When we sin and reject God’s counsel, he allows us to eat the fruit of our own way. Often he will bring about the exact scenario that we fear in a kind of poetic justice. We do well to remember the warning in Psalm 127: “Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain…” Psalm 127:1
In Genesis 11 we see humanity confronting its fear of mortality with great works of achievement — the tower of Babel:
“[4] And they said one to another, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth.” — Genesis 11:4
The context of Genesis 11 and the they speaking in this verse are the descendants of Noah’s three sons who have been multiplying in the land of Shinar. They see that they have strength in numbers and fear being scattered and tossed around again. They are not satisfied to dwell in tents like their fathers, Shem, Ham, and Japheth. They want a city like what Cain built for his son in Genesis 4:17, and a tower that reaches to heaven itself, not a little altar made of uncut stones as Noah taught them.
The Tower of Babel — Bruegel the Elder, Public Domain Image
The Lord saw this and sure enough said, “[7] Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another’s speech. [8] So the LORD scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth: and they left off to build the city. [9] Therefore is the name of it called Babel; because the LORD did there confound the language of all the earth: and from thence did the LORD scatter them abroad upon the face of all the earth.” — Genesis 11
This story should remind us that works never have and never will get us to heaven. Heaven is only obtained by God’s grace and mercy, never by our works — not in any dispensation.
Paul’s description of the Jews’ error could just as accurately describe the generation behind the tower of Babel: “For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God (Romans 10:3-4).”
The tower of Babel is a story of rebellion and stubborn pride. God will bring every work stemming from our corrupt nature to nothing.
Selah.
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