Discovering Genesis, Part 12
Genesis 11:1-9
Introduction
- Last week we concluded the life of Noah and how he found favor with God
- His life was one of total submission; and he lived FOR God, not himself
- What we saw is that Noah lived and left behind him a legacy for his sons
- IMP APP: Who are you leaving a legacy too? Who is watching you?
- Who are you spending time with to disciple and change their lives?
-- 2 Tim 2:2 “And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others.”
- Up until we see that Noah made a mistake; he was portrayed as the hero
- But, there is an importance to seeing that Noah was a regular man; with issues
- Noah found favor with the Lord b/c he submitted to God; he turned fully
- He was a man who struggled, had issues, and still was used by God
- APP: Many of can have this said about it today; God still uses people
- David was a murderer; Paul was a persecutor; Moses was also a murderer
- Matthew was a thief/cheat; Joshua was afraid; Jonah was disobedient;
- Noah got drunk … but notice here, Noah got drunk AFTER God used him
- Why? Because he was sin ridden; just like you and I are at this very minute
- APP: Very important to understand and grasp the importance of God’s grace
- This morning, we are going to take a look at global rebellion to God’s desire
- I would encourage you this morning to pay special attention to the Word
- We must, must see ourselves in this scripture and understand who we are
- It is in our understanding of how we are that we have opportunity to serve
- Read Genesis 11:1-9
- Pray
Point 1 – A People of Pride (1-4)
- The first thing we see here following the flood and the repopulation is UNITY
- If ever there was an opportunity for unity to be needed it is here (and here today)
- We see here there is common language; common focus; and common peace
- This people settled in a land called Shinar; in the area of Mesopotamia
-- It is a country on the lower courses of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers
- So far, this seems extremely picturesque and just about perfect
-- Of course, it’s not the Garden of Eden; but its civilized, liveable, and at peace
- I want you to see, this civilized community gets 2 verses of scripture
- In 2 verses until they absolutely trample living for God and rebel totally
- (v3) Can you just imagine the “wise men” of the time sitting around
- These were a people just loaded with themselves; and destined to rebel; why?
- B/C they took it upon themselves to decide what the next step should be
- Making brick is not the problem; brick is still used today of course
- APP: The problem comes in (v4) where their intentions/motives are revealed
- Notice the key words in v4 and v5 … they really lay it on thick:
-- “Come, let us”; “Ourselves”; “We”; “Ourselves”; “We”
- There is so much pride here that the rebellion is practically stench to Heaven
- The attitude here is NOT that they would want to build to worship God
- APP: They’ve decided that they should build a tower to make a name
- But, not only make a name, but to approach God as if He was approachable
- They have forgotten the sin of Adam and Eve; the Flood; and themselves
- It is as if they’ve assumed that they are so marvelous; they can hold counsel
- You see, it is an attitude that permeates all facets of life in human beings
- Mankind decided that we should be able to build a tower to visit God
- This attitude; this delivery of false righteousness must have stunk to God
-- APP: It is something to learn a lesson from; and to repent from
- Let me try to give you a comparison to this same type of attitude we see now
-- Wednesday night bible study brings out 4 faithful people
-- Thursday night dinner out for men and women brings 18 people
- I know that is not a comfortable truth to deal with; but the implication is clear
- Our importance to studying God’s Word and worshiping Him hasn’t changed
- How can I say that it hasn’t change? Look at their presumption of importance:
-- Build a tower so it reaches the heavens; (APP) to make a name for ourselves
- It wasn’t about worship or response; but about pride in themselves
- TRANS: This is where we have to see ourselves else; we incur God’s response
Point 2 – God Responds … Justly (5-9)
- This language that they are speaking has many rumors about what it is
-- Personally, I believe this is the language being spoken in Heaven
-- It was perfect; it was God inspired; and it was easily understood by everyone
-- I feel it was the same language spoken on the Day of Pentecost; all understood
- But God decides that this is a privilege their attitude doesn’t deserve
- Coming down from Heaven, He removes this ability of communication
- This confusion is not vengeful; it is a show of authority/a response
- Because they were scattered; there was a lack of understanding for all
- Thus, they had to stop building because there was no more communication
- APP: If you can’t talk to your workers; you cannot get things done
-- But, there is a resolution to this and a way that we must understand
- If you remember in the beginning this society was given UNITY
- This unity, in the form of GRACE, is the communication the Holy Spirit
- First, Jesus promised to deliver this unity we’d have: John 14:16, “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever”
- Then, it was given by God (who delivers on EVERY promise): Acts 2:1-13
- We have this comforter given to us so that we would respond to God alone
- It’s given so that we would join together for worship, study, praise of God
- The people at Babel had a real communication problem; not in language
- It was in their attitude and how they responded to a holy and righteous God
- We are in danger church or continuing to slide away from Him
- Our society is in trouble; our walk in the faith is weakening
- And our response needs to be more resolved to obeying the Lord than ever
Conclusion
- Where are we in the following and obedience of the Lord?
- Where are we in desiring to worship, study, and respond to Christ?
- The Kingdom opportunities are limitless in our society to serve the Lord
- Our church: SS teachers; more children’s ministry workers; outreach director; and even an evangelism team director
- When we come into this place it must be to serve and worship God
- Our lives are to be about Him; and Him alone …
- Take an example from our friends at Babel, we cannot assume we are all that
- What we can assume is that we aren’t dead yet; so we aren’t done serving
- Pray
