Unity, Pride, and God's Plan

Lessons from the Tower of Babel

"Now the whole world had one language and a common speech”.

What happened to the unity of one language and common speech? Who caused it?

Men conversed with one another and said, "Come, let's make bricks and bake them thoroughly." God granted them the wisdom to do so. They also decided to construct a city for themselves, planning to build a tower. While all their plans seemed commendable, there were flaws:

• They aimed to erect a tower reaching the heavens, contrary to God's plan for mankind.
• They intended to construct a tower to elevate their own name.

God's plan for humanity was to "Be fruitful and increase in number: fill the earth and subdue it." (Gen.1:28). However, humans sought to reach heaven through their own efforts.

Your aspirations and unity in pursuing goals are praiseworthy. Yet, let not your desires aim to glorify your own name or compete with others. God disapproves of anything that fosters selfishness, pride, and jealousy.

When planning to achieve something in this world:

• Align it with God’s will.
• Let it bring pleasure to God and honour His name.

God foresaw the potential destruction if left unchecked, stating, "If as one people speaking the same language they have begun to do this, then nothing they plan to do will be impossible." Consequently:

• God confused their language, hindering their understanding.
• He scattered them across the face of the whole earth.

Our unity should never obstruct God’s plan in our lives. Always strategise to accomplish great things for the glory of His name, so that God will not confuse or scatter us. As stated in James 4:15, one should say, "If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that."

Prayer: Lord, we understand that we are created to inherit this world and bring glory to Your name until You come. Please do not view us as a family, relatives, or group planning in pride to establish our names in this world. We pray that You do not come down to confuse and scatter us as You did at Babel.