Nor, conversely, is it a primitive allegory about an insecure deity who is so threatened by human achievement that God needs to wreak havoc on the best-laid human plans. The narrative is also not placed where it is in the Torah in order to explain the vast multiplicity of human languages.
Nor is it a lament about some lost primeval unity. The story of Babel is, I would suggest, about something else: the importance of individuals and the horrors of totalitarianism. So why does the construction of the city disturb God so much? The punishment that God metes out to the builders offers a clue. But there is something odd about this. God had made it clear that the divine vision is for humanity to spread out and fill the earth, yet the builders want to stay put, to congregate in one place.
What they most fear is what God most wants. And, conversely, why is God so committed to dispersing people in the first place? Genesis starts out describing what seems like a story of human unity, of people living together and successfully communicating with one another.
A great deal depends how we understand unity. And just like the people of Shinar refused to populate the whole earth and settle, God confused their languages, forcing them to move and fill the earth.
Hope Bolinger is an editor at Salem, a multi-published novelist, and a graduate of Taylor University's professional writing program. More than 1, of her works have been featured in various publications ranging from Writer's Digest to Keys for Kids.
She has worked for various publishing companies, magazines, newspapers, and literary agencies and has edited the work of authors such as Jerry B. Jenkins and Michelle Medlock Adams. Her modern-day Daniel trilogy is out with IlluminateYA. And her inspirational adult romance Picture Imperfect releases in November of Find out more about her at her website. Share this. What Was the Tower of Babel? What Exactly Is the Perseverance of the Saints?
Today on Christianity. About Christianity. All rights reserved. So, God stopped the building project in a creative way. However, He halted all building progress.
Come, let us go down and confuse their language so they will not understand each other. From there the LORD scattered them over the face of the whole earth.
Many ancient structures have been lost to time. Others have suggested it to be the Babylonian temple of Marduk. Yet other theories postulate it might have been torn down by Alexander the Great.
Today, do we build monuments and legacies, hoping to make a name for ourselves? Do we focus on what others will think of us, rather than what God desires? When we focus on making our own name great, our plans will only come to ruin.
However, if we focus on magnifying the Name of God, we will store up treasure in heaven Matthew Facts about Nimrod in the Bible. In this mode, Christian legislators seek just as much control over the populace, though with the object of enforcing piety or morality. In this mode, Christian business people seek as much oligopoly as others, though for the purpose of enhancing quality, customer service, or ethical behavior.
In this mode, Christian educators seek as little freedom of thought as authoritarian educators do, though with the intent of enforcing moral expression, kindness, and sound doctrine. Of course, some situations demand decisive exercise of power by one person or a small group. A pilot would be foolish to take a passenger vote about which runway to land on. But could it be that more often than we realize, when we are in positions of power, God is calling us to disperse, delegate, authorize, and train others, rather than exercising it all ourselves?
Doing so is messy, inefficient, hard to measure, risky, and anxiety-inducing. But it may be exactly what God calls Christian leaders to do in many situations. Bruce K. Fyodor Dostoevsky, The Brothers Karamazov , trans.
Every resource on our site was made possible through the financial support of people like you. The Theology of Work Bible Commentary is an in-depth Bible study tool put together by a group of biblical scholars, pastors, and workplace Christians to help you discover what the whole Bible--from Genesis to Revelation--says about work.
Business, education, law, service industries, medicine, government--wherever you work, in whatever capacity, the Scriptures have something to say about it. This edition is a one-volume hardcover version.
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