But the Lord saw their hearts, confused their language, and scattered them anyway because of their rebellion. He anticipated their future evils done in collaboration so He dispersed them throughout the earth. And the building of the Tower of Babel stopped (Genesis 11).
When attempts at personal gain and glory by created beings supersede adoration of Creator God, life’s order unravels. Self-glorification clouds the majesty of the Supreme God and chaos reigns.
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When an extensive power outage struck southern California in the 1990’s, many Los Angeles residents reported seeing strange clouds suspended overhead. In actuality earthly light pollution had prevented them from ever viewing the heavenly lights of the Milky Way (LIGHT POLLUTION by Andrew Fraknot).
How incredibly unfortunate to miss the spectacle of gazing into the celestial sphere created by an Almighty God. Contemporary conveniences tend to cloud the beauty of creation.
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What do these two accounts have in common? They depict the pride of humans while neglecting the omnipotence of God Almighty. At times people enhance themselves rather than exalt the preeminent God.
News flash—life is not about us. It’s about God, the maker of heaven and earth. It’s about the One True God who saves us from wrongdoings.
Yet we continuously struggle with pride, placing too much emphasis on our human nature rather than the divine nature of Christ Jesus. Mankind’s strengths as well as shortcomings loom large. Why do we overlook the power of God?
Doing life in our own power, apart from God, increases our deficiencies. Eventually the human condition spirals out of control as it has throughout the ages. Times and circumstances may change but similar heart actions consistently remain the same. And it all begins with pride.
A prideful heart releases evil and ignites disorder. Creatures forget their Creator. Focus turns to self. Babel builds. Towers fall.
Man’s adversity originated soon after the world’s creation. Scripture records how Satan planted the seed of doubt and fanned the flames of pride. The choices of both man and woman fractured God’s perfect order. Confusion replaced God’s truth. Sin ruled.
God then set into motion His plan of salvation, culminating in the birth, life, death, and resurrection of His Son Jesus Christ. Even though God graciously offers redemption to all people, some reject Him. The age old problem exists despite God’s tender love. Mankind’s mind remains muddled by pride. We forget the truth of God the Father who created us. We neglect the truth of God the Son, Jesus Christ, who died to save us. We desert the truth of God the Holy Spirit who sustains us. We miss the glory of God. How sad!
God’s Word reports the life of several prophets who didn’t allow the things of earth to obstruct their view of Him. One prophet in particular observed God’s sovereignty in the temple. The splendor of God’s majesty humbled him to his knees. The prophet Isaiah discerned his own unworthiness when He visualized God’s glory.
Next week we’ll learn of this man who saw the glory of God and desired to tell others about His greatness. In the meantime, consider how you view God. Is He an afterthought or foremost in your mind? Hopefully Isaiah’s example will assist us in adjusting our perspective of God.
As you read the Scriptures below, examine the differences of division and unity. Then praise God with worshippers from all over the world and experience the blessings of unity.
Scripture tells of division deriving from mankind’s self-focus…..
But when God came down to see the city and the tower mankind was making, he said, “Look! If they are able to accomplish all this when they have just begun to exploit their linguistic and political unity, just think of what they will do later! Nothing will be unattainable for them! Come, let us go down and give them different languages, so that they won’t understand each other’s words!”
So, in that way, God scattered them all over the earth; and that ended the building of the city. That is why the city was called Babel (meaning “confusion”), because it was there that Jehovah confused them by giving them many languages, thus widely scattering them across the face of the earth. Genesis 11:5-9 (TLB)
Scripture tells of unity of believers in Christ when focused on God….
Seven weeks had gone by since Jesus’ death and resurrection, and the Day of Pentecost had now arrived. As the believers met together that day, suddenly there was a sound like the roaring of a mighty windstorm in the skies above them and it filled the house where they were meeting. Then, what looked like flames or tongues of fire appeared and settled on their heads. And everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in languages they didn’t know, for the Holy Spirit gave them this ability.
“How can this be?” they exclaimed. “For these men are all from Galilee, and yet we hear them speaking all the native languages of the lands where we were born! Here we are—Parthians, Medes, Elamites, men from Mesopotamia, Judea, Cappadocia, Pontus, Asia Minor, Phrygia, Pamphylia, Egypt, the Cyrene language areas of Libya, visitors from Rome—both Jews and Jewish converts— Cretans, and Arabians. And we all hear these men telling in our own languages about the mighty miracles of God!” Acts 2:1-4, 7-11 (TLB)
World edition of “How Great is Our God” featuring Chris Tomlin......
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vg5qDljEw7Q
“How can this be?” they exclaimed. “For these men are all from Galilee, and yet we hear them speaking all the native languages of the lands where we were born! Here we are—Parthians, Medes, Elamites, men from Mesopotamia, Judea, Cappadocia, Pontus, Asia Minor, Phrygia, Pamphylia, Egypt, the Cyrene language areas of Libya, visitors from Rome—both Jews and Jewish converts— Cretans, and Arabians. And we all hear these men telling in our own languages about the mighty miracles of God!” Acts 2:1-4, 7-11 (TLB)
World edition of “How Great is Our God” featuring Chris Tomlin......
