Taking the Name

We continue our study of the evidence of spiritual warfare this week by moving only a few generations from Noah to the plains of Shinar (what is today the territory of Iraq).  Here primeval history reaches its fruitless climax as man, conscious of his new abilities and bolstered by the common grace of God, prepares to glorify and fortify himself through his collective effort.  What we find here in chapter 11 are the timeless characteristics of the spirit of Lucifer and the systems of this world that he promulgates.

 It is surprising that so many Bible commentators pass right over Genesis 11.  Most move from the conclusion of the flood narrative right to the call of Abraham.  But in doing so they miss another striking portrait of the evil imaginations of the human heart.

 The story of the tower of Babel comes on the heels of God’s reiteration of the command to be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth.  He tells Adam and Eve to do that.  He tells Noah’s sons and daughters-in-law to do that.  And yet, in the space of a chapter and a half we find the descendents of Noah refusing to follow the will of God, opting rather to follow their own will.  But this is hardly surprising.  Any careful reading of the Scriptures shows that God has tested man under every conceivable condition and found him wanting.  Even in our day there are those who think that bettering man’s environment will help him; they forget the environment of Eden.  Others think that education will save man, forgetting that knowledge was received in the Fall and that conscience failed to keep man righteous.  Still others think that some human collective like the United Nations can enforce righteousness in the world, but those conditions exist here on the plains of Shinar spurring not righteousness, but rebellion.  Thus, the Bible does not teach that man fell once in Eden, but that man always falls when confronted with fresh conditions that are calculated to reveal what he truly is.

As we have seen in previous weeks, the clue to every action is whether it proceeds from the will of man or the will of God.  Man in his rebellion, like Lucifer, says, “Let us”; man in his submission says, “Thy will be done.”

 Put your hands out in front of you, palms down as though you’re grasping something.  That’s the attitude of taking.  And that’s the attitude we see here.  Now turn your hands over, palms up.  That’s the attitude of receiving, and it’s that attitude that God tells will lead to comfort and rest.

 Perhaps the whole key to life’s story lies in saying, “Lord, do it all.”  The terrible thing about the latter prayer is that God does let man do what he wants to do, and the result is failure and frustration.  We see that in Adam.  We see that in Cain, we see that in the first Lamech, and we see that here in the descendents of Noah.  But as the writer of Proverbs says, “God’s ways are ways of pleasantness, and all His paths are peace.”  Rather than taking God’s name and submitting to His will, they do like Lucifer seeking to make a name for themselves.

 In preparation for Sunday’s message, “Taking the Name”, you may wish to consider the following:

1.      Note the significance of the direction “east” in the Scriptures.

2.      What do you make of correspondence between Genesis 4:17 and Genesis 11:4?

3.      Who is Nimrod and what role does he play in this account (Genesis 11:1-9)?

4.      What is the nature of this tower that they begin building?

5.      Why does the writer give us the building material detail in verse 3?

6.      What is the relationship between the tar (bitumen) and the tar Noah applies to the ark?

7.      What’s the significance of God “coming down” in verses 5 & 7?  Can you think of any other Scriptural examples of God coming down?

8.      What is God saying by confusing their speech?

9.      The words, “let us make a name” are one word in Hebrew – Shem.  What does this tell you about their sin?

10.  How does the story of Babel, mirror your story?  How is God’s judgment here a foreshadowing of His plan of redemption?

See you Sunday!