A STUDY IN GENESIS
As promised, we are discussing the significance behind God’s reaction to what mankind was doing in Genesis 11. When we last met, we talked about the Tower of Babel being exactly what the people were trying to do, “reach heaven.” Some will scoff, but God didn’t and He acted. Thus, we now are going to examine what God does. Genesis 11:5-9 “But the LORD came down to see the city and the tower which the sons of men had built. 6 And the LORD said, “Indeed the people [are] one and they all have one language, and this is what they begin to do; now nothing that they propose to do will be withheld from them. 7 “Come, let Us go down and there confuse their language, that they may not understand one another’s speech.” 8 So the LORD scattered them abroad from there over the face of all the earth, and they ceased building the city. 9 Therefore its name is called Babel, because there the LORD confused the language of all the earth; and from there the LORD scattered them abroad over the face of all the earth.”
We see several glaring facts that must be acknowledged. First, that God is watching mankind and their actions. Second, that God is acting in the affairs of man. And finally, that mankind can do nothing to stop what God is acting upon.
For the believer in the world, this should be very comforting. However, for the non believer this is terrifying.
We do not know how, but God initiates something within the human psychic that transfigures the language understanding and computing within mankind. This is paramount to understand. God establishes national roots right here. Nations and ethnic groups are brought about. The Tower of Babel event at its roots signifies the foundational push that mankind wants globalism, and yet God does not. This does not mean one nation is better than another, but in fact God is the creator of them all. We as believers need to recognize this. Only God is able to withdraw a person outside of this scenario.
Galatians 3:26-29 “For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. 27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if you [are] Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” While the Church is pulled from every nation, we still do not lose our national origins that God placed in Genesis 11. Revelation 5:9-10 “And they sang a new song, saying: “You are worthy to take the scroll, And to open its seals; For You were slain, And have redeemed us to God by Your blood Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, 10 And have made us kings and priests to our God; And we shall reign on the earth.”
Throughout human history, God has used nations to judge other nations. Genesis 11 is God changing the rules within human history and designing a check and balance that will trescend human history until the events of Armageddon. So next time you wonder where do nations and languages come from, remember they come from God.
Hold until relieved, our Blessed Hope is coming,
JL