[Great Verses] Determining verses for your life and humankindSample

Tragic monument to pride and fear

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.”

The Tower of Babel stands forever in our memory as a tragic monument to pride and fear. People band together to build a vast tower reaching into the heavens so that they can make a name for themselves.

Their pride is seen in their independence from God, their self-reliance, and their desire for fame. Their fear is seen in their building a tower lest they be scattered over the earth. Rather than trust a loving God to protect them, they give way to fear and trust in their own efforts alone for security.

God’s response is decisive. He confuses their speech and scatters them over the earth. Their potential for rebellion and wickedness is simply too great if they stay together. The tone of God’s response is not that of a rival’s jealousy, but of a father’s concern. For their sake, God takes radical measures. He does the same for you, too.

At Babel, people set out to make a name for themselves. But God is easily able to humble those who exalt themselves. Our calling is never to make a name, but to exalt a name. That name is Jesus. That is your mission: exalt Jesus. Lie low and exalt Jesus.