Blog #2: The Tower of Babel

            One of the more interesting stories in the Bible to me is the story of the Tower of Babel. During the time before the flood, and immediately after, all the people of the world “spoke the same language and used the same words” (Genesis 11:1, NLT). For those of us who were born after 3000 B.C., it may be hard to imagine a world where everyone speaks the same language. Even today in America, walking down the street in a major city, like San Francisco, you would probably run into at least 3 different languages if not more. This doesn’t even include different dialects from different parts of the same country. But at the time of this story, that’s not how it was. The world had been desolated by the flood and one family—the family of Noah—had been preserved to repopulate the earth (by no working of their own, but Gods working because of Noah’s faith). Not all of Noah’s sons feared God as Noah did. Ellen White says of Ham,

The unnatural crime of Ham declared that filial reverence had long before been cast from his soul, and it revealed the impiety and vileness of his character. These evil characteristics were perpetuated in Canaan and his posterity, whose continued guilt called upon the judgments of God (Patriarchs & Prophets, pg. 117)

When Noah’s family first came off the ark, for a time they dwelled near where the ark had rested. Over time as their numbers increased, the ones who feared God and the ones who didn’t (descendants of Ham) came into conflict. “Those who desired to forget their Creator and to cast off the restraint of His law felt a constant annoyance from the teaching and example of their God-fearing associates, and after a time they decided to separate from the worshippers of God” (P&P, pg. 118). They decided to journey to the plain of Shinar on the banks of the Euphrates River. Here they decided to build a stower so tall, it would be regarded as a wonder of the world. The Babel builders wanted the tower to reach the heavens. They had two main reasons: 1) They wanted the tower to stand as a testament to their power and wisdom and 2) They did not believe God’s covenant that He would never flood the earth again. The story from there is well known. As they were building, God confused their language and sent lightning from heaven to break off the upper part of the tower. Construction of the tower ended there. The city of Babel and the tower were founded in rebellion; “a kingdom established for self-exaltation” (P&P, pg. 123). God confused their language, thus ending the rebellion. Ellen White finishes out the chapter by saying:

The schemes of the Babel builders ended in shame and defeat. The monument to their pride became the memorial of their folly. Yet men are continually pursuing the same course—depending upon yourself, and rejecting God’s law. It is the principle Satan tried to carry out in heaven; the same that governed Cain in presenting his offering. (P&P, pg. 123)

There are “tower builders” in our time. People who continually rely on themselves and reject God’s law. Many turn away from the teachings of God and turn to their own understanding, they point to their “tower” as a way to reach heaven. The time of Jesus’ return is coming. He will come and judge what we have built. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding” (Proverbs 3:5, NLT). Embrace God’s word. Lean not on your own understanding, on your own knowledge. Instead, turn to Him.

-Evan