Tower Building
Genesis 11. In ch.10 we saw the completeness of man's dispersion with the Table of Nations. Now in ch.11 we see the cause of man's dispersion with the building of the Tower of Babel. Man built this tower as a monument to his own greatness. But God put a stop to this arrogant behavior by causing all the people to speak in different languages. This is what caused the people to scatter all over the earth. This tower could be called a tower of rebellion.
What about your life? Do you build towers of rebellion in your life? If you do, do you know what it will bring? Confusion! Just as God brought confusion to the Babel tower builders, He will bring confusion in your life if you stubbornly build towers of rebellion. Note some towers of rebellion:
1. Tower of Self Advancement: 11:2-3
The tower was built with brick. Brick made of clay is a fitting symbol of our sinful flesh. When you build towers of self-advancement in your life, it is the carnal flesh that says, "I'm going to do what I want to do. I'm going to tend to my own agenda." The carnal Christian looks just like the world because he is building a tower of self-advancement. He is building up his own kingdom rather than God's kingdom (see Matt.6:33). Whose kingdom are you trying to advance? Yours or God's.
2. Tower of Self Preservation: 11:4 "build a tower"
They had a worldly purpose to build a tower for protection and self defense. They were out to protect themselves, but doing so without God. We are guilty of the same thing in the spiritual realm. When someone wrongs us, we want to wrong them. We want revenge. We want to preserve our name, our reputation or whatever. We end up building towers of self preservation.
3. Tower of Self Assertion: 11:4b "make a name..."
These people wanted to become famous as the giants before the flood. Motivated by pride, they wanted to make a name for themselves. They feared the Lord would scatter them and they would not achieve greatness. They wanted to enhance their fame. It is an attempt to steal God's glory. We often build monuments to ourselves and use bricks of pride, criticism, jealousy, envy, anger, and bitterness. There is a lot of pride in the church today. Everybody wants to be the 'quarterback' instead of a team player. Let's be like Paul and say, "God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ." Gal.6:14.
4. Tower of Self Righteousness: 11:4 "reach heaven"
They had a religious purpose for building the city and great tower: to reach heaven by themselves, that is, through their own effort. Man tends to build towers of self righteousness by using bricks of works. But our righteousness is as filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6). We're not saved by works. We're saved by grace through faith (Eph.2:8-9). And with that, I'll leave you with a quote:
"Religions are man's search for God; the Gospel is God's search for man. There are many religions, but one Gospel."
---E. Stanley Jones
What about your life? Do you build towers of rebellion in your life? If you do, do you know what it will bring? Confusion! Just as God brought confusion to the Babel tower builders, He will bring confusion in your life if you stubbornly build towers of rebellion. Note some towers of rebellion:
1. Tower of Self Advancement: 11:2-3
The tower was built with brick. Brick made of clay is a fitting symbol of our sinful flesh. When you build towers of self-advancement in your life, it is the carnal flesh that says, "I'm going to do what I want to do. I'm going to tend to my own agenda." The carnal Christian looks just like the world because he is building a tower of self-advancement. He is building up his own kingdom rather than God's kingdom (see Matt.6:33). Whose kingdom are you trying to advance? Yours or God's.
2. Tower of Self Preservation: 11:4 "build a tower"
They had a worldly purpose to build a tower for protection and self defense. They were out to protect themselves, but doing so without God. We are guilty of the same thing in the spiritual realm. When someone wrongs us, we want to wrong them. We want revenge. We want to preserve our name, our reputation or whatever. We end up building towers of self preservation.
3. Tower of Self Assertion: 11:4b "make a name..."
These people wanted to become famous as the giants before the flood. Motivated by pride, they wanted to make a name for themselves. They feared the Lord would scatter them and they would not achieve greatness. They wanted to enhance their fame. It is an attempt to steal God's glory. We often build monuments to ourselves and use bricks of pride, criticism, jealousy, envy, anger, and bitterness. There is a lot of pride in the church today. Everybody wants to be the 'quarterback' instead of a team player. Let's be like Paul and say, "God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ." Gal.6:14.
4. Tower of Self Righteousness: 11:4 "reach heaven"
They had a religious purpose for building the city and great tower: to reach heaven by themselves, that is, through their own effort. Man tends to build towers of self righteousness by using bricks of works. But our righteousness is as filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6). We're not saved by works. We're saved by grace through faith (Eph.2:8-9). And with that, I'll leave you with a quote:
"Religions are man's search for God; the Gospel is God's search for man. There are many religions, but one Gospel."
---E. Stanley Jones
posted by Royce Hendry at
5:25 AM
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