In His ImageSample

Day 36: The Destructive Power of Pride

Discover: Verses 1-4 of Genesis 11 are all about the motivations of God’s people to build what we refer to as the tower of Babel. At this point, the world is repopulating after the flood, and massive groups of people are beginning to migrate from East to West. During their travels, they settled in the plain of Shinar, in Babylon or modern-day Iraq. Rather than multiplying on the Earth, they deliberately disobey God by populating one area. Here, they start to build a mighty brick, stone, and mortar tower that will reach the heavens. They are determined to make a name for themselves - rebels against God’s command.

Learn: The primary issue in this passage is not that the people decide to make a tower. The problem lies within their motive. The people do not choose to build the tower out of necessity or a desire for a communal gathering place but rather to make a name for themselves. They are not doing all this work to bring glory to God, but themselves. Their motives are not in praising God, finding community with one another, or humility in themselves, but in pride, status, and self-preservation. They are driven by fear and the insecurity of insignificance. This tower was built to preserve their legacy through personal achievement and recognition.

Apply: We also suffer from a fear of being insignificant at times. Each person inherently desires to be a part of something bigger than themselves. The people have this desire in the plains of Shinar, but they go about finding their significance in the wrong way. They look internally at what they can create rather than looking to God, the Creator. We should find our purpose and significance not in the things we accomplish on this earth but in the power and presence of God in our lives. Have you ever experienced a fear of being insignificant? What do you look to in those times? Do you find comfort in knowing your significance is placed in Christ and what He’s done?