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God's
judgement - Language confounded
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Babel
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Now
the whole earth had one language and few
words.
Then they said, "Come, let us build ourselves
a city, and a tower with its top in the heavens,
and let us make a name for ourselves, lest
we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole
earth."
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Genesis
11v1,4 (RSV)
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 Characteristics
of this time
• One language, one speech / purpose - Gen 11v1
• Making a name for man - Gen 11v4
• Resistance against divine judgement - Gen 11v4
• Unity - Gen 11v4
• Boundless ambition - Gen 11v6
Does
this historic example reflect the world today?
The internet is enabling people to translate from one
language to another quite simply. One of the systems
available is called 'Babel'.
Man's conquests for discovery, innovation, advancement,
well-being, etc. are all part of making a name for man
- so that people can feel confident in their achievements.
But does man seek to give God glory and honour?
Do people like hearing about God's statutes and laws,
or are they too busy with their own lives?
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Judgement
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And
the LORD said, "Behold, they are one people,
and they have all one language; and this is
only the beginning of what they will do; and
nothing that they propose to do will now be impossible
for them. Come, let us go down, and there confuse
their language, that they may not understand one
another's speech."
So the LORD scattered them abroad from there over
the face of all the earth, and they left off building
the city. Therefore its name was 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.
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Gen
11v6-9 (RSV)
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An
all wise God
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"As
for me, I would seek God, and to God would I commit
my cause; who does great things and unsearchable,
marvelous things without number: he gives rain
upon the earth and sends waters upon the fields;
he sets on high those who are lowly, and those
who mourn are lifted to safety.
He frustrates the devices of the crafty,
so that their hands achieve no success.
He takes the wise in their own craftiness; and
the schemes of the wily are brought to a quick
end.
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Job
5v8-13 (RSV)
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No
excuses
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For
the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against
all ungodliness and wickedness of men who
by their wickedness suppress the truth. For what
can be known about God is plain to them, because
God has shown it to them. Ever since the creation
of the world his invisible nature, namely, his
eternal power and deity, has been clearly perceived
in the things that have been made. So they
are without excuse; for although they knew God
they did not honor him as God or give thanks
to him, but they became futile in their thinking
and their senseless minds were darkened. Claiming
to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged
the glory of the immortal God for images resembling
mortal man or birds or animals or reptiles.
Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their
hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their
bodies among themselves, because they exchanged
the truth about God for a lie and worshiped
and served the creature rather than the Creator,
who is blessed for ever! Amen.
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Romans
1v18-25 (RSV)
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Is
man really that evil and wicked? In the next case study
we find out.
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