The Tower of Babel

You will need your Bible today.
I am the most comfortable studying the Bible when I have lot of verses from all over the Bible to connect to any particular verse of the story. For me, writing about the Flood was pure joy since there are so many ways that the Bible connects back to it. I am the least comfortable when the connections are more abstract and I have to rely on commentaries and research to pull something together. Don't get me wrong, I would never teach anything that I wasn't certain was Biblical but sometimes the threads of Scripture are more subtle, and require a broader perspective.
You may (or may not be) surprised to discover that the story of the Tower of Babel is one of those more subtle threads. It is however a very pivotal moment in God's Love Letter.
Tucked neatly between 2 sets of genealogies, these nine verses create a bridge of sorts. They connect the sin and corruption before the Flood with the world that grew out of it. The Bible is quick to point out that even before the population began to grow, sin was already fast at work corrupting the hearts and lives of men.* As the population grew, once again so did their sins. God had poured out His wrath already, now He would intervene to preserve mankind for Salvation.
Please read Genesis 11:1-9
On the surface, the Tower of Babel is a simple one. After Noah and his family got off the ark, God reiterated the command He had given to Adam and Eve.
"Be fruitful and increase in number and fill the earth." Genesis 9:1 (also Genesis 1:28)
He was not suggesting that they have a few kids and spread out a bit, God had created the whole earth for mankind to dwell in and He commanded them to fill it. When the people gathered together on the plain of Shinar they were being defiant, they knew God's command but willfully chose to do the opposite.
"Then they said, 'Come, let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we may make a name for ourselves and not be scattered over the face of the whole earth.'" Genesis 11:4
The plain of Shinar was the perfect place for man to settle and make a name for himself. Shinar is nestled between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers along the Fertile Crescent. To the north of the Tigris is a vast mountainous region (Northern Iraq and Iran). The mountains were very difficult to pass, which provided protection as well as forced trade to run along the river. To the south of the Euphrates is the Arabian Desert. It too was difficult to pass through, providing protection and pushing trade up to the river region.** By building between the rivers, the city would have ample protection and be able to monopolize the trade routes on either side. The plain was also an especially fertile piece of land which would be able to produce many crops to support the city and draw traders from neighboring areas. From their human perspective, Shinar was the ultimate place to prove to God that they were capable of making their own way.
God, however desires our obedience not our innovation. God created mankind to be creative, intelligent, and curious. It is in our nature to strive and innovate, however, when we strive apart from God we end up creating new ways to sin.
We live in a world full of modern technologies. Internet, cell phones, hundredss of TV channels. We can get from one side of the world to another in hours instead of months. Most of our technology is helpful and can be used for great good. Sadly it is often used for evil though. It is now easier than ever to view pornography, children (and adults) harass each other on Facebook, Myspace, or over cellphones. We have to be on guard against someone stealing our identity because of the easy access to information. Sin is made easier by modern technology. Please don't misunderstand, technology in itself is not sinful, but people are. As a culture we don't need more innovation, we need Jesus.
"See, I set before you today life and prosperity, death and destruction. For I command you today to love the LORD your God, to walk in his ways, and to keep his commands, decrees and laws; then you will live and increase, and the LORD your God will bless you in the land you are entering to possess. But if your heart turns away and you are not obedient, and if you are drawn away to bow down to other gods and worship them, I declare to you this day that you will certainly be destroyed." Deuteronomy 30:15-17
Obedience brings blessing, but disobedience is sin and the cost of sin is death. When God looked out of the plain of Shinar, He saw that mankind had conspired to disobey. In His mercy, He decided to confuse their speech so that it would be more difficult for them to continue conspiring against Him. God is not capricious. He was not afraid that the people would be able to accomplish anything, He knew they would accomplish evil things.
"What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very self?" Luke 9:24
On the surface it's a simple story of mankind's disobedience, yet it sets the stage for the human struggle that persists through the rest of Scripture. The tower of Babel, would offer it's name to the great city that arose from it's ashes. The city was known as Babylon, and throughout the Old Testament it was the enemy of Israel. Babylon also takes center stage in the book of Revelation.
"Then the angel carried me away in the Spirit into a desert. There I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was covered with blasphemous names and had seven heads and ten horns. The woman was dressed in purple and scarlet, and was glittering with gold, precious stones and pearls. She held a golden cup in her hand, filled with abominable things and the filth of her adulteries. This title was written on her forehead: Mystery. Babylon the Great. The Mother of Prostitutes and of the Abominations of the Earth. I saw that the woman was drunk with the blood of the saints, the blood of those who bore testimony to Jesus." Revelation 17:3-6
From the plain of Shinar in Genesis 11 to her destruction in Revelation 18, Babylon represents mankind's defiance of God. She symbolizes all that humanity values apart from God; money, power, intelligence, innovation, the freedom to fulfill your every desire however you see fit. Yet this human-created paradise was full of violence, corruption, and depravity.
In Scripture, Jerusalem stands opposite Babylon. A city on a hill, where the LORD would guide His people. Obedience to the LORD brought security, abundance and peace. Jesus is the only way to true abundance.
"The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." John 10:10






* Genesis 9:18-28
** Mullins, Robert. "What Was the Old Testament World" in They Spoke From God. edited by William C. Williams. Springfield, MO. Gospel Publishing House. 2003. pg. 141