The Tower Of Babel – Independence From God

Issues – March 2023 – Grace & Truth Magazine

The Tower Of Babel
Independence From God

In the first dozen chapters of the Bible we read of three events which characterized the attitude of the generations of that day toward God. First, Adam and Eve doubted God and gave in to Satan’s question, “Has God indeed said?” (Gen. 3:1 NKJV ). Then we have the pre-flood generation, whose hearts were set on evil and as a result the earth was filled with violence. After the flood we see those who started building Babel and its tower, without so much as acknowledging God’s existence. The spiritual regression seen in these three examples clearly mirrors the state of the world today.

God’s Instructions
What was the first instruction ever given by God to us? It wasn’t about the fruit from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. Rather, it was: “Then God blessed them, and God said to them, ‘Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth’” (1:28). This command from God to fill the earth was repeated to Noah after the flood, “So God blessed Noah and his sons, and said to them: ‘Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth’” (9:1).

God never gave a command that is not for our benefit, and when He asked us to fill the earth, it was because He knows our hearts and our tendencies. People are happiest when they recognize their dependence on God and live in the good of that dependence. Without this, we quickly begin to influence one another in a negative way and convince each other that we can be self-sufficient – that we don’t need God. This begins with doubting God, and it leads to defiance and being against God. Sadly, the pride of the human heart goes even further and consciously decides to refute that God even exists.

Going Against What God Has Said
The story of the Tower of Babel is an example of such an attitude. We read: “Now the whole earth had one language and one speech. And it came to pass, as they journeyed from the east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar, and they dwelt there. Then they said to one another, ‘Come, let us make bricks and bake them thoroughly.’ They had brick for stone, and they had asphalt for mortar. And they said, ‘Come, let us build ourselves a city, and a tower whose top is in the heavens; let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be scattered abroad over the face of the whole earth.’” (11:1-4).

Without the benefit of God’s express instruction, first to Adam and then to Noah, this account seems rather benign and harmless. Isn’t it a good thing that the people have a sense of unity, that they want to dwell together, and that they are industrious in using the resources God has created to establish a sense of order? It’s all quite normal except for one thing: it goes clearly and arrogantly against what God had said. Their intentions make no excuses: they don’t want to be scattered. Their motive is to expressly do the opposite of what God had said, without considering Him, since their goal was to make a name for themselves! Keep in mind that this is not very long after the flood.

Their downward spiral as they looked to elevate themselves led these people to wipe God out of remembrance and replace Him with their own ideals. They created their own system that did not include God whatsoever. Doesn’t this paint a vivid picture of people’s attitude in the world today? People do not even want to consider God. They refuse to acknowledge Him at all, preferring to establish systems that don’t include a notion of God and are clearly in opposition to His ways.

What Causes People To Go Against God?
Who is to blame for this attitude? The people at Babel may have attempted to point a finger at those around them, like Adam did with Eve, and Eve with the serpent. But everyone is responsible for their own actions. Nimrod may have led a charge (read 10:8-10), but everyone was clearly in this by choice as we see in the text: “they journeyed,” “they dwelt,” and, “let us build,” “let us make a name for ourselves” (11:2-4). Following fallible human beings and a wayward society is no excuse. You might find yourself pressured by the ease of doing things like the world does, but stepping out in disobedience will never be the right decision.

Neither could they plead ignorance as if they had not been taught God’s ways. They may not have had the Bible like we do, but they had firsthand accounts of God’s direct interventions. Before the flood, even Noah’s father, Lamech, would have been able to speak to Adam to get an account of what God had revealed to him. After the flood, with whom could the people sit down? Shem lived up to 150 years after Abraham was born, much later than the event at Babel. This means those at Babel could get an eyewitness account from someone who had been on the ark and could testify to God’s judgment and grace in his own life.

There was no excuse, and it is no different today! What era has had access to God’s Word as much as we have? The real culprit is pride. There is an attitude of wanting to be independent from God, and whether this is said or not, the actions speak for themselves.

The Grace And Mercy Of God
Thankfully God did not give up on them nor has He on us. The verses that follow demonstrate His patience and longsuffering character. They show His interest in what we do. And when our actions are at odds with God, He is merciful. It is beautiful to consider the Lord’s thoughts toward those whom He created in His image – He rejoices in the inhabited world and has delight in the sons of men (Prov. 8:31). “The LORD looks from heaven; He sees all the sons of men. From the place of His dwelling He looks on all the inhabitants of the earth; He fashions their hearts individually; He considers all their works” (Ps. 33:13-15).

The Lord is not on the prowl to find someone He can punish. Rather, He is interested in all we do and is quick to forgive, show mercy and restore if the heart is willing. His assessment and subsequent actions in the account of the Tower of Babel show this clearly: “But the LORD came down to see the city and the tower which the sons of men had built. And the LORD said, ‘Indeed the people are one and they all have one language, and this is what they begin to do; now nothing that they propose to do will be withheld from them. Come, let Us go down and there confuse their language, that they may not understand one another’s speech.’ So the LORD scattered them abroad from there over the face of all the earth, and they ceased building the city. Therefore its name is called Babel, because there the LORD confused the language of all the earth; and from there the LORD scattered them abroad over the face of all the earth” (Gen. 11:5-9).

We have some human-like language here with the Lord’s (Jehovah) coming down. He is omnipresent and does not need to “go” anywhere because He is already there, but the idea is that here He assessed the matter closely and gave us the account of it from His omniscient perspective. Remember, too, there is fellowship in the Godhead regarding the concern for this people, as we see in the phrase “let Us.” The persons of the Trinity are involved in unity as They were in creation, including when humans were created (1:26).

We can hardly understand what God finds of interest in such a wayward creature, because our typical response to the Almighty Creator is that of disbelief, disinterest and dishonor. But praise the Lord, for He does take an interest in the affairs of people and does not simply leave us to our own ruin and destruction. When Adam and Eve sinned, they did not seek God; He sought them. When Cain sinned, God reached out to him. When evil permeated the human race, no one cried to the Lord, but He focused on what little good was left, and by grace did not snuff out the small, smoking flax or the ember of Noah’s family (consider Isa. 42:3; 2 Sam. 14:7).

At the Tower of Babel also we see mercy! When what the people deserved was judgment, God in His great longsuffering sent them in various directions by giving them different languages. His purposes would be accomplished, and the earth would be filled, despite what people had planned or thought up. The scene would have appeared to be total confusion, as the name Babel suggests, yet God was in full control. He was establishing order by what outwardly seemed to be chaotic. God’s order would have the earth subdued as humans multiplied.

On a grander scale the whole world was lost in sin and could do nothing to address its situation. When we had no hope, God came down as the incarnate Son and witnessed how sin had gripped the world. Rather than judging the world, He came to save it. We read: “What is man that You are mindful of him, and the son of man that You visit him?” (Ps. 8:4). “God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved” (Jn. 3:17). By application, God wants heaven filled as well, with people from every nation and language. That is God’s order for a soon-coming day, and His interest in the affairs of the sons of men caused Him to send His beloved Son to make that possible. Even though the world does not care for God or His Son Jesus Christ, and the state around us seems rather chaotic, rest assured that God is at work and His grace is active.

His purposes are coming to pass, and the multitude of languages in this world is no hurdle for Him. In fact, we again see confusion from the multitude in Acts 2:6 because of different languages. There, God used it as an opportunity for each of them to hear the wonderful works of God in their own tongue, after the Holy Spirit came down and filled the house.

The coming millennial time will be a scene where many languages will be represented by those who will come to worship the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, as righteousness reigns (consider Zech. 8:23). And, for eternity we will sing the new song as those redeemed “out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation” (Rev. 5:9).

God’s Lessons For Us
For believers, the lesson we need to learn is that departure from the Lord can start small, when doubt begins, but it can spread rapidly as pride sets in – within a single generation or a single heart. We need to stay close to the Lord and do our part to make this a healthy relationship. Spend time with the Lord. He delights in you; won’t you also delight in Him?

The message to unbelieving sinners is that God is interested in you even if you are not interested in Him. He is reaching out to you. Rather than attempting to make a name for yourself, turn to Him and be saved! “Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).

By Eric Clermont

To get the most out of devotional times, we must learn to wait upon God. If we spend sufficient time studying the Bible, meditating and praying, we will know we have been in His presence. Only then can we experience added power and holiness throughout the day.

Sadly, many Christians remain spiritual babies because they do not stay long enough with God to feel His love and sense His power. They would know Him better and understand His Word more clearly if they would be less hurried in His presence. —Fred Niemeyer