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The Tower of Babel -- Genesis 11.1-9 Introduction: Genesis 6 - 8 tells us of the Genesis flood. Such a flood was due to man's wickedness and God's punishment on mankind. Afterward there were only 8 people alive. God told Noah and his family to "Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth" Genesis 9.1. Genesis 9 ends with the death of Noah; Genesis 10 begins with his son's and their lineages. In Genesis 11 we read of the tower of Babel being constructed and God confusing the language of the people. I) Men Generally Do Not Remain Faithful For Long A) We do not know how long Adam and Eve actually lived in the Garden but they eventually sinned. 1. Throughout the Bible we read of individuals being faithful but often the next generation will be disobedient. 2. The children of Israel were challenged by Joshua to serve God but the next generation was not faithful. B) God's instructions, Genesis 9.1; 8.17 1. The instructions were plain and simple. 2. The problem is generally not with the instructions. God's word is written so as to reveal and not conceal, Ephesians 5.17. C) The problem was their desire to not be scattered, Genesis 11.4 1. Was there anything wrong with building a tower? We build towers all the time. 2. The problem was God told them to go out and fill the earth. Their motive was wrong as they did not want to do what God said. D) Apostasy usually starts over what we want and small, 1 Corinthians 4.6 1. We are warned about "presumptuous sins" Psalm 19.13. "I don't see anything wrong with it" is an invitation to apostasy. a. David putting the ark on a cart, 2 Samuel 6 b. King Uzziah going into the temple to burn incense, 2 Chronicles 26 c. Moses striking the rock, Numbers 20 2. We must have book, chapter, and verse to have the proper authority, 1 Peter 4.11 II) Something Big Is Not Necessarily Good A) We have heard the term "too big to fail" 1. The Titanic was too big to sink, "God, Himself could not sink this ship." 2. Bernie Madoff was able to swindle over $18 billion dollars from investors. B) They wanted to make a "big" tower, Genesis 11.3-4 1. Let me stress this, it was not just a tower but a big tower. 2. Why? To make a name for themselves, human pride. 3. It may have been impressive to them but not to God. C) Big things without scriptural authority are wrong 1. Any organization seeking to unite congregations together in a single organization. a. Missionary societies seek to take money from congregations and pool those funds together. b. Thus they create an organization and work different from what the Bible authorizes. 2. We may be impressed by the size of a building, its parking lot, number of people, etc. a. There is a congregation in Memphis with its own exit and on ramp. b. It is better to be faithful and small rather than big and unfaithful. III) Cooperation Does Not Always Please God A) We (I) like seeing people working together. Psalm 133.1 1. See a team working toward a common goal. 2. See people at the work place working as a team, helping each other out. 3. But a riot can be a group of people cooperating with each other. So can a gang. B) They were united, Genesis 11.6 1. Unity can accomplish a lot of good or bad. 2. The unity must have the right purpose and basis. C) We must be careful of having unity without God 1. Ecumenical movement is based on unity in diversity or Christian union. We all agree to disagree, Ephesians 4.1-6 2. What if we had a serious doctrinal issue to develop here. Some took one side and others another side. After a while we simply decided to agree to disagree. We may have a form of unity but we would not all be speaking the same thing. D) Sometimes God prefers division 1. 2 Corinthians 6.14-17 they were told to separate themselves from those worshipping falsely. 2. Cannot have "unity in diversity" or what I call the Max Lucado type of unity. IV) Confusion of Speech Is Often The Cause of Division, Genesis 11.8-9 A) Words have definitions 1. Communication requires us to use those definitions. One cannot randomly choose the definition they like. 2. To communicate we must use the same language or one we both know. B) Example of Nehemiah 13.23-24 1. The confusion was caused by trying to combine two different groups of people and religions. 2. I don't know if the younger generation understood each other but the older did not understand them. C) Modern examples 1. Alternative lifestyle, gay marriage, un-truth, etc. 2. Religious terms -- sinful nature, getting saved, contemporary services, alternative services, etc. 3. We must make our speech plan and truthful, 1 Corinthians 2.1-2 4. Some people will borrow terms to confuse people. V) God's Will, Will Be Done A) They were dispersed, Genesis 11.9 1. They did not try to complete the tower. God knew this would end that project. 2. They were scattered and formed different nations. B) Despite the efforts of man, God's will has been and will be done. 1. Nations in Canaan tried to stop Israel from taking their land. 2. Herod tried to kill the baby born in a manger. 3. Jews tried to stop Jesus. 4. Jews tried to stop the preaching of the Gospel; later on the Romans did the same. Conclusion: The Gospel is still preached and we still look forward to the day of Jesus' return. But to be ready we must respect and reverence God, accept Jesus and do His will. |