Scattering the Nations www.wordforlifesays.com Genesis 11:1-9 September 29, 2013 Introduction: I live in a very multi-cultural area. Residents in my neighborhood have roots in areas all around the globe. At our local schools there are over 36 languages spoken. We have been blessed to live in this rich environment where my children can go to school and interact with peoples from many different nationalities, backgrounds and ethnicities. They have friends from India, Greece, China, Korea, Mexico and El Salvador just to name a few. And I, as a parent, enjoy the interaction with others whom I would probably have never had a chance to come to know and care for. When my youngest was in Pre-K we had a very special group of ladies (us moms) who spent time together laughing and joking and going out to eat together despite the fact that we all hailed from different areas around the world (America, Egypt, Philippines and China). We found out that we had much more in common than we have differences. There was a time long ago when everybody had everything in common, particularly their language. Today s lesson shows how pride entered in and ushered in the dividing of the peoples into many nations and languages. Genesis 11:1-2 And the whole earth was of one language, and of one speech. And it came to pass, as they journeyed from the east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar; and they dwelt there. No one is exactly sure, but a considerable amount of time has passed since last week s lesson An Everlasting Covenant. What we can surmise is that enough time has passed for the families that came from Noah to grow to be referred in
today s lesson the whole earth, which leaves us with a sense that they grew way past the eight persons that left the ark. Genesis 10 gives more a breakdown of the families that came from Noah. The Bible describes this time as the people having one language, and of one speech. From the time of Creation until now the people were one. Oneness and unity is often considered a good thing. For when people are unified it lessens the chances of contentions and adversities due to differences amongst themselves. Unless that oneness takes them out of the will of God, propelled by evil purposes and intents. As they journeyed from the east, that they found a plain in the land Shinar; and they dwelt there. Shinar is the area that is also referred to as Babylonia. Biblos.com describes it as this: The name given, in the earliest Hebrew records, to Babylonia, later called Babel, or the land of Babel (babhel, 'erets babhel). In Genesis 10:10 it is the district wherein lay Babel, Erech, Accad, and Calneh, cities which were the "beginning" of Nimrod's kingdom. In 11:2 Shinar is described as the land of the plain where migrants from the East settled, and founded Babel, the city, and its great tower. (Click to view full map from Biblos.com) Genesis 11:3-4 And they said one to another, Go to, let us make brick, and burn them thoroughly. And they had brick for stone, and slime had they for morter. And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth. One day these people who had no hindrances of communication with one another said one to another, Go to, let us make brick, and burn them thoroughly. Go to here is often referred to as we would use the word come. In essence, they were saying, Come, let us make brick.
The words let us give the impression of needing no outside help or dependency upon any one else except us, or themselves. As a matter of fact, in these two verses us/we is referred to 6 times. Wow! They spoke of themselves a lot! They were acting in a self-sufficient mode. 2 Corinthians warns us, Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think anything as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God. Later in history Jesus teaches, Apart from me you can do nothing, (John 15:5). This mindset was in complete opposition of the families of Noah in Shinar. Previously, the consequences of man s sin may have caused eviction at Eden, and then later a flood, but their sin nature was still very much alive and active in these families that came from Noah. Again, we see let us appear in verse 4. With the brick they burned and the morter they made of slime their purpose was to build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven, and let us make us a name. While there is nothing wrong with building cities and towers, there is everything wrong about doing it all for self-glorification. In verse 4 it reveals just that. These people wanted to be great in and of themselves. They wanted glory for the works that they could do for themselves. They wanted everybody to know who they are and what they were able to accomplish by themselves. They wanted to make us a name. Their pride and self-sufficient attitude not only took them away from the directive of God to replenish the earth, (Gen. 9:1), but it caused them to step in a place of seeking credit and taking glory from God. The Bible warns, Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it, (Ps. 127:1). They stepped out of God s planned purpose and excluded Him all together in what they were seeking to do. We have nothing and we are nothing if God is not in it! Genesis 11:5 And the LORD came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of men builded. God sees all! Later, Hagar will testify with a special name reverencing God in this manner. She called Him, You-Are-The-God-Who-Sees, (Gen. 16:13). Psalm 11:4
says, The LORD is in His holy temple, the LORD s throne is in heaven; His eyes behold, His eyelids test the sons of men. God sees! Our lesson states the LORD came down to see. God was and is attentive to the deeds of humanity. He saw what the children of men builded exclusive from Him. Genesis 11:6-7 And the LORD said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do. Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another s speech. Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language. Usually, this type of unity would be smiled upon, but let us remember their purpose stated in verse 4. This is why their one language is not playing out as a positive factor; rather God speaks of it in negative terms. He says, And this they begin to do. How many times do we hear parents say something like this, And, this is what you re doing? I gave you this and this is what you re doing. Or, I let you go there, and this is what you did. This portion of Scripture reminds me of those parents that shake their heads and make these sorts of comments in frustration over the action of the peoples. Now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do. Humanity tested the waters of evil when they bit the forbidden fruit. Humanity swam in the waters of evil causing the great flood. And, here God is saying their sin will know no bounds. They will do which they have imagined to do. Imagination is bolstered in society as a good way to express one s creative and playful side. Often, in the Bible, we see the word imagination linked to the evil of men s hearts (see Gen. 6:5; Deut. 29:19; Jer. 7:24; 11:8; 16:12). Even when Mary the mother of Jesus spoke with Elizabeth, she exclaimed, He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts, (Luke 1:51; much like He is doing in today s lesson).
God knew if man kept on the path he was headed there would be no holds barred, which meant the people would be unrestrained in what they do. And, that my friends, never equals to a good ending. Using the same language Go to, let us us here is speaking of the trinity, said, Let us go down, and there confound their language. The word confound simply means to confuse. The very thing that was leading them on a path outside of the will of God, He was going to take it away. God had to protect mankind from his own destructive pathway. They relied on themselves and fought hard not to be scattered, (vs. 4). This became a source of pride and reliance to the people. The Bible tells us, Pride goeth before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall, (Pro. 16:18). God had to put a stop to their plans, that they may not understand one another s speech. With their understanding of one another s speech gone, so too is the ability diminished to rise up against God as a cohesive people in such wickedness and arrogance. Genesis 11:8-9 So the LORD scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth: and they left off to build the city. Therefore is the name of it called Babel; because the LORD did there confound the language of all the earth: and from thence did the LORD scatter them abroad upon the face of all the earth. The very thing they didn t want to happen happened. Their self-sufficient, prideful goal gave them the very opposite result of which they were seeking. This is where the path of disobedience and defiance leads; procuring the undesired results instead. With that the LORD scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth. Psalm 33:10-11 says, The LORD bringeth the counsel of the heathen to nought: he maketh the devices of the people of none effect. The counsel of the LORD standeth for ever, the thoughts of his heart to all generations. As He did in our lesson, God will cancel the plans of the wicked and His purposes will be fulfilled. God wanted them to replenish the earth, (Gen. 9:1). But, they
wanted to stay put and make us a name. Their imaginations were evil, but, in speaking of God, the thoughts of His heart is to all generations. God s plan for His people will succeed with or without their cooperation. And they left off to build the city. With no understanding, no collective communication and reasoning, there was no more unity for the plans of man to succeed. As was just stated above in Psalm 33:10, The LORD bringeth the counsel of the heathen to nought. Their plans were unfulfilled. Therefore is the name of it called Babel. Babel, the place where God confused the language of man. Our English word babble is synonymous with this meaning as is: nonsense, incomprehensible, baffles and perplex. All speaks to being confusing and hard to understand. Is it irony or an on purpose reminder from God? In this writer s opinion, I believe the latter to be true to remind mankind of the consequences of operating in self-sufficiency and pride against His perfect plan. Conclusion The ways and plans of man that are in opposition to God s perfect plans will be cancelled and scattered.