01-41 The Tower of Babel

Genesis 11:1-9

Encyclopedia of 7700 Illustrations 4828 Sin of Imagination, Instead

4828 Sin Of Imagination, Instead

After a minister had preached a searching sermon on pride, a woman who had heard the sermon waited upon him and told him that she was in much distress of mind, and that she would like to confess to a great sin. The minister asked her what the sin was.

She answered, “The sin of pride, for I sat for an hour before my mirror some days ago admiring my beauty.”

“Oh,” responded the minister, “that was not a sin of pride—that was a sin of imagination!”

Solomon wisely stated:

Ecclesiastes 1:9 NASB95

9 That which has been is that which will be, And that which has been done is that which will be done. So there is nothing new under the sun.

As we progress in Genesis we come to find out that the incident at Babel is really just another way of humanity attempting to achieve power independently from God. This was Eve’s tragic ambition (3:5-6). Humanity’s work on the tower of Babel comes full circle back to the fall where the creature thinks it is possible to plan, purpose, to live and to work independently of God. The results of the divine judgment are equally similar: Adam & Eve are expelled from the Garden while the post-flood citizens will be scattered around the earth.

This is the 4th major event of Gen 1-11 (creation, fall, flood) and it addresses the confusion of the language of humanity so that there is no longer 1 language but many. This helps us to understand why there are approx 6,900 languages spoken today (according to vistawide.com). Fascinating: b/c prior to this event, there was only 1 language. Moses makes this clear in vs 1: “the whole earth…” lit “one lip…one set of words.”

Timing of Babel

The confusion of languages takes place no more than 100 years after the flood. Gen 10:25 Eber (Great-grandson of Noah) named his son in commemoration of the event in Gen 11.

Flood—2349-48 B.C; Peleg (division) was born 2247 B.C. 101 yrs later. Now we understand why there was only 1 language b/c after the flood—1 family came off the ark. Noah, wife, sons & wives—8 people. Jesus reminds us the flood destroyed everyone else. So, there is 1 family, and 1 language. Gen 10 tells us how that 1 family became the different nations on the earth—total of 70 families, family units—becoming 70 nations (70 languages).

Henry Morris has done some rather remarkable calculations in his book The Biblical Basis For Modern Science. One chapter “Babel and the world population, biblical demography and linguistics” (I don’t recommend) At the time of the flood, a minimum world population of 235 million people (closer to 2 billion) all but 8 of whom perished in the flood. These all spoke 1 language. Noah’s family went onto the ark and came off speaking 1 language (prior to the flood there was 1 language). Using the biblical record Noah had 16 grandsons and presumably similar # of granddaughters. Within 100 yrs after the flood the population had grown to at least 800-1000 people—making up the 70 nations recorded in Ch 10.

Moses indicates further that when the 8 came off the ark, they traveled together and continued to do so for the next 100 yrs—11:2. Mt Ararat—modern day Turkey is to the N of this area and so they all traveled south-east (East of Canaan). This took them out of the Mtns and onto the fertile plains of Mesopotamia. “found a plain in land of Shinar…” uncertain location. So why would they migrate to this area? B/c of the leadership of one man—Nimrod—Ch 10:6 (Ham—Cush—Nimrod).

Nimrod was the great-grandson of Noah. Moses tells us the “beginning of his kingdom” (that he was a ruler over) was Babel and others (vs 10). And he continued to grow his kingdom (vs 11-12). Under his leadership they began to settle in this region, began to build a tower as a tribute to their strength and reputation on earth. This was quite self-serving b/c they were the only ones on earth at this time.

Nimrod is described as “the mighty hunter before the Lord.” This may not have been a positive trait. There are scholars who believe the term “hunter” is actually a hunter of people/warrior. If he was a hunter of men before the Lord it would demonstrate how deeply defiant his attitude was toward God. At the least we know that the people began to revere him for his skill (b/c of proverbial saying) and it is under his leadership that construction of the tower begins.

We say “well that great, they used human ingenuity and determination to build a city and a tower.” But building the city and tower was not the problem in itself. The problem for these post-flood people was an unquenchable sin—human pride. It also serves as evidence that the flood did not eradicate sin. Noah and his descendants have indwelling sin in their hearts, which brought God’s judgment once again.

Moses indicates that they “settled there” meaning they had set up their home, a permanent residence on this plain. Now, this was a defiant, rebellious act on the part of humanity.

God told Noah and his family after exiting the ark—Gen 9:1

This commandment of God was to fill up the earth, not settle down in 1 part of it. So there was once again rebellion against the commandment of God—in fact it was premeditative rebellion.

The account of the Tower of Babel gives us two important lessons for us to consider. 1) self-promotion invites defeat, 2) God’s purposes cannot be thwarted

1) Self-Promotion Invites Defeat

The earth at that time was premeditating their rebellion against the Lord God. Furthermore, it was a unified rebellion (under Nimrod). The sin of pride was so concentrated in their unity, they quickly overlooked God.

Vs 3 shows this premeditation and reveals that the fallen man is thoroughly depraved. His thinking, reasoning ability is seeking to rationalize the lust and sin of the heart. The group as a whole were going to do whatever it takes to promote their own glory.

“come let us…” this is sheer defiance against the commandment of God. Again, coming off the ark, God knowing the human heart was still sinful understood that unity among sinners is not a good thing. When the sinful human race is united, devastation results. There is coming a time when the whole world will once again be united under the leadership of one who seeks his own glory—Antichrist. Many similarities between Nimrod and Antichrist. Nimrod means “rebel” “lawless one” of 2 Thess. The word mighty is used to describe Nimrod 4 times—Antichrist will have the power of Satan 2 Thess.

Nimrod became mighty king whose kingdom began in Babel (Babylon), the same is true of Antichrist. Babylon is really never looked upon favorably in Scripture. Under Nebuchadnezzar, it would become the destroyer of Jerusalem/Judah (70 years).

Revelation 14:8 NASB95

8 And another angel, a second one, followed, saying, “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great, she who has made all the nations drink of the wine of the passion of her immorality.”

Revelation 17:4–5 NASB95

4 The woman was clothed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls, having in her hand a gold cup full of abominations and of the unclean things of her immorality, 5 and on her forehead a name was written, a mystery, “BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.”

Scripture traces all false religions (harlotry and abomination) and idolatry back to Babylon (Babel). Whenever a nation or any people begin to reject the knowledge of the true God, they will of consequence turn to idolatry. The sin most mentioned in Bible that brings God’s wrath (not murder, immorality, lying), the sin that most compels God’s wrath is the sin of idolatry—the failure to worship God alone. It seems that all other sins flow out of this failure—and it is the prime sin that brings about God’s wrath/judgment.

Babylon becomes the source of all false religion in the world—even today.

Henry Morris The Revelation Record explains: “This monstrous system of evolutionary, polytheistic, pantheistic, spiritistic, astrological idolatry has permeated practically every culture in the world in one form or another.” When God confused the language and scattered the people they took with them the beginnings of every false religious system that has been known to man.

Morris continues “The essential identity of the various gods and goddesses of Rome, Greece, India, Egypt, and other nations with the original pantheon of the Babylonians is well established. [In fact], Nimrod himself was apparently later deified as the chief god ('Merodach' or 'Marduk') of Babylon.”

The ungodly Nimrod understood that the people would need a powerful motivation to overcome the knowledge of God and this is what he accomplished in the building of a tower that would be a testament to their achievement of power apart from God. The uniting of sinners who have no interest but self-promotion is devastating.

So they began to make bricks (vs 3). The making of bricks would be used to show the toil and futility of human labor. These people made bricks, the Israelites made bricks while enslaved in Egypt. The tower of Babel becomes the epitome of human futility and wasted human effort.

Now the bricks were inferior to the stone that was plentiful in Palestine. Instead of using mortar they used tar which was a material that would swell up to the ground and come to the top of the Dead Sea. KJV “slime”—it wasn’t the asphalt/tar that we know of today which would act as a good sealant and binding agent. It was inferior to mortar that was found in the land of promise.

In the absence of proper building materials their hearts drove them into deeper rebellion seeking to find a way to gratify their lust. So under Nimrod’s leadership, they were promoting 2 things:

Promoting their own glory

Vs 4—“build for ourselves” this was not built for the Lord. When Noah stepped off the ark, he built an altar to the Lord. They were interested only in themselves and so they set out to build a city. “city” doesn’t mean a particularly large city (only 1000 people) but “a permanent settlement”. Scholars believe this city was most likely situated in what is modern day Iran even though Babylon would be a bit farther to the S. in Iraq.

Then they said let’s build a tower in this city. This was certainly the largest structure in the city—focal point. The term “tower” has the root which means “to magnify.” This was the greater sin—to magnify themselves and their glory above God’s.

Now this is fascinating b/c the type of towers that have been discovered in Mesopotamia are called Ziggurats. About 25 are known today. A ziggurat was a stepped tower that was square or rectangular in shape and stood several stories tall. All the Ziggurats that have been discovered were built as religious temples. Some have suggested that this is the beginning of astrology. And we know how astrology was a big thing in this region and eastward.

What it seems to indicate—not a group of people who wanted to try to build a tower into heaven and be closer to God, but as means of promoting their own glory and for the purpose of worshiping false gods. The people built lit “tower—with its head into the heavens.” The main temple in Babylon was called “the house with the raised head.” Babylon worship centered around the god Marduk—king/bull of the sun/heavens (see what the people thought of Nimrod?).

Building the temple is clearly motivated by religious perversion. Not a desire to worship God but false gods which soon become prevalent after flood—sin not eradicated.

Archaeological discoveries in this region have proven the accuracy of the Bible’s chronology after the flood. Archaeologists believe the time of Babylon was 23rd-6th century B.C. This is precisely the time when the tower of Babel is erected—Peleg is born in 2247 B.C.

Promoting their own Greatness

Let us make a name--“for us” that would prevent their scattering.

The issue for Noah’s descendants was pride. I’m curious whatever happened to Noah—he lives 250 years after Babel but there is no rigtheous presence recorded in Scripture. Before the flood he preached righteousness. After the flood, no doubt he preached righteousness but apparently that message fell on deaf ears. A desire for glory is always a barrier to belief/righteousness.

John 5:44 NASB95

44 “How can you believe, when you receive glory from one another and you do not seek the glory that is from the one and only God?

Seeking man’s glory/praise hinders belief/salvation.

Reminded of Nebu—Dan 4:20-22, 30-31

Self-promotion invites defeat. Only God makes a name for Himself.

Isaiah 63:11–14 NASB95

11 Then His people remembered the days of old, of Moses. Where is He who brought them up out of the sea with the shepherds of His flock? Where is He who put His Holy Spirit in the midst of them, 12 Who caused His glorious arm to go at the right hand of Moses, Who divided the waters before them to make for Himself an everlasting name, 13 Who led them through the depths? Like the horse in the wilderness, they did not stumble; 14 As the cattle which go down into the valley, The Spirit of the Lord gave them rest. So You led Your people, To make for Yourself a glorious name.

Nehemiah 9:10 NASB95

10 “Then You performed signs and wonders against Pharaoh, Against all his servants and all the people of his land; For You knew that they acted arrogantly toward them, And made a name for Yourself as it is this day.

The people were fearful—they recognized God’s commandment, they were defiant toward it, and decided a city and tower was the only way to avoid being scattered. Rather than having a proper fear of God, they feared the uncertainty of following in obedience. But they should have recognized that obedience always brings blessing. God blessed Noah after the flood. He blessed Adam and Eve and they were fruitful.

They were distracted by self-promotion. This is a constant temptation for us as well.

Proverbs 27:2 NASB95

2 Let another praise you, and not your own mouth; A stranger, and not your own lips.

Don’t be the person who seeks to draw attention to yourself. Don’t be the one to praise yourself—let another person do that.

2) God’s Purposes Cannot Be Hindered

We now see the building of the tower from God’s perspective. It was tiny, puny, insignificant in view of the universe. So much that God has to stoop down to see what man has created.

Nothing is hidden from God’s sight.

Psalm 33:13 NASB95

13 The Lord looks from heaven; He sees all the sons of men;

Proverbs 15:3 NASB95

3 The eyes of the Lord are in every place, Watching the evil and the good.

Hebrews 4:13 NASB95

13 And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do.

These people had forgotten the greatness of God. They had forgotten Him as creator, sustainer, provider, sovereign.

The Lord recognized their unity and how building a city and a tower and making a name for themselves shows the progressive transgressions of the human heart which would increase if God did not intervene.

There is a lesson to learn here: man cannot restrain his own sin—“nothing which they purpose…” left to himself, the sinful nature will walk farther away from the holy God.

Notice what the Lord does—vs 7 “come let us…” using man’s words to set His superiority over His creation(2x the people said “come let us...”. Man says “let us”; God says “let us” and He does it.

Who is God speaking to (us)? Not the angels. But this is the divine council of the triune God—Father, Son, HS.

Let us confuse—Heb balah--a word that is itself unintelligible. It means to make a noise—that’s what is sounds like.

Moses comments in vs 9—here is called “Babel” b/c of confusion (lit the gate of God). Babylon will stay the historic center of confusion until the Lord reigns on earth. In the future, Antichrist will rule from Babylon and this city will again become the center of man’s rebellion against his Creator.

The result of the confusing of languages—“they may not understand” That was the problem. They all understood each other, understood the words they spoke, the meanings. Not so after Babel.

The Lord confused—then He scattered. Some have thought they realized they couldn’t talk to one another and decided to go off in different directions. I think maybe this is a case where God directly intervened and scattered the people according to their languages—across the face of the earth. Same thing happens in the NT--Philip. The HS snatched Philip so the Ethiopian eunuch no longer saw him and Philip found himself in Azotus and kept on preaching—Acts 8:39-40.

I think what we may have here is instantaneous, supernatural, miraculous scattering of the different families across the earth. God moved them. He didn’t expect them to move themselves. He carried them to a different location.

God moved them so the project went unfinished. God will always accomplish His purposes. He told man to fill the earth, man in his rebellion said no we’ll stay here—God says no you won’t.

Job 42:2 NASB95

2 “I know that You can do all things, And that no purpose of Yours can be thwarted.

Proverbs 19:21 NASB95

21 Many plans are in a man’s heart, But the counsel of the Lord will stand.

Isaiah 14:27 NASB95

27 “For the Lord of hosts has planned, and who can frustrate it? And as for His stretched-out hand, who can turn it back?”

Isaiah 46:10 NASB95

10 Declaring the end from the beginning, And from ancient times things which have not been done, Saying, ‘My purpose will be established, And I will accomplish all My good pleasure’;

Sinful man cannot remain united b/c there is no personal restraint on his sin or his rebellion. Man will always walk away from God’s purposes b/c he is fallen.

Under the Antichrist, man will once again unite in his rebellion against the Lord and as all hell breaks loose, he will once again see the sovereignty of God as judgment falls.

Under Christ, we experience unity God’s way. So the church is united b/c of regeneration and HS who indwells every believer. Under Christ, all creation will unite in the Mill Kingdom to the glory of God.

Self promotion brings defeat, but seeking God’s glory and His purposes result in blessings.