A Foolish Construction
Today’s Scripture Selection: Genesis 11:1-4
“And the whole earth was of one language and one speech. And it came to pass, as they journeyed form the east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar; and they dwelt there. And they said one to another, Go to, let us make brick, and burn them thoroughly. And they had brick for stone, and slime had they for mortar. And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth.”
Some see it only as the first sign of civilization – city life – long before there was something called “New York, New York.”
But, others have long seen in this story something far more ominous.
It is a tale of a people striving to build their own stairway to heaven. It provides an image of a people who believe they can do anything.
In our own day (as in many, many days past) people take great pride in their accomplishments. They love to, literally, “make us a name” for themselves. And, too often, in the process – forget all about God.
Who we are – what we have been given – what we are able to accomplish with it – is a gift from God. Thankfulness and a good dose of humility should be the marks of a servant people, dependent upon God.
I think we can, and should, have a “healthy” self-esteem. I don’t believe the God who created us wants us to crawl in the dust.
Still, I think that when we believe – as individuals and as a people – that we can be like God (boasting about what wonderful creators we are in our own right) – we can quickly get into some very serious trouble.
So, I like the story of this once great tower – called Babel – that became synonymous with the need to be humble before God.
I try to accomplish something with my life. I hope you do to. But I hope and pray that I never fall prey to the temptation to build to my glory – instead of my God’s.
IGW3 - In God's Word, In God's Will, In God's Work 