Genesis 11:8

New International Version (NIV)

So the Lord scattered them from there over all the earth, and they stopped building the city.

For Meditation
Let us look back to Shinar through God’s eyes and see the human heart and condition. They had one language and huddled in one place with a common language (Gen. 11:2), and they said,

“Come, let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we may make a name for ourselves and not be scattered over the face of the whole earth” (4).

In this statement, we find the same old self-centered, self-seeking, and self-exalting attitude of humanity, the tragedy of Eden. They exclude God from their lives and show their brilliance, congratulating themselves for their accomplishment.

“He threw us out, but we can get back to Him through our self-effort,” they essentially said.

That was the statement of the Babel Tower Project. But as C. H. Mackintosh comments, “To attempt to exalt man without God is to exalt him to a dizzy height, only that he may be dashed down into hopeless confusion and irretrievable ruin.”

The people failed when God stepped in and said by His action,

No, folks! It is my way or total disaster (Genesis 11:8 interpretation mine).

We have not changed. Our hearts are still the same as they were in Shinar. Despite God showing us the way to Him through Christ Jesus, we still prefer our idolatrous worship. It is interesting how today’s world is consumed by grand architectural projects and space exploration that inflate human abilities. It is all about putting ourselves first and trying to disprove God, creation, and His plan for redemption. However, in our arrogance, we cannot see our efforts as futile without God.

Like the Babel Project, the sin of today’s massive projects that challenge God’s order and mandate is not in the projects themselves but in man’s motive and purpose, which is to set God aside and make a name for ourselves.

However, humans cannot exclude God from our lives. Either accept Him and His authority in Christ or reject Him and perish (Jn. 14:6; Acts 4:12). There is no safer place to huddle apart from the church (Acts 2:1-13), imperfect as she is. The good news is that God will never stop the agenda of His church gathered in unity for His purpose and glory.

So, find your place in the church by willingly expressing personal faith in Christ Jesus and His finished work on Calvary. Instead of building to immortalize yourself and make a name for yourself, build to exalt Christ, and proclaim His name worldwide. In humility, acknowledge Him in everything you do this week. Surrender to God instead of challenging Him as the essence of your being. Start today and experience the joy of His Presence. Amen!

Pray With Me

Father, we repent of our rebellion and surrender to you and your purpose for our lives and your world. Thank you, Lord Holy Spirit, in the matchless name of Jesus. Amen

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