them across the world. Today, the world becomes increasingly smaller, in the literal and figurative sense. 104 countries in the world speak English and is the 3rd most popular language in the world. Mandarin takes 1st and Hindi takes 2nd as their populated countries - although only 33 countries speak these two languages. It is conceivable that English will spread as the most common and most spoken language in the world as globalization spreads via economic necessity. Seemginly, everything that is happening today seems to be a mirror reflection of Babel. We too are building things towards the skies. We are literally in the heavens as well. We are all speaking one language more and more. So are there any disadvantages to the world speaking one language (besides heritage/culture)? What moral imperative from the story of Babel can be applied.? And more importantly ... why did God smite them, and not us..? We are repeating the story now, are we not? Genesis 11(NIV) 1. Now the whole world had one language and a common speech. 2. As people moved eastward, they found a plain in Shinar and settled there. 3.They said to each other, “Come, let’s make bricks and bake them thoroughly.” They used brick instead of stone,and tar for mortar. 4.Then they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we may make a name for ourselves; otherwise we will be scattered over the face of the whole earth.” 5. But the Lord came down to see the city and the tower the people were building. 6. The Lord said, “If as one people speaking the same language they have begun to do this, then nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them. 7. Come, let us go down and confuse their language so they will not understand each other. Amen Its time dont you think for His Second Coming.
Posted on: Sun, 27 Oct 2013 11:05:05 +0000