The patterns of Genesis 1-4 continue to be repeated in Genesis 10-11. As in Genesis 3-4 the response of humans to God is one of rebellion. In Genesis 9, God gives two instructions to Noah. The first had to do with keeping lifeblood sacred which meant a prohibition against murder (9:4-6). The second was a command to multiply and fill the earth (9:7). In Genesis 10:8, Nimrod is singled out for mention as a mighty warrior indicating that the world is already steeped in war and bloodshed. Then in chapter 11, mankind refuses to spread out as God commanded instead joining together in a gesture of open autonomy against God. The tower of Babel was probably a ziggurat, a stepped tower used in the ancient world as a kind of stairway to heaven. These were not so much built for people to reach heaven as for ‘the god’ to come down to earth and bless his people. These people were setting their own purpose and starting their own religion blatantly rejecting the one true God. The tower building incident becomes the paradigmatic expression of human pride and idolatry (see Isaiah 14:13-14). Significantly these people band together and build this tower in order to make a name for themselves. In Genesis 1, mankind is identified by their relationship to God as his children and image bearers. But here in Genesis 11 mankind rejects this identity in favour of one they build for themselves. This is the tragedy of the human condition and one we all too readily comply with as we invest in building our identity before others.
Reflect on what things you might be doing to build your own identity. Confess this to God and ask him to draw you into a greater sense of who you are in him.
Read Genesis 10-11
