The Fight (Spiritual Battle) Part 5

We are continuing our series on Spiritual Battle by looking at the events surrounding the Tower of Babel. As we saw when we looked at the events of the flood, God wanted Noah’s descendants to multiply and spread out over the whole earth after the flood. Instead, they choose to do their own thing and gather at Babel where they build a city and a tower to make a name for themselves rather than obey and honor God.

Genesis 11:1-4 (ESV)
1 Now the whole earth had one language and the same words. 2 And as people migrated from the east, they found a plain in the land of Shinar and settled there. 3 And they said to one another, “Come, let us make bricks, and burn them thoroughly.” And they had brick for stone, and bitumen for mortar. 4 Then they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city and a tower with its top in the heavens, and let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be dispersed over the face of the whole earth.”

God’s response is captured in Genesis 11:5-9:

Genesis 11:5-9 (NIV)
5 But the LORD came down to see the city and the tower that the men 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.” 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.

Let Us Go Down

Who is the ‘us’ in verse 7? Something fascinating is going on. In Genesis Chapter 10 you can see that God divided humanity into 70 nations. Even though this happens in Genesis 10, the reason is what’s going on at the tower of Babel. People were once again rebelling against the will of God. God’s heart was for people to multiply and spread over the earth. People were choosing to do their own thing. In response to human rebellion, God separates humanity into groups (defined by language and geography) and gives them over to the elohim.

The elohim given this task eventually become corrupt and there will be consequences for their rebellion as well.

Psalm 82:1-8 (ESV)
1 God has taken his place in the divine council; in the midst of the gods he holds judgment: 2 “How long will you judge unjustly and show partiality to the wicked? Selah 3 Give justice to the weak and the fatherless; maintain the right of the afflicted and the destitute. 4 Rescue the weak and the needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked.” 5 They have neither knowledge nor understanding, they walk about in darkness; all the foundations of the earth are shaken. 6 I said, “You are gods, sons of the Most High, all of you; 7 nevertheless, like men you shall die, and fall like any prince.” 8 Arise, O God, judge the earth; for you shall inherit all the nations!

Fortunately, God does not give up on humanity. God still wanted a human family. So, He will start over again, this time with Israel.

God Keeps One Nation for Himself

Right after we learn about the tower of babel, we find out about Abraham.

Genesis 12:1-2 (NIV)
1 The LORD had said to Abram, “Leave your country, your people and your father’s household and go to the land I will show you. 2 “I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing.

This one nation, Israel, will ultimately be the way back for all nations.

Genesis 12:3 (NIV)
3 I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.”

And Jesus, as Israel’s representative, arrives on the scene to fulfill that promise.

Galatians 3:26-29 (NRSV)
26 for in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith. 27 As many of you as were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28 There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to the promise.

Steve Lawes is a church encourager and the lead pastor of Keys Vineyard Church.