Genesis 11:1–10 NIV

Now the whole world had one language and a common speech. As people moved eastward, they found a plain in Shinar and settled there. They said to each other, “Come, let’s make bricks and bake them thoroughly.” They used brick instead of stone, and tar for mortar. 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.” But the Lord came down to see the city and the tower the people were building. 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. Come, let us go down and confuse their language so they will not understand each other.” So the Lord scattered them from there over all the earth, and they stopped building the city. 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. This is the account of Shem’s family line. Two years after the flood, when Shem was 100 years old, he became the father of Arphaxad.

A Godly Guide to Building the Tower of Technology.

Introduction: Is it possible for technology to grow too quickly? Growing too quickly leads to it being used in ways it was not anticipated. January 1, 1983 was a day that changed your life forever. Do you know what it is the birthday of? It is the birthday of the internet. This is the day the first internet protocol (TCP) was used.

When it was created the designers assumed that all the networks would be trusted, safe and secure. And then it started to explode quickly. Today there are over 7 billion internet connected devices. That is astounding considering that there are only 7.5 billion people on the planet.

Yet, with the uncontrolled growth, today we struggle with this technology. Security and privacy are ongoing issues. Oh how this gift of technology grew! And it seems that the godly use of technology is closely followed by a sinful misuse of this gift.

January 1, 1983 the network protocol used today was first used.

Assumed the networks would be trusted, so security was not a top priority.

Then it started to explode.

Over 7 billion internet connected devices on the planet

Over 7.53 billion people on the planet

Now, security and privacy are really big concerns

A godly use of technology is accompanied by a misuse of technology.

Background: Just before our lesson, God saw how wicked the earth had become so with a sorrow filled heart he decided to send the flood. It destroyed all terrestrial life on the earth except for 8 souls on the ark, with all the animals that made it onto the ark. What a loss! When the water finally went down and Noah and his family came out God’s plan was clear. Spread out and fill the earth. And so, as their families grew they started to spread North, East, South and West. It seemed as though God had curbed the wickedness for a while. His promise to send a Savior seemed more secure.

Yet, With a new technology on the horizon, this plan was in jeopardy. What would mean for God’s promise to send a Savior through a man named Shem and his family?

To use technology to gather with God’s people.

In we learn...

Genesis 11:2 NIV

As people moved eastward, they found a plain in Shinar and settled there.

The people were starting to congregate in one place. After all it would have been pretty easy to do so. There were family connections and everyone spoke the same language. And yet, this was in direct opposition to what God had told Noah, and his sons, to do. So, what was going on?

In the next verse () we learn...

Genesis 11:3 NIV

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

They had a new advancement in technology that would allow them to build their cities and towers stronger and higher. As people look back at the ancient structures that exist today like the pyramids in Egypt, and more recently the great wall of China, it becomes extremely clear that these engineering marvels are amazing! They have stood the test of time. The technology in our lesson this morning seemed to have the same promises.

They discovered a new technology (3)

They discovered a new technology (3)

And so, being gathered in one place, having the ability to communicate clearly with one another, and with this new technology, the people said ()...

Bigger and better was not an option.

Genesis 11:4 NIV

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.”

In what ways were they sinning against God? As this ancient technology took root and promised bigger and better things, this group did not slow down to ask the question, “Will this give glory to God?” Had they forgotten what God told Noah and his sons in ...

Genesis 9:1 NIV

Then God blessed Noah and his sons, saying to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number and fill the earth.

They were aware of this command. Were they simply ignoring it? Did they see this advice as something from a bygone error before technology took over? In a subtle way we can ask the question, “Did this tower of technology” take precedence over God?

They defied God’s commands by gathering(4)

- Go and fill

Repeated

They wanted God’s glory for themselves (4)

What would a modern day example of this look like? What about adopting a new technology platform (beta tester) and only later asking the question, “Is this a useful tool? Is it helping me?” Clinical studies show that in many cases social media sites amplify what is going on in the home. If someone has a positive outlook on life then social media can boost their self confidence. If a person feels lonely and a little depressed then social media can amplify those feelings as well. In addition to amplifying what is going on in our hearts and minds, how often doesn’t FOMO become the driving factor. That is the Fear Of Missing Out.

Friends, does God’s gift of technology serve you or does it enslave you as an idol usually does? Whether it’s the somewhat recent 60-minutes segment on ‘Brain Hacking’ where a software developer warns us about the potential addictive nature of our smartphones or one of the many articles that follow suite, the warning is still the same. Be careful that Technology does not turn from a servant (a tool) into your slave master. After all, idols make terrible gods- They ask for everything and give nothing.

Friends, Jesus used his gifts of technology and language perfectly for you. He not only gives us these gifts but he is the only one who used them perfectly, as intended. He preached the gospel, His Word, to people in their own language. In Mark 1:38 he told his disciples...

Mark 1:38 NIV

Jesus replied, “Let us go somewhere else—to the nearby villages—so I can preach there also. That is why I have come.”

Your Savior even used the technology of the cross to offer up his life for your sins, including yours sins of misusing this gift of technology. Jesus made sure his plan was complete. Your sins are forgiven. You are at peace with God. Now, after gathering around God’s Word to hear this good new God encourages us ...

To use technology to go out with the Gospel.

In God responded to their use of technology...

Genesis 11:5–7 NIV

But the Lord came down to see the city and the tower the people were building. 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. Come, let us go down and confuse their language so they will not understand each other.”

There is such a wonderful contrast here. Humans great a great wonder that barely catches God’s attention. It’s easy to picture God getting his magnifying glass out and bending down to look for and investigate this project. Why did God get involved in the building of the Tower of Babel? Wouldn’t he be proud of their accomplishment? In God gives us some insight into why he got involved here...

Genesis 6:5 NIV

The Lord saw how great the wickedness of the human race had become on the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of the human heart was only evil all the time.

This technology had the great potential to take the people back to the same state before the flood. This technology had the potential to put God’s promise to send a Savior through the line of Shem in jeopardy. And so, motivated by love for people, God acted and confused the languages of the world. The building project stopped and people scattered.

God came down to see what was going on (5)

God summarized their potential for evil as one nation (6)

Throughout history, God got involved many times to keep his promise safe.

God had a plan to keep his plan on track (7)

As your spend time with your God in his Word what examples come to mind?

God gives us the end result of his visit (9)

One example in the next chapter of Genesis is where God appears to Abram and tells him his plan. He told him that was going to use him in his plan. And so God continued to be closely connected with his people, all the way to the moment he showed you the great extent of his love on the cross.

Friends, we still feel the effects of what God did at the Tower of Babel today. Even with all our technologies, we still struggle to communicate with different languages and cultures. And how this mis-communication still leads to divisions today.

Law: got involved many times to keep his plan on track.

And yet, with all these challenges God gives us a godly Guide to build and use the Tower of Technology. We can use social media (facebook, twitter, instagram) to connect and encourage one another. If you are not connected with #mycrownoflife on social media, please do so today. We are even about to use God’s gift of technology to start recording our sermons.

Gospel: He not only got involved by did it all.

If this is a gift that you are comfortable using, then use it with this principle in mind. In God encourages us...

Colossians 3:17 NIV

And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

We can use this gift not only to gather around God’s word but to scatter and preach the gospel. Amen.

App: People still struggle with the fallout of Babel today.

Miscommunication

Divisions

App: How can we use technology as a servant instead of being turned into slaves? God gives us a Godly Guid to Building a Tower of Technology.

- Whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.

It’s a tool to proclaim the Gospel