September 10th, 2021 – Friday Evening
“The LORD came down to see the city and the tower which the sons of men had built. The LORD said, ‘Behold, they are one people, and they all have the same language. And this is what they began to do, and now nothing which they purpose to do will be impossible for them. Come, let Us go down and there confuse their language, so that they will not understand one another’s speech.’ So the LORD scattered them abroad from there over the face of the whole earth; and they stopped building the city. Therefore its name was called Babel, because there the LORD confused the language of the whole earth; and from there the LORD scattered them abroad over the face of the whole earth.” ~Genesis 11:5-9
The epitome of humanity was on display for all the world to see (pun somewhat intended since it seems that this WAS all of humanity) at Babel. The natural attempt to “build a name” for ourselves, to protect ourselves, to seek our own way, and to rebel against the LORD has been rooted in our nature since the Fall. While we do not know the exact time frame of Babel (we might find a clue in Genesis 10:6-10), it is sad how quickly the human race forgot the judgment of the Flood and went back to pursuing the lusts of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life with their whole hearts.
The purpose of this devotional (and this passage) is not to wax long upon the wickedness of mankind, however; the focus is to be on the LORD. Instead of ignoring the disobedience and rebellion of mankind, the LORD saw to it that His plan and purpose was carried out. Instead of destroying the people for their rejection of His command to “fill the earth”, the LORD confused (to mingle, mix, confound) the language of the people – thereby creating more than one language – and caused them to disperse throughout the earth. The city which they had set out to build as a monument to mankind was left unfinished and the foolish pride of the nations was squelched before the LORD God Almighty.
I love it. Yet…I forget it on a consistent basis. Instead of remembering that the LORD is God, that there is no one like Him, and that there is no one who can stand in His way, I get side-tracked by my problems, my circumstances (or others’), the lusts of the flesh, and the weights of the world. Can I take the LORD’s job from Him? Can I really run from Him or rebel against His way and get away with it? Can anyone else? Of course the answer to all of these questions is no, but how often I foolishly (and usually unconsciously) try! The problem is that we (I assume we all struggle with this at times) are not confronting our flesh with the REALITY of who the LORD really is and what He really does.
I don’t know about you, but I’m tired of ending up frustrated, worn out, and discouraged at the end of a day filled with trouble (which can be every day). Let us throw off the ridiculously foolish and ignorant way of the past! Let us forget it and turn our gaze completely on the Sovereign LORD and able God who can confound the “wise”, who brings down the proud, and who gives His abundant grace to the humble. He is more than capable of handling all of the trouble of the world, carrying us through the deepest and darkest valleys, and of purifying our faith for His glory along the way. The question is: Will we trust Him to be God and be tender, pliable, and obedient or will we trust ourselves (which is idolatry) and be stubborn, proud, and rebellious?
Help me, O Father! I need You! Thank You that You are God and God alone!