GENESIS 11 FROM HUMANITY TO A FAMILY As I watched the journey of man, I saw them gradually spreading out to the far parts of the earth. However, pride and existentialism were obvious as they gathered to build a monument to themselves and their achievements. As the ziggurat rose in height, it became the center of their attention, and the God of heaven was increasingly ignored. They wanted to make a name for themselves and a center to gather to - a sort of United Nations building, only they were saying in essence, "Up with man - down with God."
One day, perhaps when work on the tower was being started for another day, a brick-layer called to the hod- carrier for more mortar, but neither could understand what the other said. One may have called out to the foreman in complaint, and the foreman couldn't understand either of them. Confusion reigned as workers got in each other's way not knowing what other workers were saying. The whole work came to a stop. Probably at home the workers' wives and children were trying to make sense of what the neighbors were saying this morning. Whole neighborhoods were in confusion. Some found others who could understand their words, so they banded together. Before long groups of people were heading different directions as God had silently stopped their self-exaltation and God turned the people back on to the track of His original intention.
Groups grew in number as those of the same speech found their way over the years to various parts of the earth until they were large enough in number to settle an area. There came about several thousand different languages, some with tones to set the basis of the language; some with phonetical words to build their language on. The variety of languages dictated as to where people lived in the world. Tonal language in the Far East, phonetic language in the western parts of the world and other language fundamentals in all other areas. Other languages use other ways to differentiate themselves and those languages, though different, had enough in common that they went to areas when they could communicate though on a limited basis. Shem, Ham and Japheth were separated completely into tribes, and ultimately into nations.
Then I noticed as I watched the unfolding of God's dealings with man that He chose one family not too far from where the Tower of Babel stood abandoned. From a rather obscure tribe, God intended to bring to pass His plans for the future of fellowship between Him and mankind.
This impressed me with the fact, even though God knew every human being that was traveling to the far parts of the earth, and even though every human has placed with in them by God, a consciousness of Him; He had a redemptive plan for the whole of the human race. That would come through the line of Shem.
The ziggurats of Ur were often used as places to offer sacrifices on, to the gods of man's imagination. The moon was, and still is, in the Middle East an object of veneration. The crescent moon is seen on flags and symbols of power and authority there today. In the ancient times when the moon was seen in a particular place over a ziggurat, there were sacrifices made of virgin daughters as men worshipped the creation more than the Creator.
But God had His eye on one family and through Abraham, all families of the earth would be blessed.
And that blessing has come to me - even me!
Strange as it seems, men like things complicated When it comes to God; they think He can be placated By their ideas of what is right or wrong Resenting the implication that there's nothing they have done That can earn favor with God or make themselves worthy - Not even days of fasting when they are hungry and thirsty, Hoping that God will think they are sincere - Sometimes even parting with things they hold dear.
The false holiness men claim is to make them feel good About themselves and then they think maybe the Lord Will think they had earned the right to be in heaven - Even if they ignore and despise the Son God has given To be the only sacrifice for sin that God can accept. Today, as in the past people God's way reject - And design for themselves what pleases them - Not facing the problem all men have of indwelling sin.
We might wonder at the tower people in Babylon built And then turn in horror from innocent blood from children spilt By arrogant and self-serving men who made their demands And would not recognize God and His righteous commands. But the same thing is happening right where we now are. People deny God's authority over them and the life-changing power Of the Gospel, so they decide what they're going to believe or not, And actually, resist the redemption Christ's blood has bought.
People in their minds have devised a foolish scheme To get into God's heaven without a Mediator between Them and God, they think they can do it on their own Without God's grace, and faith in the Person and work of Christ alone. Even though it seems much of our preaching is futile; I must speak the truth as it is without deception or guile. And though people may refuse to listen to the Gospel preached, It is still important that I seek to see that to them it has reached.
"I am really disappointed Father, with how few have attended the Gospel meetings this week. I had thought there was an interest here. The prayer meetings were very good and the brethren all participated. But Father, help Thy servant to be ready anyway with a word from Thee for the people. May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable unto Thee. And if You think we can be trusted with precious souls, please either lead them to us or us to them. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, Amen."