Scripture: Genesis 11:1-9
Consequences of widespread rebellion in the human heart
Reveals why God sometimes intervenes with a divisive hand in human affairs. It is to prevent further arrogance, God confuses and divides people’s plans, so they don’t overstep God’s limits on them.
Marks the point in history when God divided the earth into separate continents. God’s strategy was not to destroy the tower but to confuse their language and cause them to scatter.
It began with the people–the whole world—speaking one language: unity, one common purpose leads to strength
The people of the earth had become skilled in construction, leading them to want to decide to build a city with a tower that would reach up to heaven.
By building the tower, the inhabitants of the city wanted to make a name for themselves and had no desire to honour God
The purpose was to prevent the population from being scattered across the earth, in open defiance of God’s command in Genesis 9:1
God knew that the “stairway to heaven” would only lead the people away from God. The goal of the people was not to glorify God and lift up His name but to build a name for themselves.
Building a tower per se was not a problem, after all it signified a new height of technological (architectural) achievement! (To build the tower, the people used brick instead of stone and tar instead of mortar. They used human-made materials, instead of more durable materials created by God).
The problem was that building a tower was all about convenience, and not obedience to the will of God.
The people were doing what seemed best for themselves and not what God had commanded.
Their building project symbolized the pride and arrogance of humans who were trying to be equal with God. The people were building a monument to themselves, to call attention to their abilities and achievements, instead of giving glory to God.
In seeking to be free from reliance on God, the people thought they could reach heaven on their own terms.
Questions for Reflection
- Are there any human-made ‘stairways to heaven’ you are building in your life?
- Are your accomplishments drawing more attention to yourself than bringing glory to God?
- your purposes in life noble or ignoble?
- Are your goals in line with God’s will?
Prayer
- Pray that God should help you so that your actions glorify him
