Genesis 11:1-9

The Tower of Babel

Genesis 11:1–9 KJV

1 And the whole earth was of one language, and of one speech. 2 And it came to pass, as they journeyed from the east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar; and they dwelt there. 3 And they said one to another, Go to, let us make brick, and burn them throughly. And they had brick for stone, and slime had they for morter. 4 And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth. 5 And the LORD came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of men builded. 6 And the LORD said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do. 7 Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another’s speech. 8 So the LORD scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth: and they left off to build the city. 9 Therefore is the name of it called Babel; because the LORD did there confound the language of all the earth: and from thence did the LORD scatter them abroad upon the face of all the earth.

A Sinful Plan

Genesis 11:1–4 “1 And the whole earth was of one language, and of one speech. 2 And it came to pass, as they journeyed from the east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar; and they dwelt there. 3 And they said one to another, Go to, let us make brick, and burn them throughly. And they had brick for stone, and slime had they for morter. 4 And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth.”

Sins

Rebellion against God by building a tower

Rebellion: opposition to one in authority or dominance

Pride

Thought they were more important than they really were; more important than God

Jeremiah 15:16 “16 Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O LORD God of hosts.”

They wanted to make a name for themselves but we need to let God give a new name to us: Revelation 2:17 (NET 2nd ed.) 17 The one who has an ear had better hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers, I will give him some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, and on that stone will be written a new name that no one can understand except the one who receives it.’

Disobeying Gods command to go

God told them to go: Genesis 9:1 “1 And God blessed Noah and his sons, and said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth.”

3 reasons they deserved to be punished

crossed boundaries: Proverbs 29:6 “6 In the transgression of an evil man there is a snare: but the righteous doth sing and rejoice.”

they boasted in themselves not God Jeremiah 9:23–24 “23 Thus saith the LORD, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches: 24 But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD.”

disobeyed God’s command Deuteronomy 8:20 “20 As the nations which the LORD destroyeth before your face, so shall ye perish; because ye would not be obedient unto the voice of the LORD your God.”

God defeated their plan

Genesis 11:5–9 “5 And the LORD came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of men builded. 6 And the LORD said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do. 7 Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another’s speech. 8 So the LORD scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth: and they left off to build the city. 9 Therefore is the name of it called Babel; because the LORD did there confound the language of all the earth: and from thence did the LORD scatter them abroad upon the face of all the earth.”

God came down to see what was happening

God undoes what they tried to do using language

Genesis 11:3 “3 And they said one to another, Go to, let us make brick, and burn them throughly. And they had brick for stone, and slime had they for morter.”

Genesis 11:7 “7 Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another’s speech.”

From there to everywhere

Genesis 11:2 “2 And it came to pass, as they journeyed from the east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar; and they dwelt there.”

Genesis 11:8 “8 So the LORD scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth: and they left off to build the city.”

God gives grace to the humble but opposes the proud

Humble: not proud or haughty : not arrogant or assertive

Proud: having or displaying excessive self-esteem

Boys brag about what they can do but men point at what they have done!

James 4:6 “6 But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.”