February 21, 2024
And they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city, and a tower whose top is in the heavens; let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be scattered abroad over the face of the whole earth.”
WHAT IS THAT YOU ARE BUILDING?
It seems we work hard each day building our career, education, wealth, position, power, possessions, and relationships. But are we building the right things and for the right reasons? That is, I believe what our verse for today invites us to consider.
It had only been a few generations since the great flood, however, Genesis 11 illustrates humanity’s self-sufficiency and independence from God was deeply embedded. They had forgotten the death and destruction that came from living apart from God. And, they had forgotten how God in grace had rescued them. Here we are post-flood, and humanity confident in their own abilities and wanting to display their greatness, “make a name for themselves”, through an architectural wonder, a testament to their own genius and ability.
The decision to build the great tower was not necessarily wrong, but their motives were the issue: “Come let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we may make a name for ourselves…” (Genesis 11:4). So, seeing the danger in this type of thinking and action, God chose to intervene. God takes away the most basic, required tool of the building project, the ability to communicate. "Come, let us go down and confuse their language so they will not understand each other.” (Genesis 11:7)
What is behind God's actions here? Is He jealous of humanity? Is God threatened by this tower people are building? Does it mean that He is afraid that humanity will master things so that the very foundations of the universe will be threatened by these inventive, resourceful, creative people? No. That is the way some people want to read this. The reality is we have been telling ourselves that we can do anything we want if we want it badly enough! Therefore, God is optional in human life.
God, in this text, admits that humans can do things if they put their minds to them. He knows, he created them. This passage has a high view of humankind. They can do seemingly anything, but what about be? That is the question. What can humankind become? You see, I believe this is the fatal flaw in people's thinking. What do they purpose or propose to do? The final answer is to glorify themselves, to be God, in other words. God knows that people are incapable of this; they are creatures. They are lovingly created by God; they are not the creator.
Humankind, in their ingenuity, resourcefulness, and creativity, think they can master the earth. Have you noticed that the very solutions they work out, often become the bigger predicaments and messes that they can no longer control. Think of environmental issues of our day as an example. The whole vast order and structure of things eludes humans; they are not able to put all the fragments together.
So, God’s action here in Genesis 11 is a snapshot of GRACE, for humankind’s sake, not because God is afraid of them, but for their sake, to save and protect them from themselves, God says, let us go down and confuse their language. Let us stop people from destroying themselves from the face of the earth, because they are not God enough to handle it.
God loves us and knows our lives are incomplete and lacking without Him. He designed us to rely on Him. Brings us back to our opening question, “are we building the right things and for the right reasons?” Let us remember Jesus words? “Seek first the Kingdom of God, and all these things will be added to you as well.” So this Lent season let us seek God first, let us build the right things for the right reasons.
Scripture reading: Genesis 11:1-9
Postscript
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