Tower of Babel

It is quite apparent the central point of this passage is the fact the people desire to make a "name" for themselves in the building of this city. The NLT puts it this way: they want to build because "this will make us famous." It is ironic that the story concludes referring to the name of the city..."Babel." The inhabitants begin the building project because they do not want to be scattered. Yet, the irony is, the story ends with God "scattering them all over the world." When God saw their plan, He initiated a counter plan which resulted in the the very thing the builders wanted to prevent. The authors of Genesis have focused on showing how God wants to bless mankind by providing him with that which is good and man's failure to trust God to provide it for him. God commanded them to "be fruitful and multiply," meaning the land is the central part of God's blessing. To leave this land and seek another is to forfeit God's blessing. It is to live "east of Eden." God saw their plans would succeed and he rescued them from the folly of forsaking God's blessing.

Created over 2 years ago