Babbling Builders, Genesis 11:1-9
Introduction
“Look over these lands,” said the farmer, “They are all mine.” He took him to the pasture and showed the agent the choice stock, the fine horses he had, and then pointed to a little town, and then to a large hall where he lived; he drew himself up, and his face lit up with pride as he said, “They are all mine. I came here when a poor boy and I have earned all that you see.” When he got through, my friend asked 'him, “Well, what have you got up yonder?” “Where?” replied the farmer, who evidently knew where my friend meant. “What have you got in heaven?” “Well,” said the farmer, “I haven't anything there.” “What!” replied my friend, “You, a man of your discretion, wisdom, business ability, have made no provision for your future?” He hadn't, and in a few weeks he died – a rich [Prideful] man here and a beggar in eternity. A man may be wise in the eyes of the world to pursue this course, but he is a fool in the sight of God. Wealth [Pride] to most men proves nothing more or less than a great rock upon which their eternity is wrecked.”
Transition
Man’s pride has always led to his continuous pursuit of self sustained security and his own praise. Indeed, from the very beginning, it has been pride which has been humanity’s collective ruin. Surely the same may well be stated of each one of us individually as well.
In the eleventh chapter of the book of Genesis we see this illustrated with the historical account of the manner in which human language grew from one to many. This original language was likely either Hebrew or an earlier Semitic tongue from which Hebrew, Aramaic, and eventually all other tongues sprung.
Allow to me to be clear from the very outset. My interpretive method with regard to Genesis, and the whole of Scripture, is to allow the Bible to speak plainly as the literal historical account of God’s dealing with mankind.
My focus this morning will be twofold: (1) to emphasize the historicity of the account and thus, highlight the historical nature of the Bible. (2) To highlight the reason for God’s judgment on the work of the builders of the Tower of Babel (pride) in order that we might see parallels and application for our time.
Exposition
The Bible is chalked full of internal evidence to support its historicity. There has never been an archeological discovery which has disproven any historical account in the Scriptures. This is not to say that every historical narrative in the Scripture has been verified by archeology.
Nor is it to say that believers need it to be verified by archeology. The Bible says that “without faith it is impossible to please him” not that without perfect knowledge. (Hebrews 11:6 ESV)
Time and again archeological discoveries confirm the contents, message, and reliability of the Bible. The Dead Sea Scrolls which were discovered on accident in 1947 by Bedouin shepherds provided ancient Hebrew Bible manuscripts which predated the most ancient manuscripts discovered up to then by a thousand years. Amazingly, every book of the Hebrew text (OT) was found in the caves of Qumran except for Esther.
This is especially interesting because the Dead Sea Scrolls are thought by many to have been penned by a group known as the Essenes who literally abandoned the world for an ascetic life in on the shores of the Dead Sea near the caves of Qumran. The book of Esther does not contain the name of God.
Because of this many ancient Jewish scholars, and perhaps the Essenes, questioned its canonicity. (Whether it belonged in the Bible [Tanakh] or not)
There are near countless examples where science and archeology have confirmed the record of Scripture. Among the more important finds of the recent era is the House of David Inscription found at Tel Dan in Northern Israel.
This is a place I visited while in Israel last year. There in the ruins of an ancient city archeologists discovered an ancient stone inscription tablet telling of the life of King David of the Bible.
The Galilee Boat or “Jesus Boat” which is a fishing boat from the time of Christ which was discovered in the 1980’s during a period of extreme draught. I have visited it on display in a museum on the Sea of Galilee.
Specific to our discussion here, the ruins of numerous ancient ziggurats have been discovered in the region of ancient Babylon. It is most likely that it was the ancient Ziggurat which they built. The biblical record doesn’t say that God destroyed it, only that He scattered the people by confounding their language. Many scholars point to the ruins of the great temple-tower to the god Marduk which is “found in the center of ancient Babylon.”
Whether the temple-tower dedicated to Marduk is the actual Tower of Babel or not remains uncertain. What is very certain is that the Bible depiction of the Tower of Babel is consistent with the findings of archeology and is consistent with what we know of human history. It is commonly accepted that modern language arose in the Mesopotamian Valley.
It is commonly accepted that ancient people groups lived and built in the area identified in the biblical text as the plains of Shinar. It was in the Fertile Crescent between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers.
Kiln baked bricks for building fit the estimated time period referenced in the account in the book of Genesis. Indeed, even the bitumen or tar that the narrative says was used is known to exist in this region. It is a slime, tar, pitch, bitumen, asphalt (Genesis 14:10). It was used as cement in construction work (Genesis 11:3) and used in coating the basket in which Moses was placed (Exodus 2:3).
It was fairly common. My point is this: the Bible represents accurate history. Its accounts are not fables woven together for moral purposes. The Bible is packed with evidence for its historical reliability.
It is Holy Scripture and should ultimately be trusted on those grounds. However, its historical content, archeological consistency, and internal continuity point to the reality that it is the true and unfailing word of God.
Its narratives and histories are not just good stories with moral application. They are the written account of God dealing with humanity. On those grounds we should listen carefully their teachings. These are the words of our Abba (Father) to His human family. In it are found the words of life.
The central moral theme of Genesis chapter eleven is that man was created to find his ultimate security not in his own technology, wisdom, and strength, but in his Heavenly Father.
In direct connection to that, man is to find His worth in losing himself in the worth of God. In other words, our security and worth is found in living a life dedicated to proclaiming the worth of God.
Worshipful obedience to the will of God is our central task. It is the chief aim of our existence.
The people on the Plains of Shinar had one language, even one dialect. Their pride led them to build a tower in order to publicly proclaim their own greatness. Their sin was not building. Their sin was the purpose of their building. Further, they rejected the command of God in Genesis 9:1. “And God blessed Noah and his sons and said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth.” (ESV) Rather than filling the earth they remained in that fertile beautiful plain.
Rather than heading the voice to God to go into the unknown future, they remained in a comfortable present. Rather than learning the lessons of the past, they lived only for the comfort and vanity of the present.
One must not dig very deeply into this text to find practical relevance for the world today. Has man not become consumed by his incredible technology? The ancient builders had learned to make bricks and motor so that they could build faster, bigger, and more ornately.
We have learned to do marvelous things. Has our technology though, solved even the simplest plights of humanity? We have made our name great time and again but our efforts are likewise confounded.
We make our name great but we die in our sin because so many have rejected humble adoration of God for prideful worship of technology, human ability, human ingenuity.
It has been said that education is the key to human progress. Yet there are many people for whom education has not cured the greatest ills which are rooted in pride. Modern man is not so unlike his ancient counterpart.
The text says that the “Lord came down” to see what the people were doing. (v.5) Plainly the Lord already knew what they were doing. The literary device of saying that He “came down” is the way the Hebrew writer draws the great contrast between the futility of the high tower which would reach to Heaven and the God who sits at heights so great that He would have to so mightily descend to see their “high tower.”
The text further says that the Lord said “nothing will be impossible for them.” God is not saying that had He not scattered the nations by confusing their tongues that man could save Himself with his great ingenuity.
What He is saying is that if not checked man will become so swelled by the pride of His own accomplishments that his end will be far worse. He is saying that man will become so consumed with his own ability that He will reject His creator completely.
“Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.” (Proverbs 16:18 ESV) “When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with the humble is wisdom.” (Proverbs 11:2 ESV) It is pride not poverty which is the root of man’s destruction! It is pride not a lack of education which is the root of man’s demise!
To thoroughly educate an arrogant sinner is merely to make a hardened arrogant sinner. The hinge of this passage is verse five, “God came down.” He always descends even to our greatest heights.
Conclusion
I love science and technology. Indeed, one of my favorite places in the entire world to visit is Cape Canaveral, Florida. This is the home of the NASA space shuttle launches. One can visit there and see all of the monuments to man’s ability with regard to science and aerospace technology. It is awe inspiring to imagine the ingenuity it has taken to make the space shuttle, man on the moon, space probes, the Mars rover, and the wondrous images that are produced by the Hubble deep space telescope. The images that come from the Hubble telescope allow us to peer deeply into history by looking at the light that takes incredible lengths of time to reach the earth. If the ability, ingenuity, and technology of the ancient builders of the tower of Babel were enough to swell them with pride, how much more susceptible to it are we?
Yet, God still must “come down” (v.5) to see what we have done. All of our human accomplishment which allows us to examine and peer into creation pales in comparison to the act of creation.
Unlike the ancients we must be doubly concerned. “The more we make humility our aim, the more we’re tempted to become proud of our motives.” Unlike the ancients, we have been admonished by the fullness of God’s revelation in Christ to avoid pride and cling to God in humility. Even this can become a source of pride, however.
I read the story of a little girl who one day I sat down with her grandfather. He explained with great pride that her grandfather was a preacher, her great-great grandfather was a preacher, and her great-great-great grandfather was a preacher. To which she replied, “Wow! We sure come from a long line of grandfathers.”
If we are to avoid the snare of pride it is not necessary for us to forgo our abilities, our building, or our accomplishments. We must simply embrace the fullness of the revelation of God’s truth with regard to our ultimate purpose in this life.
On one occasion the disciples of Jesus were similarly consumed with ambition, as the builders of the Tower of Babel had become. Luke 22:24-26 recounts the source of their ambition and the admonishment of our Lord which has direct application to us in light of the contents of Genesis chapter eleven. The Bible says that “A dispute also arose among them, as to which of them was to be regarded as the greatest. And he said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and those in authority over them are called benefactors. But not so with you. Rather, let the greatest among you become as the youngest, and the leader as one who serves.” (ESV)
We make our name great not in our building, doing, accomplishing, or earthly accolades. Our name is great the more closely our name is associated with the name of Christ. Our name is great the more we put His name on display, rather than ours. Amen.
