THE POWER OF UNITY
Genesis 11
Genesis 11:1-9 AMPC
Today, we will deconstruct the lessons learned from the Tower of Babel; lessons that are pertinent to us on a personal level. Even though this event happened to an entire people group, we can understand the structure of planned life events, successful or unsuccessful, and the wisdom and mercy of God’s divine intervention.
The Power of Communication:
1 And the whole earth was of one language and of one accent and mode of expression.
This is the chapter where the Tower of Babel was built.
This event starts with all of the people of the earth, every one of them, being thoroughly versed and fluent in only one language! They all came from the same cultural background and were well acquainted with a single historical context. They understood every idiom, every connotation and every expression and body language associated with every single word! There was no misunderstanding about what the other person meant. Can you imagine such clarity!
Communication through spoken language is a powerful tool. But, it is a tool that can be used for evil or for good.
The Power of Agreement:
2 And as they journeyed eastward, they found a plain (valley) in the land of Shinar, and they settled and dwelt there. 3 And they said one to another, Come, let us make bricks and burn them thoroughly. So they had brick for stone, and slime (bitumen) for mortar.
In verse 2, we see that all the men attended this town hall and they were able to mutually assure each other that what they decided upon would be the best thing to do. All of the people agreed to move east and make a habitation for themselves.
They also agreed that natural stone was not an adequate/acceptable material to use for their purposes. So they experimented with the materials and knowledge available to them at the time and discovered a more suitable substance. Brick! And what was their purpose?
Being of One Purpose:
4 And they said, Come, let us build us a city and a tower whose top reaches into the sky, and let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be scattered over the whole earth.
A city! They chose a valley to build a city. Valleys are flat, ensuring that the foundation of a structure is built upon a level, stable surface as opposed to constructing an unstable building on the side of a hill or near a cliff.
They wanted to live near each other in a city so all of their conveniences and resources were at their fingertips. With proximity, they could depend on one another to meet each other’s every need. They would be self-sufficient as a human race. There was no need to invoke God for anything.
A tower! God’s creation wanted to let Him know that they would never experience another flood again. In complete defiance, they used their new technology to create a tower that reached the sky, a bold intrusion upon God’s dwelling place.
A name! They wanted a name of notoriety and supremeness. God was to know that they considered themselves superior to Him and to know as much as He did, if not more! Sounds like the snake in the garden of Eden…
Remain unscattered! They didn’t want to be spread out! They knew that alone, they couldn’t accomplish their goals of getting resources, creating new technology, scheming cunning plans or being supreme to God and outlasting His great power and reputation. But they understood this; In their unity, there is power!
God Assesses Men's Hearts:
5 And the Lord came down to see the city and the tower which the sons of men had built. 6 And the Lord said, Behold, they are one people and they have [a]all one language; and this is only the beginning of what they will do, and now nothing they have imagined they can do will be impossible for them.
Yes, God saw right through their plan and knew exactly what they were up to. Did He dispute their logic? NO. Their logic was accurate and if left alone to themselves, they would have accomplished their goal. Not only that, they would create even greater goals and accomplish them as well!
They would have succeeded because:
1) They communicated to each other clearly.
2) They agreed upon a place to live that matched their purposes.
3) They all defied God and wanted a name and notoriety for themselves.
4) They understood that there is strength in numbers.
God’s creation will never surpass the Creator! God knows exactly what to do and how to destroy their evil plans without destroying the people themselves.
God Saves Men from Themselves:
7 Come, let Us go down and there confound (mix up, confuse) their language, that they may not understand one another’s speech.
So God convened with His own board with three most powerful, intelligent, wise and influential Beings of the universe! The Holy Trinity, Father, Son and Holy Spirit is the “Us” in verse 7! With great assurance and mutual agreement, “They” decided how to remedy this issue.
In unity, They decided to disable the people’s ability to communicate in complete understanding. All of the people began to miraculously speak varied new languages. They were no longer able to collectively agree upon anything or remain of one mind or one purpose.
8 So the Lord scattered them abroad from that place upon the face of the whole earth, and they gave up building the city.
Then God did to them what they feared the most, He scattered them throughout the face of the earth. No longer could they depend on each other for mutual understanding or emotional support, assuring each other that they are “doing the right thing!” No longer would collective intellectual resources be available to them. No longer could they experiment together and create new technology so quickly. No longer could they build this massive structure in their assembly line fashion with such speed.
No. They were forced to work hard at understanding each other. They no longer lived in a valley, but were separated by distance, living in all types of geological topographies. They faced different needs because of the changes in habitat and weather conditions. With the language change came cultural changes. They could no longer assume a name and notoriety for themselves because unity was gone. They were forced to depend on God and to pray for their needs instead of being self-sufficient. Their numbers dwindled because of division. God did it for their own good so they wouldn’t have to be destroyed as those who perished in the Flood.
9 Therefore the name of it was called Babel—because there the Lord confounded the language of all the earth; and from that place the Lord scattered them abroad upon the face of the whole earth.
God is Wisdom:
Men can be wise, but GOD IS WISDOM. He knows how to discern and address the center of chaos and establish order once more. He knows how to rearrange lives so they don’t self-destruct!
Self Evaluation:
Have you ever wondered why situations didn’t work out? Why was the relationship broken? Why did sudden changes occur that blindsided you? The list goes on…
To ensure success, communicate with God in the clearest way possible, identify your needs and wants with Him. He will answer prayer that is in accordance with His Word. His word is your language. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom and knowledge of the Holy One brings understanding (Proverbs 9:10).
Have other godly people join you in prayer, those who fear God and are mature in the Lord. Let them be your spiritual and emotional support system.
1) Live a lifestyle that aligns with God’s will and purposes for you.
2) Note that God is supreme in Your life and that He is Lord of all and Lord of you!
3) Understand that as you pray in accordance with God’s word, you are in harmony with other like minded believers and accept their emotional support.
4) Live a life that is pleasing to God, recognize Him as Supreme Being and that there is strength in unity of the faith that creates open a path for God to intervene on your behalf.
Prayer:
Father, I dedicate myself to You. I will always pray according to Your word because Your word is my language and keeps us both in complete understanding of each other. I will agree with Your will for my life and pursue it with all of my heart. I will be in agreement with other believers who are strong in You and can unite their faith with mine. They will be my spiritual and moral support. I will live a life that is pleasing to You and submit to You as my Lord and Savior, as my God. I unite myself with other like minded believers in the unity of faith and it is this faith that creates a path that allows You to intervene in my life for my benefit. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
