In this brief clip from a lecture delivered by Bible teacher/author Jerry Robinson, rediscover the story of man’s first organized attempt at self-rule in the plain of Shinar.
In this ancient act of rebellion, men chose to “name” themselves as opposed to being “named” by God. They supposed that happiness could be found in independence and autonomy by changing their “name.” These ancient men and women did not want a life separated to God. Instead, they sought to reverse God’s command so as not to be “scattered abroad over the face of the whole earth.”
Ultimately, the Tower of Babel documents man’s first failed attempt at organized self-rule.
God’s remedy for the men of Babel: Confusion of tongues.
Even today, we find that modern men are driven to finish and complete the building of Babel as they strive for global government and economics.
The story of the Tower of Babel contains many important concepts that are shared in this teaching.
The Story of the Tower of Babel
(Universal Language, Babel, Confusion)
1 Now the whole earth used the same language and the same words.
2 It came about as they journeyed east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar and settled there.
3 They said to one another, “Come, let us make bricks and burn them thoroughly.” And they used brick for stone, and they used tar for mortar.
4 They said, “Come, let us build for ourselves a city, and a tower whose top will reach into heaven, and let us make for ourselves a name, otherwise we will be scattered abroad over the face of the whole earth.”
5 The LORD came down to see the city and the tower which the sons of men had built.
6 The LORD said, “Behold, they are one people, and they all have the same language. And this is what they began to do, and now nothing which they purpose to do will be impossible for them.
7 “Come, let Us go down and there confuse their language, so that they will not understand one another’s speech.”
8 So the LORD scattered them abroad from there over the face of the whole earth; and they stopped building the city.
9 Therefore its name was called Babel, because there the LORD confused the language of the whole earth; and from there the LORD scattered them abroad over the face of the whole earth.
Genesis 11:1-9 (NASB)
