City Life Starter

Written by Aisha Darwesh

The Word

¹ Now the whole earth had one language and the same words. ² And as people migrated from the east, they found a plain in the land of Shinar and settled there. ³ And they said to one another, “Come, let us make bricks, and burn them thoroughly.” And they had brick for stone, and bitumen for mortar. ⁴ Then they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city and a tower with its top in the heavens, and let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be dispersed over the face of the whole earth.” ⁵ And the Lord came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of man had built. ⁶ And the Lord said, “Behold, they are one people, and they have all one language, and this is only the beginning of what they will do. And nothing that they propose to do will now be impossible for them.

Genesis 11:1-6 (ESV)

¹ I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, ² with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, ³ eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. ⁴ There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— ⁵ one Lord, one faith, one baptism, ⁶ one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

Ephesians 4:1-6 (ESV)

Aisha’s Analysis

Today’s portion of Genesis illustrates the defiance and vain ambitions of humanity. After the flood, God commissioned Noah and his family to be fruitful and multiply and to spread out across the earth (Genesis 9:7). That was what God blessed and empowered them to do. 

As time went on, the descendants of Noah had a different idea. They wanted to make a name for themselves and promulgate their so-called greatness in one place, namely a tower that reached into the heavens. 

However, the Lord was observing all of this from above and came down into their situation to intervene:

And the Lord said, “Behold, they are one people, and they have all one language, and this is only the beginning of what they will do. And nothing that they propose to do will now be impossible for them. Come, let us go down and there confuse their language, so that they may not understand one another’s speech. 

Genesis 11:6-7

It’s interesting to note that God acknowledged the potential of their achievements given their common language. God confused their language, so their plans never came into fruition, and they were scattered across the earth as a result–just as God intended. 

God’s intervention in thwarting the construction of the Tower of Babel is actually a display of His mercy. The empire the people were trying to build in defiance of God and for the sole purpose of promoting themselves was not allowed to be built. God prevented it from happening by confusing their language. In doing that, the people scattered and perhaps recognized their own helplessness and desperate need for God. The fact that God makes Himself available to us is an amazing, wonderful truth to rest in.

What’s more, this shows us that God does not want us to be unified by our own words, thoughts, ideas, or assumptions, but rather He wants us to be unified by His Spirit in the bond of peace (Ephesians 4:3). The peace we have in Christ is the common thread that unites us all as believers, and it centers on Him and what He has done which stands for all eternity, not on the vain ambitions and fruitless efforts of people which eventually fade away. May His name be praised forever. 

Application

What are you building your life on? If the answer is anything but Christ, you’re on shaky ground. Consider yourself lucky if God has thwarted your efforts to center your life on anything that causes a rift in your relationship with Him. 

The fact is pride polarizes us from God. It creates a chasm between us. Christ bridges the gap between us and God. Those who receive Christ and build and center their lives on Him have access to God and can enjoy His Presence. What could be better than that? 

Prayer

Father God, thank You for the freedom I have in Christ. I no longer have to be afraid of the future or failure. You have blessed and empowered me to obey You. I want to do that and nothing else. If I am trying to build an empire that excludes You, I pray for Your merciful intervention. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.