Fully Devoted: The Fallনমুনা

The Tower of Babel and the Family of Abram

Sin smuggled itself through the flood and continued to twist, mangle, and distort the world. Sin had been so fully embraced by the human race that no amount of outside intervention could cure them. The world didn’t just need a fresh start, it needed a new heart—and that would eventually come through Jesus.

But until that day came, people continued to elevate themselves, oppress others, and try to manipulate God for their own good. 

In Genesis 11, we’re introduced to a group of people who are attempting to build 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” (Genesis 11:4 NIV).

The tower of Babel is being built in the land of Shinar, also known as Babylonia. This is the origin story for the empire of Babylon, one of the recurring villains that shows up throughout the Bible. Babylon is both a real place and a symbol for human civilization that sets itself up in opposition to the kingdom of God. 

Babylon symbolizes the place where God’s will is rejected and sin is celebrated. A place where status, wealth, and power are what matters most, and the least, the last, and the lost are used and abused. It’s a place where people will do anything and everything to elevate themselves, even if that leads to the oppression of others. 

Babylon is a picture of sin unrestrained. And Babylon is a grim reflection of what sin does to us. 

Sin escalates and infects. Through the flood, the world was given a fresh start, but it didn’t stick. 

So here we are with another group of people falling into the same pattern as the wicked generations that came before them—using for evil purposes the good gifts God has given them. The tower of Babel shows us communication and collaboration in the wrong direction. Instead of embracing partnership with God, the people wanted to elevate themselves over God.

Again, He wanted to rule with and through us, but we still wanted to rule over Him. What we really need is a new heart. A heart untainted by the stain of sin. A heart infused with the love of God. Which brings us to the next part of the story. 

After we read about God scattering the people of Babylon across the earth, we’re introduced to a genealogy that eventually brings us to a man named Abram. 

God tells Abram that He’s going to make him into a great nation, and that his descendants will be more numerous than the stars in the sky and the sand on the seashore. Through Abram, God will build a family—and that family will become a nation. Eventually, a Savior will be born into this nation through whom God’s redemptive plan to rescue humanity from sin and restore creation will be completed.

So, instead of sending another flood, God begins building a family. 

Today, through trusting in Jesus, we’re adopted into that family as sons and daughters. And through Jesus, the damage of the Fall is being undone—we’re being restored to our rightful place as partners with God.

Journaling Questions 

• What stands out to you most from the reading today? Pick a verse and write it in your journal.
• How have you seen sin distort something? Write an example of something good being used for evil. 
• Why do you think God decided to work out His plan for redemption through a family—a nation of people susceptible to the disease of sin? What does this show us about God? What does this show you about us?

Memory Verse

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8 NIV