MAN VERSUS GOD

Genesis 11:1–9 NKJV

1 Now the whole earth had one language and 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 Then they said to one another, “Come, let us make bricks and bake them thoroughly.” They had brick for stone, and they had asphalt for mortar. 4 And they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city, and a tower whose top is in the heavens; let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be scattered abroad over the face of the whole earth.” 5 But the Lord came down to see the city and the tower which the sons of men had built. 6 And the Lord said, “Indeed the people are one and they all have one language, and this is what they begin to do; now nothing that they propose to do will be withheld from them. 7 Come, let Us go down and there confuse their language, that they may not understand one another’s speech.” 8 So the Lord scattered them abroad from there over the face of all the earth, and they ceased building the city. 9 Therefore its name is called Babel, because there the Lord confused the language of all the earth; and from there the Lord scattered them abroad over the face of all the earth.

INTRODUCTION:

INTRODUCTION:

1. In our previous studies we looked at the account of Noah...We focused on Noah’s faithfulness in building the the Ark and also the faith that enabled Noah to survive in God’s waiting room...

2. As a result of Noah’s faith in God and His promises, Noah and his family were saved while the rest of the world was destroyed in God’s just judgment.

3. When the flood was over, Noah presented an offering to the Lord...God was pleased and made a promise to Noah...

)...

Genesis 8:21 NKJV

21 And the Lord smelled a soothing aroma. Then the Lord said in His heart, “I will never again curse the ground for man’s sake, although the imagination of man’s heart is evil from his youth; nor will I again destroy every living thing as I have done.

4. And then God gave Noah (and us) a rainbow which was to always serve as a reminder of God’s promise.

But did you notice something in the words I read?

The flood is over...The ground has dried...But the problem remains...God still says that “the imagination of man’s heart is evil from his youth.”

He doesn’t say this in the past tense . . . it’s in the present tense...

This is our nature...As someone has said, we “aren’t sinners because we sin . . . we sin because we are sinners.”

NOTE: The idea that mankind is basically good or born innocent is something that is never supported in Scripture...

The bible declares that we come into this world as enemies of God.

Romans 5:10 NKJV

10 For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.

Colossians 1:21 NKJV

21 And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled

NOTE: We as people are naturally rebellious & opposed to God...and that is what we find in .

5. is the story of the Tower of Babel...It’s a story of man’s attempt to do their own thing & leave God out...but it ultimately fails.

Here’s why - When man leaves God out of the equation, eventually, it always fails.

Psalm 127:1 NKJV

1 Unless the Lord builds the house, They labor in vain who build it; Unless the Lord guards the city, The watchman stays awake in vain.

NOTE: It’s meaningless to do anything that God doesn’t ordain or approve b/c it will ultimately fail.

NOTE: It is meaningless to do anything that God doesn’t ordain or approve of b/c it will ultimately fail.

Only what we do for God will last...Everything else will be destroyed.

10. So tonight, as we study the Tower of Babel...there are important lessons for us to take away...But first, I want to give you some background information.

1) THE FOUNDER OF BABEL

1. It’s clear from the biblical record that the human founder of this city was Nimrod, the son of Cush, who was one of the sons of Ham.

Genesis 10:6–12 NKJV

6 The sons of Ham were Cush, Mizraim, Put, and Canaan. 7 The sons of Cush were Seba, Havilah, Sabtah, Raamah, and Sabtechah; and the sons of Raamah were Sheba and Dedan. 8 Cush begot Nimrod; he began to be a mighty one on the earth. 9 He was a mighty hunter before the Lord; therefore it is said, “Like Nimrod the mighty hunter before the Lord.” 10 And the beginning of his kingdom was Babel, Erech, Accad, and Calneh, in the land of Shinar. 11 From that land he went to Assyria and built Nineveh, Rehoboth Ir, Calah, 12 and Resen between Nineveh and Calah (that is the principal city).

2. The Scriptures don’t tell us a lot about Nimrod—and it’s highly speculative to be too elaborate in our description based on tradition—but what the biblical record gives us is significant and informative.

The Scriptures don’t tell us a lot about Nimrod—and it’s highly speculative to be too elaborate in our description based on tradition—but what the biblical record gives us is significant and informative.

A. First, we have his name.

“Nimrod” means “the rebel.”

Now, that by itself is pretty enlightening!

Whatever he did, whatever other characteristics he may have had or exploits he may have performed, his name tells us a lot.

He was one who had a problem with authority.

Perhaps this first manifested itself in the home.

We can imagine one who was characterized by rebellion would have a problem with parents who told him what to do.

Or maybe he was named “rebel” because this was the type of son that Cush desired to raise—one that would rebel against social and religious conventions, one that would refuse to do the right thing.

Perhaps Cush desired to raise a son who would oppose the way that things were by opposing the One who made them “as they were.”

Perhaps he resented the curse placed upon his brother…So, he planned to raise a son that would throw off this divine judgement.

Maybe, he was thinking something along these lines, “My brother and his descendants to be ‘slaves of slaves’? Never!” And so perhaps Cush sought to raise a son that would change the family “destiny.”

And he raised a son to rebel against God’s Word.

B. Second, is what the bible says about the nature or characteristic of this rebel.

No less than three times in two verses (along with once in ) he is characterized as “a mighty one,” “a mighty hunter” and “the mighty hunter.”

In , we read that Nimrod “began to be mighty upon the earth.”

This phrase means that he was the first to be mighty upon the earth.

So, the question arises, “What kind of mighty man?” Good might, or bad might?

According to a word study, “mighty” here refers to one who behaves proudly...or one who is a tyrant...so, it’s not referring to a good might.

Therefore, we can summarize that Nimrod…the founder of Babel, was a rebellious, ruthless, mighty tyrant.

Now we can understand why the whole city of Babel was rebellious.

NOTE: Rebellion only breeds more rebellion.

If you build on the wrong foundation, you’re only asking for trouble...and that’s what took place in Babel.

They were building a city…but they were building a city for themselves & not God…which is what led to their downfall.

Notice that there’s no mention of God

2) MAN’S REBELLION (V 1-4)

Genesis 11:1–4 NKJV

1 Now the whole earth had one language and 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 Then they said to one another, “Come, let us make bricks and bake them thoroughly.” They had brick for stone, and they had asphalt for mortar. 4 And they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city, and a tower whose top is in the heavens; let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be scattered abroad over the face of the whole earth.”

1. Their rebellion is direct disobedience to God.

Genesis 9:1 NKJV

1 So God blessed Noah and his sons, and said to them: “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth.

2. God gave the command for Noah & his sons to multiply & replenish the earth...but now as Noah’s sons have migrated to Babel...they have found a habitable environment & began to settle down.

2. God gave the command for Noah & his sons to multiply & replenish the earth...but now as Noah’s sons & descendants have migrated to Babel...they have found a habitable environment & began to settle down.

3. There was nothing inherently wrong with building a city…but the problem was that these people eventually decided that “staying put” was more important than staying obedient.

A great civilization became more important than the Great Commission.

And this is precisely what we see in verse 4.

This verse clearly indicates that these people deliberately set out to disobey God’s clear command to repopulate the earth for His name’s sake.

Genesis 11:4 NKJV

4 And they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city, and a tower whose top is in the heavens; let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be scattered abroad over the face of the whole earth.”

4. This verse clearly indicates that these people deliberately set out to disobey God’s clear command to repopulate the earth for His name’s sake.

Rather than obeying the command to “go,” they chose rather to issue their own command: to “come.”

Rather than building a kingdom for God’s name, they chose to build an empire for their own name...And sadly, this behaviour continues to be repeated today.

5. Notice several things about this scene.

A. First, they said “come” when God said “go.”

They had their own agenda and it was opposed to God’s agenda.

They had a better idea…and I see a parallel here with the church today.

God says to us, “Go into all the world.”

And rather than do this, we build our “tower” and say to the world, “Come.”

But that’s not the Great Commission.

But that’s not the Great Commission.

We are to go to them—in the school, in the workplace, in the community—and reach them.

B. Second, notice that their idea of worship was misdirected.

It would appear that these “Babylonians” had embraced idolatry.

They believed that they could have a relationship with God through their own efforts.

It seems that they were building a tower to “get to God.”

They were attempting to build a structure whereby they could “get to God” their own way.

Though God had promised that He would never again send a worldwide flood, unbelief led these people to build a high enough tower to escape the water should another flood strike.

The tower was man’s attempt to domesticate God, so as to control Him.

I believe that they assumed that an edifice was the key to their relationship with God. They would build a structure whereby they could “get to God” their own way. And, sadly, this has been a common and sinful malady ever since. Though the tower was brought to naught, man has continued ever since to change the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and to four footed beasts, and creeping things ().

And even though the tower was brought to nothing...man has sought ever since Babel to reach God their own way.

And man has sought to do the same ever since, but God has continued to bring to naught “the best laid plans of men.”

Simply put, man has sought ever since Babel to reach God their own way. The tower was doubtless an attempt to domesticate God, so as to control Him. Man has sought to do the same ever since, but God has continued to bring to naught “the best laid plans of men.” The omnipresent God would not, and will not, allow Himself to be domesticated by a man-made edifice.

And man has sought to do the same ever since, but God has continued to bring to naught “the best laid plans of men.”

NOTE: The omnipresent God would not, and will not, allow Himself to be domesticated by a man-made edifice.

It’s true that, later in history, God gave specific instructions for the tabernacle and then for the temple to be built.

However, these buildings symbolized His presence - and they represented the gate of God—but they were never to be confused with God, or to replace God.

Rather, they were “tools” by which the Lord would teach His people about the true Gate of God, the Lord Jesus Christ.

They were “tools” that He used to teach His people about the true Gate of God, the Lord Jesus Christ.

NOTE: God can’t be contained by building.

1 Kings 8:27 NKJV

27 “But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold, heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain You. How much less this temple which I have built!

Jeremiah 23:24 NKJV

24 Can anyone hide himself in secret places, So I shall not see him?” says the Lord; “Do I not fill heaven and earth?” says the Lord.

God is everywhere & He can’t be contained…but man has always tried to make God fit their imagination & thinking.

And the only way to approach Him is to approach Him

Man has always tried to make God smaller than He is.

But God is too big to be put in box & shoved in a corner.

NOTE: By building the Tower of Babel, they were creating their own religion in hopes to please God…and control Him.

But any attempt that man makes to approach God on his own effort is doomed to failure.

C. Third, they were more consumed with making a name for themselves than spreading the glory of God’s name.

They had no desire for the Great Commandment (to love God supremely) and thus little regard for the Great Commission.

It became “all about them” rather than it being all about God...And, eventually, the nations became totally unconcerned about God.

This has been secular society’s characteristic ever since: self-importance, self-absorption and self-focus.

NOTE: At the heart of man’s rebellion is this desire to be known & recognized.

Man’s rebellion & disobedience is often motivated by pride & arrogance.

Pride causes us to look at ourselves as too important.

Someone once said, “Pride is the only disease known to man that makes everyone sick except the person who has it.”

NOTE: Are you consumed with making a name for yourself? Or are you concerned with lifting up the name of Jesus?

D. Fourth, they were united in their rebellion.

Genesis 11:5–6 NKJV

5 But the Lord came down to see the city and the tower which the sons of men had built. 6 And the Lord said, “Indeed the people are one and they all have one language, and this is what they begin to do; now nothing that they propose to do will be withheld from them.

These two verses show us the power of unity...even when it’s used for doing wrong.

These two verses show us the power of unity...even when it’s used for doing wrong.

According to what God says, they would have accomplished their task b/c of their unity.

NOTE: Why can the people of this world unite for things that totally contradict God’s Word...but Christians can’t seem to unite & stand together on biblical issues?

3) GOD’S RESPONSE (V 5-9)

Genesis 11:5–9 NKJV

5 But the Lord came down to see the city and the tower which the sons of men had built. 6 And the Lord said, “Indeed the people are one and they all have one language, and this is what they begin to do; now nothing that they propose to do will be withheld from them. 7 Come, let Us go down and there confuse their language, that they may not understand one another’s speech.” 8 So the Lord scattered them abroad from there over the face of all the earth, and they ceased building the city. 9 Therefore its name is called Babel, because there the Lord confused the language of all the earth; and from there the Lord scattered them abroad over the face of all the earth.

1. God saw man’s rebellion & He acted.

1. God saw man’s rebellion & He acted.

God had said that man was to multiply and fill the earth...And God’s will is always accomplished.

NOTE: God isn’t going to sit back & let man keep going in his rebellion forever.

God will deal with man’s rebellion & pride in His way & His time.

2. God came down & confused the people’s language so they couldn’t understand one.

And He scattered them abroad...so the building of the city stopped.

NOTE: God is in control…He is in charge.

Man may try to thwart God’s plan...but God’s purpose will always prevail.

Man can fight against God if he wants to...but God always wins.

CONCLUSION:

I want to close with three applications.

1. If you’re not growing in humility, you’re not growing as a Christian.

Since pride is the root sin of all sins, humility is the chief virtue of the Christian life.

Ever since the original temptation in the garden, Satan has been actively trying to get man to exalt himself against God.

It has flooded into the church in our day under the banner of building your self-esteem...But the Bible is clear that we all esteem ourselves too highly.

Even the person who goes around speaking poorly of himself is self-focused.

If you ask, How do I grow in humility? the biblical answer is: Get a clearer picture of the greatness of God in His holiness...and, get a more accurate view of the depth of your own sinfulness.

2. Take care how you build because God will inspect it.

Genesis 11:5 NKJV

5 But the Lord came down to see the city and the tower which the sons of men had built.

“The Lord came down to see the city and the tower which the sons of men had built” (11:5).

He inspected their work…and He will inspect our work as well.

He inspected their work. He will inspect our work as well. We had better build with that in view. I’m talking about the motive behind your service for the Lord. God looks on our hearts. He’s concerned about why you do what you do. Is it to gain the praise of men? Is it to meet your own needs? Or is it to honor and glorify Him? The question is not, What does your work look like from the outside? I’m sure the city and tower were the most impressive thing on the face of the earth in that day. There are many works for God in our day that seem quite impressive. The question is, What does God see?

So, we had better build with that in view.

I’m talking about the motive behind your service for the Lord.

God looks on our hearts...He’s concerned about why you do what you do.

Is it to gain the praise of men? Is it to meet your own needs? Or is it to honor and glorify Him?

The question isn’t, What does your work look like from the outside?

I’m sure the city and tower were the most impressive thing on the face of the earth in that day.

There are many works for God in our day that seem quite impressive.

The question is, What does God see?

3. Make sure that your hope for heaven is based only on God’s grace through the cross of Christ, not on anything in yourself.

Man’s religions always seek to reach God through human effort.

So, man can boast in his standing before God, because he had a part in it...But biblical Christianity says, “May it never be that I should boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world” ().

The cross strips us of our pride and puts all our hope in the merits of the Savior.

Discussion Questions

1. How can believers fight pride and grow in humility?

2. How can Christians know when it’s right to divide from professing Christians? How much impurity should we tolerate?

3. Should Christians aim for success in their jobs? How does humility fit in with striving for success?