Tower of Babel

Brand Recognition

Just do it.

Think different.

It’s finger looking good.

I’m lovin’ it.

Just like a chocolate milkshake only crunchy.

I don’t need to even state the brand, because these brands have reached the recognition level that most other brands can only dream of.

Even better than this, is when a brand name becomes synonymous with the product. For those who like fancy words, this is called genericization.

Classic example is panadol. It’s the brand name, but most people are much more likely to ask for a panadol than they are for a paracetemol.

Hoover is another - it might not have the universal usage, but many would say Hoover to talk about a vacuum cleaner.

When a brand reaches such a level - whether it’s there slogan or logo meeting instant recognition, or the brand name being used to describe a product - they have a great advantage. People will much more likely use that brand.

Now I get it with these sort of brands. We live in a capitalist society. You’ve got to be noticed to make it.

It starts to become a problem, however, when we live our own personal lives in a way that tries to get noticed.

When we assess if something is worth doing, the highest priority is what is in it for us.

But it doesn’t even have to be a direct material benefit. We’ll often be happy with getting recognition from others for our efforts.

In fact, it can sometimes be tempting to surreptitiously time your good deed to maximize the amount of people who will see you. You know, clean the church when you know people are going to be there to see you. Weed the church garden when you know certain people are going to walk past so you get noticed.

Now, don’t get me wrong. There are times when it is just more convenient. If you’re cleaning the church, and others are there, you’re not necessarily doing wrong. I’m talking about when your motivation is to be seen by others.

We all want to feel that we matter. But it is so easy for that desire to become blown into a quest for our own significance.

And there is a huge amount of subtleties in all of this. You see, there can be a very fine line between working hard for the Lord and seeking your own glory. It is very easy to fool ourselves in to thinking we’re doing everything for God, when actually we’re filling our own ego.

It takes deep honest reflections. Where we really examine our own motivations. Asking questions like, how much do I value the opinions of others? Have I allowed the opinion of others to grow beyond what is healthy?

If someone else was getting more accolades for their work than me, how upset would I be?

Well, this morning we’re going to finish our series on Genesis 1-11, and we’re going to see things going right off track for humanity.

We’re going to see a story we’re it would have been easy to spin into a good story. People are planning a massive feat of engineering, and I’m sure it would have been easy for them to think they were honoring God.

So let’s explore this event…

Background

Last week, we looked at the big flood. After which, there was the big job of repopulating the earth.

Now, we actually have no idea how long there was between the flood and this story. For that matter, I would suggest that it’s not worth trying to place this in a precise point in history - it is a story that really happened, but the precise details are not important.

Interestingly, we can assume that chapter 11 comes before chapter 10. Genesis 10 reads like another genealogy, however a careful read of it shows it’s a bit different to other ones. You see, it’s not a linear genealogy. That is to say, it doesn’t just go down one line of people.

It actually reads a bit more like a linguistic map, showing all the different language groups. Now, I’m actually jumping to the end of the story, but given that we read it earlier, I guess it’s not too much of a spoiler.

You see, our story in chapter 11 starts with one common language, and ends with many languages. But in chapter 10, it assumes each clan has a different language. Take for example Gen 10:5 which ends with the words: “… [they] spread out into their territories by their clans within their nations, each with its own language”.

Now, while we’re on this, there are actually 70 clans noted in chapter 10, and it was commonly believed that there were 70 different language groups.

So, chapter 10 is really describing the result of what happens in chapter 11. It shouldn’t bother you that it’s out of order. Often things are presented in a certain order to highlight what is important.

The prideful people

Well, as we look at chapter 11, as just mentioned, we have the people all speaking one language. Now we often take a common language for granted, particular living in a place like here at Tanilba Bay, where it’s quite rare to hear people speaking something different.

But when I was up in PNG a month or so ago, I was reminded how tricky it can be when people speak other languages. The workshops that I ran for the pastors up there, all needed to be translated, and while we managed, it did provide limits.

Well, in verse 3, these people who are not hindered by any language barrier, make a grand plan to build something big.

Now, there is nothing wrong per se, in building a massive structure. The building itself is not the issue. In fact, as I alluded to earlier, you could almost argue that the building could stand as a reminder of the ingenuity of human kind.

They are using baked bricks instead of stone, so remembering the ancient times in which this was happening, this would have been some good new technology they were using.

It is verse 4 where we get our first understanding of what was going through their thinking at this point.

It says that they want to build a tower that reaches to the heavens. Now, let’s just clarify, the heavens in this sense just means the sky, so they’re effectively saying they want to build a tall tower that’s going to be able to be seen by others.

You see, verse 4 goes on. It says that they want to make a name for themselves.

But why? Well, it turns out they were scared. It doesn’t fully explain why, but they are fearful that if they don’t prove themselves, they’re going to be scattered over the face of the earth.

Hindsight is going to show that actually, they’re going to get scattered because of their attempt to make a name for themselves.

But this fear that they are feeling is actually an insight into the fear that we feel.

You see, the reason we feel we need to be noticed, is because we become afraid of what might happen if we’re not noticed. We might fade into insignificance. We might lose any meaningful opportunity.

But let’s call this for what it is. Because it’s really us saying - I don’t believe God can help me if I don’t prove my own worth. It boils down to not trusting in God.

You see, this is what is wrong with what is happening. The pride of this people is getting in the way of recognising God’s role in their lives.

That is what happens to us - when we allow pride to go unchecked in our lives, we lose sight of God’s role in our lives.

The disruption

Well, to this blatant disregard for God, God comes down.

He sees the city they are building. And he sees the centre piece of the city - the mighty tower.

Now, when it says he came down to see, that is not to say he was somehow ignorant before hand and needed a first hand view to check it out for himself. It’s using language that is easier for us to understand, so we get the picture that God is aware of what is happening.

Now the assessment that God makes is that it is the fact that they have one language that is enabling them to do this.

I’d suggests it’s perhaps hyperbole when God says that nothing would be impossible for them is they remained speaking the same language. But yet it’s perhaps a reminder of the power of what can happen when people work in a unified way.

So why did God choose to disrupt the language?

I want to suggest that it was a way of humbling the people.

When you’re with someone who doesn’t speak your language, it is a very humbling experience.

Imagine you’re in a foreign country in a village where no one speaks English and you don’t speak their language. You’re suddenly reduced to communication through miming and hand gestures. It doesn’t matter how smart you are, you’re going to feel helpless.

We realise our lack of ability to do anything meaningful.

But sometimes we need to be humbled.

Some times we think being humiliated is the worst thing that can happen to us.

But sometimes, it’s when we are humiliated that we actually realise our need of God.

This disruption that God has placed on the people as a result of building this tower, would have been really frustrating - in fact, it still is frustrating for us today - but you know what? In an interesting way, there is something beautiful about it as well.

You see, different languages brings out cultural diversity.

One of the reasons that the local Worimi are trying to bring back more of their language is because of the ties with their culture. Due to some terrible Government policies dating back many years now, they almost lost their language. This is not a reversal of the disruption, this is one culture trying to dominate over another.

A reversal

But interestingly, we do see a reversal of what happens in this story - but it is certainly not one culture trying to dominate over another.

We see the reversal come in Acts 2.

So let’s paint the picture here…

By the time we come to Acts 2, Jesus has been on earth and done the most extraordinary thing. He established a new kingdom unlike any kingdom of this earth, and then with his death and resurrection, he provided a way for us to be right before God.

The resurrection really is the most amazing thing ever, and it changed everything for the believer.

But then 40 days after the resurrection, Jesus says a final goodbye to his disciples before he descends into heaven.

At this point, they’re feeling a bit helpless.

Ten days after this, they are in Jerusalem on thee day of Pentecost. People are streaming into the city for this very important occasion. People who are now living in other nations where they speak other languages.

Now, I’m thinking the mood at this Jewish festival would have been a bit different from previous ones.

You see, I suspect everyone would have been feeling quite a bit of confusion surrounding what had happened at the previous festival - the Passover. Where the day before the Special Sabbath, Jesus had died on the cross.

Quite a number of people would likely have heard the rumours that he had risen from the dead, but confusion would have still reigned.

But something truly spectacular is about to happen.

While the disciples are together in a room with the crowds outside, the Holy Spirit descends on them - and it is at this point that we see the reversal of the curse of the Tower of Babel.

You see, all of the disciples start speaking other languages. And I’m not talking about some heavenly language, I’m talking about languages that can be understood by the people who are coming from other surrounding nations.

You see, the reversal of the curse is not forcing everybody onto the language of the dominate culture, but rather the Holy Spirit breaking down the barrier by supernatural means.

And this is where we are reminded that we still need God.

This reversal on the day of Pentecost was not because those people were clever and thought up a good strategy by themselves. It was rather something achieved through the Spirit. That is to say, they still were totally reliant on God.

Application

And that’s the thing about this whole story. We’re reminded that this is not about seeking our own glory.

When we try to seek our own glory, God will humble us. How he humbles us… well, that’s for him to decide.

I know in my own ministry I’ve been humbled many times.

They’ve been a number of times even here at Tanilba Bay where I’ve started to feel that I’m doing a pretty good job here. People are coming in - and so it must be my amazing abilities.

Now don’t get me wrong, I’d never verbalize it in such terms, but there’s part of me that is thinking it.

But as I start to visualize how big this church is going to grow, I get humbled.

One such time being the pandemic - that was humbling for everyone.

But it’s at such times that we’re reminded - I can only do this through God’s strength.

I’ve been pleased again to see some further church growth this year, and while I’m sorry to say I haven’t perfectly learnt my lesson, but I do know that if growth is going to occur, it won’t be because I’m some amazing pastor - it will be because God is doing it.

It’s the same for you - when you are humbled, allow it to be a reminder that you need God. Allow it to be a reminder that your pride is not going to get you where you think you’re going to go. You need God.

Conclusion

The world at the time of the tower of Babel seems in complete disarray. They’ve forgotten their need for God.

In their attempt to try and keep themselves together, they’ve actually just made themselves worse. They’ve become completely humbled.

If we think about it from their perspective at this point in the story, it would almost seem that they are without hope.

But there is always hope - because there is a God who absolutely loves the creation that he made - he loves it, even when the people he has made have done such a big job of bringing things down.

We’re not going to get into it this morning, but the hope begins to appear when we get to the end of Chapter 11, and we meet a character called Abram - a character that we better know as Abraham.

Because after they have been humbled - God is going to start blessing them in a whole new way.

So the lesson for us this morning, is first we need to recognise when we are seeking our own glory. This requires deep reflection because we are so good at fooling ourselves.

Where we are seeking our own glory, take the time to repent, and start focussing on God and his goodness.

But also don’t be surprised if you find yourself being humbled. But rather than fighting these humbling experiences, allow them to be a means in which we let God mould and shape us into something truly amazing.

We might have a tendency to seek our own glory, but it is when we seek God’s glory that we’ll find a much greater blessing.

Let me pray…