Interlocked Lesson 7

Fill the Earth

How many of you like SIFI movies?

I love the movie Interstellar.

It’s essentially a movie that the earth is dying and they need to find a new planet for humanity to live on.

As a result, Matthew Mchonnay’s character travels through space alot.

They see many different types of planets and climates to eventually find somewhere for man to live on.

Have you ever thought though that every sci-fi movie ever made that involves other planets couldn’t be filmed on other planets?

Man is limited to only film on the earth and then using whatever computer generated worlds they can create.

But that’s still pretty incredible that even before the age of computers, man made movies for 20-30 years showing places that are “Other worldly” but we all know that those places exist on our own planet.

The point here is that our planet is beautiful.

It’s huge.

It’s diverse in its landscape.

God gave it to us to explore and enjoy!

This is a good gift from God. We need to remember this before we dive into Genesis 11 today.

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In Genesis 9:1 God gave a command to fill the earth.

We’ve discussed this at length.

Finally the flood is over, now many will obey God… right?

Well… it didn’t take long.

When we get to Genesis 11:1-2 this is what we read.

Genesis 11:1-2 “1 Now the whole world had one language and a common speech. 2 As people moved eastward, they found a plain in Shinar and settled there.”

Why do you think God wanted man to spread out across the face of the earth?

I don’t know all the reasons.

But I have to think one reason is just because of how beautiful the earth is.

Just a minute ago we talked about the movies.

I think one reason God wanted man to spread across the earth is so that man would see the beauty that is in the world!

but man devised a plan that would prevent themselves from being scattered across the face of the earth… here we go.

Genesis 11:4 “4 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; otherwise we will be scattered over the face of the whole earth.””

God desired man to enjoy Him by enjoying all of His creation.

But God doesn’t force himself onto the heart of his creation.

He desires His creation to choose Him.

*SHOW GRAPHIC PAGE 16*

Look at this chart for a moment.

Consider this chart also in terms of where you live. Your home.

How many of you want your home to be open to anybody?

How many of you want anybody to come live on your property no matter who they are?

Why does that sound like a bad idea?

Isn’t it interesting, we are free in our homes to do what we want.

Yet, to gain that freedom, we live under pretty severe restrictions.

We own a small piece of the earth.

A tiny tiny portion of the earth.

Yet in that place we are free.

Now apply that to all of life.

If we live in a world without boundaries, without rules or limits to how far we go, that’s not ultimate freedom.

That’s chaos.

When we live under a certain set of rules that God gives us, it’s like owning property and living in that space.

That is free.

But man rejected God’s rules.

They built a city and a tower that reaches to the heavens.

They want everyone to stay together.

It’s understanding they might want to build a city to accomplish this purpose, but why did they build a tower?

Someone read Genesis 10:8-10 for me

Genesis 10:8-10 “8 Cush was the father of Nimrod, who became a mighty warrior on the earth. 9 He was a mighty hunter before the Lord; that is why it is said, “Like Nimrod, a mighty hunter before the Lord.” 10 The first centers of his kingdom were Babylon, Uruk, Akkad and Kalneh, in Shinar.”

Nimrod it says was the one who built Babel.

It’s possible one reason he wanted a tower was so it would withstand a flood if God were to flood the earth again.

Read Genesis 11:3 “3 They said to each other, “Come, let’s make bricks and bake them thoroughly.” They used brick instead of stone, and tar for mortar.”

What do you put on a roof to keep it from leaking?

TAR!

Baked bricks are also much more resistant to water.

When you combine the cooked bricks with the tar, it’s likely Nimrod desired to build a waterproof tower to save them from a flood if ever God flooded the earth again.

Why else might they build this tower?

Genesis 11:4 “4 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; otherwise we will be scattered over the face of the whole earth.””

This sentence might be one of the most blatantly rebellious verses in all of scripture.

What do you notice in these verses as being the direct opposite from what God commanded Adam and Eve and then to Noah after the flood?

Let us build ourselves a city...

Let’s do something for ourseleves

Let’s elevate our names.

So that we can make a name for ourselves

Selfish motives

Otherwise we will be scattered over the ace of the whole earth.

What had God commanded them to do?

Fill the earth and subdue it!

Their motivation to build the tower was in direct opposition to God’s command to fill the earth!

What does God do?

Genesis 11:5-7 “5 But the Lord came down to see the city and the tower the people were building. 6 The Lord said, “If as one people speaking the same language they have begun to do this, then nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them. 7 Come, let us go down and confuse their language so they will not understand each other.””

did God have to come down and look at Babel?

NO…

He could see what was going on.

But what does this communicate?

God is careful. He is thorough.

God leaves no stone unturned.

God desires our hearts. Not just our behavior.

God wants our motivation not just our action.

God knew t his must be stopped, so he destroyed what they thought made them powerful, their ability to stay together.

He confuses their language.

Read Genesis 11:8-9 “8 So the Lord scattered them from there over all the earth, and they stopped building the city. 9 That is why it was called Babel—because there the Lord confused the language of the whole world. From there the Lord scattered them over the face of the whole earth.”

Since man rebelled against the heart of God, God intervened and scattered them.

I often wonder if there have been other tower of babel moments in history.

It seems clear to me that one of the reasons man fails at the tower of babel is because of Pride.

They want to do the opposite of God’s direction so that they can make a name for themselves.

When I think about Space exploration and even exploring the ocean, my eyebrows always raise up a bit when there is failure.

Acts 17:26 “26 From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands.”

What are man’s boundaries?

Are we allowed to explore as long as God is glorified? But would God prevent exploration if it were to elevate the pride of man?

Here is what I know about God.

Acts 17:27 “27 God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us.”

God’s desire is for our hearts.

In scattering man all over the world, God desired that people would once again look to Him for salvation.

God desires reconciliation.

2 Samuel 14:14 “14 Like water spilled on the ground, which cannot be recovered, so we must die. But that is not what God desires; rather, he devises ways so that a banished person does not remain banished from him.”

We all have sin in us.

We cannot rid ourselves of our sin.

We cannot build a tower so tall

We cannot build a material so waterproof

We cannot save ourselves from the judgment of our sin.

God is our only salvation.

If we do not recognize God’s ability to save us, He is so loving that He will do whatever He has too to show us He’s willing to save us.

Sometimes that means things happen that are not comfortable to us.

It may even hurt for a time.

But remember, God desires your heart.

Do you desire His heart?

APPLICATION:

Are you seeking God?

Is He your desire?

Don’t spend a lifetime building a kingdom that will eventually be destroyed.

Jesus said Matthew 6:19-21 “19 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

Don’t build a life on your pride.

Build your life on what Jesus has done.