Genesis 11 – The Tower of Babel
As humans we are so quick to try and do everything ourselves. No matter how big or how small, we must complete the task independently – we pride ourselves on being able to say, look what I did. Sometimes this is a conscious decision of pride but often this is our way of participating in our busyness culture. A culture where we pride ourselves on our scheduals, our successes and achievements.
Reading this chapter, I wonder how and why these people missed God’s simple call and instructions. Were they so caught up on being in they missed God’s purpose for them? Were they so prideful they actually thought they could build all the way to God, like they claimed? All God called them to do, was to be fruitful, multiply and fill the earth. It sounds like a good thing! Yet they decided they weren’t going to be called to do that and chose to live they way they wanted to instead.
This reminds me of a quote by Elizabeth Elliot, which questions if we spend too much time thinking about if we have been called, when perhaps we should be looking to see if we haven’t been called. So often we use being called as a scapegoat for not doing what we don’t want to do. Instead, she challenges us that we have all been called, like those in this passage. While our calling looks different now, (think Great Commission – spread the Gospel to all nations, love others etc) than it did back then, but the fact remains, we are all called.
So if we are all called to follow God, what are we waiting for? Are we planning on directly trying to challenge God like these people did? Or are we lost and waiting for direction? Either way, if we are looking for a way out, you will always find one, God may bring you back, like He has done countless times through out history or you may miss out and just get the consequences. But if you are serious about going forward, the good news is all you have to do is take the next step. No matter how small, the important thing is to keep moving towards Jesus and He will guide the rest.
♡
Musings by Tee 