What Was Wrong with the Tower of Babel?

As the earth began to be repopulated in the generations following the flood, the area which we know of as modern Iraq, a project was under way that was so breathtakingly spectacular, so ominous, so sinister, so out of this world, that the only one who stand in the way of it was God himself. In lower Mesopotamia, work was begun to build a city and a tower that would make would secure the world wide fame of its builders and keep their empire intact. Buildings such as the empire state building, or the transformation of Homebush bay would be seen as chicken feed next to this project. The account of this event is found in Gen. 11:1-9.

While the building of the city and the tower was still in progress, God said,

This done, the completion of the project was impossible because the builders were unable to communicate. The work was suspended, and the name of the incomplete city became "Babel" which literally means "Confusion". The original intention of God for the dispersion of the human race was then accomplished by virtue of necessity, as the various language groups separated into different locales and formed distinct civilizations.

Has this ever struck you as a strange story. What exactly was wrong with the "Tower of Babel" that God prevented its being finished? With what, exactly, was God displeased? Surely it was not just the height of the tower itself, as many of us may have supposed. Rather, it was the pride and the spirit of human autonomy that was behind the scheme. The plans for Babel were not formulated to glorify the Creator, but to glorify the builders and to assist them in thwarting the divine mandate to disperse throughout the world as outlines in Genesis 9:1. Their intent was to create a type of proud, eternal monument to themselves. If ever a plan was "the offspring of ambition", Babel was it. And it simply was not God’s will at this early stage in history to allow that kind of human self-exaltation to achieve its fulfilment.

The scriptural account of this event stands as a warning against the spirit of Babel, wherever and whenever it may be found. That is, the spirit of human pride, putting ourselves up as being greater than God, the spirit of arrogance self conceit. The early Christian church viewed pride as first among sin. It was the basis of Adam and Eve's first rebellious act. In contrast to this, that which was considered to be the first and the source of all virtues, is humility. What does the bible say

Proverbs 29:23 "A person's pride will bring humiliation, but one who is lowly in spirit will obtain honour.”

In the beatitudes Matthew 5:3 "Blessed are the poor in spirit [the humble], for theirs is the kingdom of God.

Or in James 4:6 "God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble."

The words of Jesus Luke 14:11, "All those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted”.

So much for pride. What about humility? The word for humility comes from the Latin word humus, which means "fertile ground" This suggests to me that when we are not full of ourselves, we have room for other things to grow. When we are not filled with our own pride, we have room to recognise God and God's place in our lives, which should come first. No wonder our ancestors considered humility the source of all the other virtues. When we are proud, we tend to forget God; when we are humble, we tend to forget ourselves, which is not to say we neglect ourselves. To humble oneself is not to cultivate low self esteem, but simply to order one's life according to heaven's priorities. It is to realise that the capacity for love and all of its inclusiveness--sharing, encouragement, patience, forgiveness, even suffering and self-sacrifice--is the true measure of a person. This is what Jesus says in the story of the wedding banquet. Don't puff yourself up. God, who is the host at the kingdom banquet, will not fooled by self-promotion. Rather, put others' needs before your own, and you will be richly rewarded in the end.

The bible teaches us to be humble and to love each other in a mutual way. Above all, trust in God and do not fear. And here, I think, is the key: it is fear that drives human pride. We do not trust God's radical promise of care and protection and so we attempt to rely on our own strengths until they are all we believe in. Ultimately this will turn out to be a hollow strategy: if we believe only in ourselves then we really believe in nothing.

Tonight I want to offer a self help list, based on what I see in the bible, what I’ve managed through my own personal experience, and what I have learnt from others older and wiser than myself. I offer them to you as a means of avoiding self-conceit while still promoting healthy self-esteem and of fostering a life-long attitude of humility in service to God. I have ten suggestions to make.

1) Love God, love yourself, and love everyone else.

These are commandments one and two in the big ten, and Jesus rates them not just as a priority, but as that which is the foundation for the kingdom of God. Make loving the purpose and primary expression in your life.
 

2) See your life as a gift from God.

You are a marvellous creature with unlimited potential to make whatever you want to of that life; strive to make it a positive one. Do things that bring you a sense of fulfilment, joy and purpose, that validate your worth as a being created in the image of God. Never be afraid to take risks or make changes that would bring you greater satisfaction and joy.
 

3) Don’t panic.

The catch phrase from Hitch Hikers Guide to the Galaxy. I think we should hold onto these words. Jesus says to us ‘Consider the lilies of the field, they don’t panic, God takes care of them, God will take care of you’ Take time to nourish, support and encourage yourself, you're worth it. Above all, don't get stressed out and rushed trying to accomplish things; live each day to the fullest, one day at a time, to the glory of God. Jesus took time out. Don't push the river, let it flow by itself. Don't worry so much about what you're going to do in life as who you're going to be as a child of God, seeking first his kingdom. Seek first the kingdom, and all these things will be given to you.
 

4) Pay close attention to the Spirit of God working within you. 

Turn to the spirit of God who live in you for your needs on all levels. When we understand our bodies as temple of the Holy Spirit, we are more able to commitment ours lives to a lifestyle that brings about healthy physical, emotional, spiritual and intellectual states. Develop life habits seems authentic to you: a way of prayer, a way of exercise and nutrition, a way of study, a way of the heart.
 

5) Hold on to positive scriptures, images and goals in your mind.

When fearful images arise, remember that God is always with you and that God has a place for you. Trust in God's faithfulness and refocus on images or scriptures that evoke the feelings of peace and joy of being held in the palm of God's hand. Seek to learn where the things that really motivate you connect with what the world really needs; chances are that's where you will find God working in your life. Then strive to live out your God-given calling.
 

6) Be in touch with your emotions.

Express your feelings and views openly, honestly, and appropriately. Never be afraid to laugh, to cry, to say, "This is what I believe." Allow others their emotions and listen respectfully to their opinions even when you disagree. Whenever so-called negative emotions arise, be it resentment, envy, fear, sadness, anger, listen to what they have to tell you but then release them; don't hold on to them. Let go and let God.
 

7) Cultivate community.

Seek relationships that are fun, loving, and honest, that allow for the expression and fulfilment of needs for intimacy and security, both yours and those of others. Always respect differences; when you disagree, focus on principles, not personalities. When relationships are wounded or broken, take responsibility for your part and ask and offer forgiveness as freely as you can. Healing comes only when you invite it to and only when you work at it.
 

8) Give thanks to God at all times, and all places regardless of the circumstances

Give this thanks concrete expression by placing God and God's kingdom first and making your life a "sacrifice" of praise and thanksgiving. Make a positive contribution to your community, through some sort of work or service that you value and enjoy. If you're only doing it because you feel you have to, stop doing it and find something else.
 

9) Accept yourself and everything in your life as an opportunity for growth and learning.

See John 21:15-19 Peter is reinstated by Jesus after he had betrayed him. Be grateful for what is given you. When you slip up, remember that God forgives you and forgive yourself, learn what you can from the experience, and then move on. You may make a mistake, but you can never be a mistake. Remember that God made you and God doesn't make junk.
 

10) Laugh

Finally, learn how to play and keep a sense of humour at all times.  Above all, be ready to laugh at yourself; nothing is so serious that a smile won't help.
 

For those who are proud in themselves, while God may delay the onset of His judgement, the time comes, later if not sooner, when the ambitious pride of mankind will be humbled. We read in Romans 14:11 "For it is written: ‘As I live,’ says the Lord, ‘every knee shall bow to Me, and every tongue shall confess to God’". If we suffer from the same thing that was wrong at Babel, we need to repent before it is too late.

We are all called to be disciples: if we are to be proud at all, if we are to boast, it is, as Paul says, not on our own account, but on account of Christ at work in us. We are not called to tell our own story, but to tell the story of what God has done for us from the beginning, to proclaim the fulfilment of God's promise in Jesus, and to turn our life upside down in true humility and follow him, calling others to join us. I believe that these ten suggestions will help us to live every minute as willing witnesses to Christ, and that with God's help we will succeed more often than we fail.
 
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