10 Weeks in Genesis: Lesson 5
WEEK FIVE: WATCH EPISODE 6 FROM BIBLE IN A YEAR STUDY
BABEL:
It is very interesting how this tiny little nine-verse story can be so embedded in my memory. I would have sworn, as a young Bible student, that the story of the Tower of Babel must have gotten at least one entire chapter. But that isn't the case. Nine little verses to give us huge sweeping biblical themes.
Let me start by getting one sticking point out of the way. One of the more confusing parts of the story of the Tower of Babel is the first sentence of Genesis 11; "The whole earth had one language and the same words." That contradicts the words we find just two verses earlier; "These are the sons of Shem, by their clans, their languages, their lands, and their nations." What gets overlooked by a casual reading is that chapter 10 deals with generations of people after the flood and covers hundreds of years. It is interesting to note that Shem, the son of Noah, lived another 500 years after he stepped off the ark. He outlives Abraham by about 35 years. So when 10:31 speaks of the languages of the descendants of Shem, it is looking far into the future. Genesis 11 takes us back to when there was still one language of man, as indeed, there would have been when Noah's family departed the ark. I think we have a clue about when these things occurred. Genesis 10:25 tells us that the earth was divided in the days of Peleg. I do not think this means the shift of continents as some do; it seems to make more sense in the immediate context of Genesis. It has to do with the division between people and nations and not continents. That would mean the peoples of the earth would have been divided about 130 years after the flood. Clearly, in the days of Abraham, there were already groups of people with different languages. Abraham is born 292 years after the flood. These specific times and dates don't change what we know and love about Jesus, but they are interesting to consider as we aim to understand the Bible's details better. So don't get thrown off by the apparent discrepancy in 10:31 and 11:1 in the same way you would not be thrown off by a friend telling you about their cruise vacation and then, after completing the story of their return trip adding, "One more thing, on the first day of the trip..." As an audience to a story like that, we would know exactly what they meant. They were rewinding the story a bit to tell us a little more detail. That's all that is happening in Genesis 11.
I have found this story to be humorous for many years. The unified people want to make a tower that reaches heaven, and God has to "come down" to see it. They didn't even get close. They also long to make a name for themselves to keep from being scattered through the entire earth. Isn't that just like the heart of sinful mankind? "Let's take ourselves up to God. Certainly we are equal to the task." And again, "Let us make a name for ourselves in the earth. Let us leave a legacy of what we have done." And again, "We won't be scattered across the earth." Each of these desires indicates the wayward heart of the human race in Genesis 11. They have thought so small of God that they presume to "reach the heavens," and they are concerned about the longevity and legacy of their name rather than the name of God. But God ended that when he divided their languages and scattered them abroad. He "came down" to see what they were building. He condescended himself to see what, to the humans, was a huge and lofty accomplishment. But we know that our work can not bring us near to God. So God stops their foolish work, takes away the opportunity for their name to be great, and scatters them worldwide.
But, as is often the case, there is a beautiful reversal of this through the work of Jesus. In the story of Jesus, we see the exact opposite of the story of the tower of Babel. In John 1:14 we see that Jesus came to "dwell" among us. (or tabernacle among us). In Revelation 21:1-4 we see that in the final days, God will make his home with mankind. In Revelation 22:3-4 we note that the believers will have the name of God inscribed on their foreheads. And in Revelation 5:9 and 7:9, we see that the multitudes and nations are "gathered to one" in the presence of God. What man sought to do was birthed out of pride and a heart to elevate themselves above the God of heaven. What God does is about humbling himself to bring heaven down, making his name famous, and unifying (in Christ) people from every tribe, tongue, and language. I'll tell you, even as I write this now I am excited for the beautiful work of God through Jesus. Jesus was put on the cross by wicked men; they wanted him dead, and beautifully, through that act and his resurrection, he brought life to wicked men all over the world. It is beautiful. I will never read these nine verses in Genesis without thinking about the final days when God brings heaven down.
Sin could not bring the people near to heaven, make a name for sinners, or prevent them from being scattered. Grace will bring heaven to earth, magnify God's name, and bring scattered people into one body.
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
Don't get tunnel vision. The stories of the Bible are usually bigger than the way we've previously wrapped them up. Most point to either the first or second coming of Jesus.
Rest in the fact that we still can't move ourselves nearer to God, but that he has brought himself near to us through Jesus.
It's okay to occasionally be blown away by how incredibly detailed the Scripture is. (I recommend at least once a week)
DISCUSSION:
What, if anything, stood out to you today in the video? What thoughts were new or encouraging to you?
What were you taught was the key takeaway about the Tower of Babel as a child? (if the story was previously familiar to you)
How are worldly people emulating these things today: How are they building their "tower to heaven?" How are they seeking to make a name for themselves? Around what are they seeking to be unified?
Does it strike you as a little bit funny that God had to "come down" to see what they were doing or am I just a dork?
What thoughts come to mind when you consider the reversal in Revelation?
What is a key takeaway from today's lesson you hope to hold on to?
PRAYER:
God, thank you that every stupid thing mankind has ever done will ultimately be undone and reversed in Jesus. We couldn't possibly hope for anything more beautiful than that. Thank you for your unlimited grace to us on behalf of your Son. Amen
