INTRODUCTION
IN GENESIS CHPATER 11 WE FIND THIS FACSINATING STORY OF THE EARLIEST SKYSCAPPER EVER BUILT BY THE MANKIND. “TOWER OF BABEL” WAS A MASSIVE PROJECT WHICH MOBILIZED THE LATEST TECHNOLOGY OF THE ERA (BRICK AND MORTAR) INVOLVED INTENSE PLANNING, STRATEGIC THINKING, RESOURCES ETC. MOST IMPORTANTLY PEOPLE PASSIONATELY CAME TOGETHER AND WORKED TOWARDS THIS COMMON GOAL. IT WAS NOT JUST A BUILDING PROJECT BUT IT WAS THE RISING OF AN IDEOLOGY, A GRAND CIVILIZATION.
BUT WHY IN THE WORLD DOES THE LORD SCATTER THIS GREAT HUMAN PROJECT? SHOULDN’T THE LORD BE PROUD OF HIS CHILDREN’S ACCOMPLISHMENTS? IS THE LORD AGANIST TECHNOLOGY AND ADVANCEMENT? WHAT WAS WRONG WITH THIS PROJECT, THIS GREAT COMMON GOAL? LET’S DIVE INTO THE WORD OF GOD TOGETHER TO EXPLORE HOW THIS ANCIENT PROJECT IS TIED WITH THE HUMAN PROJECTS OF OUR DAY.
ISOLATED STORIES OR A UNIFIED STORY
Biblical narrative is not just a collection of isolated stories, in fact it is a beautifully woven tapestry, a storyline with golden treads of major themes connecting and running throughout. The author invites the reader to dive into the stories, explore the connections, find the design patterns and unlock the timeless principles. That’s what makes the stories so meaningful, alive, dynamic and up to date. So as a first step we are going to place the Tower of Babel in its larger context.
At a glance “THE TOWER STORY” seems completely out of place cramped between Noah and Abraham. But please be mindful that there are no mistakes, coincidences in the biblical narrative, every story is expertly crafted and strategically placed in the respective places for the readers to dig deeper and make the connections. Understanding the Babel incident in contrast to the two stories on both sides give us a much clearer and a deeper explanation for the tragic ending of the story.
GENESIS 8:20 - NOAH BUILDS AN ALTER
"Then NOAH BUILT AN ALTAR TO THE LORD and, taking some of all the clean animals and clean birds, he sacrificed burnt offerings on it. The Lord smelled the pleasing aroma…."
GENESIS 11: 4 - PEOPLE BUILD THE TOWER OF BABEL
"Then 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; otherwise we will be scattered over the face of the whole earth."
GENESIS 12:7 - ABRAHAM BUILDS AN ALTER
"The Lord appeared to Abram and said, “To your offspring I will give this land.” So HE (ABRAHAM) BUILT AN ALTAR THERE TO THE LORD, who had appeared to him."
1. ALTER BUILDERS VS. TOWER BUILDERS
Now that we have placed the Babel story in it’s proper historical context in the overall storyline, it’s time to dig deeper, dissect the text and do a microscopic analysis to unearth the purposes, motives, priorities, attitudes and behaviors of the Tower builders and the Alter builders to understand why God rejected and scattered this great human project.
1.1 WORSHIP GOD OR WORSHIP SELF?
1.1.1 ALTER BUILDERS
- It is clearly evident from the text that the purpose of building alters by Noah and Abraham was an act of worship. The sole purpose was WORSHIPPING GOD to acknowledge GOD AS THE CENTER of their lifestyle.
- As soon as Noah’s family come out of the ark the first act they perform as a family is building an alter and worship God. Abraham also built the alter even before he pitched the tent for his family. This act of worship strengthens the CONTINUED RELATIONSHIP between Man and God.
1.1.2 TOWER BUILDERS
It is evident from the text that the purpose of the tower was to make a name for themselves, it was an alter or monument for WORSHIPPING SELF. They worshiped and glorified a SELF CENTERED ideology marked by their own accomplishments, technology and advancements. This self centered ideology is characterized by having NO RELATIONSHIP with God who created them.
1.1.3 REFLECTIONS ON OUR DAY
Can we detect the tower builders’ terminology even in our day?
“LET US MAKE A NAME FOR OURSELVES” or “LET US CREATE OUR OWN BRAND/ LABEL” or “LET US CLIMB THE LADDER OF SUCCESS WHICH REACHES THE HEAVENS.”
This era that we live mark the climax of BRANDING and promoting self. We have fallen in love with ourselves with all our heart, with all our soul and with all our strength. We invest our time, energy, resources and everything given to us to make a name for ourselves. Don’t we?
1 But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days.
2 People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy,
3 without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good,
4 treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God—
5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people.
2 Timothy 3:1-5
The tragedy is that this “MAKE A NAME FOR MYSELF MINDSET” has infiltrated the body of Christ, the Church too. Churches are investing their time, money and resources on “Building a Branded Ministry” making a label for myself, marking the territory with magnificent Church buildings etc. Just like we have brands of popular designers “Christian Dior” or “Prada” etc. we now have “Popular Church Leader Brands.” Aren’t we all the Brand Ambassadors of the Kingdom of God?
IN THE NAME OF SERVING GOD ARE WE TRYING TO MAKE A NAME FOR OURSELVES?
WHAT AM I REALLY BUILDING? THE KINGDOM OF GOD OR A MINI TOWER FOR MYSELF?
So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. 1 Corinthians 10:31
1.2 A BURNING HEART OR A FROZEN HEART?
1.2.1 ALTER BUILDERS
Unlike for the patriarchs, for us who are living in the 21st century, the idea of building an altar is something strange and unfamiliar. So let us dig deeper in to the Hebrew root words associated with building an altar to understand the timeless principles and the attitudes behind the act.
Altar | In Hebrew “misbeach” | ????????? means
“REPAIRING/RENEWING RELATIONSHIP/PARTNERSHIP“
Sacrifice | In Hebrew “qorban” |???????? means
“A SON COMING CLOSER TO THE FATHER”
Know | In Hebrew YADA |????? means
“KNOWING INTIMATELY”
As you can see “Building an Altar” was not just an external activity but it has a profound meaning to it. It was the complete picture of God’s people renewing their broken relationship with God, acknowledging their guilt, coming close to the Father in humility and having an intimate continual relationship with their God. These acts reveal the heart of the Alter Builder, they had a burning and passionate heart for God to have intimacy with God.
“Keep the fire burning on the Altar continuously. It must not go out.” Leviticus 6:13
“Never let the fire in your heart go out. Keep it alive. Serve the Lord.” Romans 12:11
1.2.2 TOWER BUILDERS
On the contrary there was no room for God in the heart of the tower builder, as he was dangerously focusing on self, trusting in his own technological creativity and accomplishments. There’s no mention of God in the mission. It was a GODLESS project of a people with a frozen heart for the things of God.
1.2.3 REFLECTIONS OF OUR DAY
People were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building. Luke 17:28
Have we fallen into the trap of being cold towards the things of God?
1.3 GOD’S LEGACY OR MY OWN LEGACY?
1.3.1 ALTER BUILDERS
Noah or Abraham don’t care about their legacy or their name but promote God’s legacy, exalt the name of the Lord. Abraham never marks his territory even though he was promised the land. He doesn’t build any landmarks for himself? Abraham even sacrifice his God given legacy, his own son on the alter for God. In return God actually give great names and a legacy for Noah and Abraham and they will never be forgotten from the history of man kind.
1.3.2 TOWER BUILDERS
The text tells us that the tower builders built a city and a tower. A city has a function, people live in it and do their businesses. But what was the need for a Tower? a monument? They were afraid they would be scattered and forgotten one day. Instead of trusting in the one they can give them a legacy they try to create their own. So to this day their legacy is, “BABEL- A CONFUSION PROJECT” a failed human project which was scattered. All their investments and toil was in vain.
1.4 A MODEL NATION VS. A SCATTERED NATION
1.4.1 ALTER BUILDER’S MISSION: REPLICATE A GOD CENTERED CULTURE
For Abraham, God was at the very center of their lives, their total life style. Their head, heart and hands worked according to the instruction of God. God was at the center of their decision making for self, family, profession, their travel etc. From the rising of the Sun to the end of every day God was at their center while they were eating, drinking, giving their sons in marriage, buying, selling, planting, building etc.
The most important element of their life style was “A CONTINUED RELATIONSHIP” with God. God chose Abraham, his entire household to model this way of life to the whole world. They were a model family chosen to be the salt and light to the nations.
“For I KNOW him (Abraham), that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep THE WAY OF THE LORD, to do justice and judgment; that the LORD may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him.” Genesis 18:19
1.4.2 TOWER BUILDER’S MISSION: REPLICATE A GOD IGNORING CULTURE
The tragic end of the “Tower Builders” reminds us that even with our latest technology and advancements,
WE CANNOT GO FAR WITHOUT GOD.
Unless the LORD builds the house, the builders labor in vain.
Unless the LORD watches over the city, the guards stand watch in vain.
Psalm 127:1
It is high time to revisit the motives of my building projects, ministry objectives and my priorities.
Shalom!
Thilini Perera
