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Verse of the Day and Devotion
So the Lord dispersed them from there over the face of all the earth, and they left off building the city. – Genesis 11:8 ESV
Devotion
People dominated by sinful nature are always trying to build kingdoms. That is, they’re always trying to bring everything they can into a single system of authority and power, one with them at the top. Why? There are a number of reasons:
First, they do it in order to satisfy the desires of their selfish ambition. The first sin was the sin of pride. Adam and Eve were not satisfied with their lot in life. They wanted more. They wanted to be like God Himself. Satan convinced them it was possible. (Genesis 3:1-6) Those dominated by selfish and prideful ambitions are still trying to pull it off; they’re still trying to take over as much as they can from God.
Second, they do it in order to gain control. In order to fulfill the desires of selfish ambition they need to bring everything they can into a single system of authority and power so they can control it. They concentrate the levers of power in themselves so that nothing can happen without their say-so. They also create hierarchies of authority hoping that those lower in the hierarchy will stifle their own selfish ambition long enough to serve a subservient role in the system.
Third, they do it in order to eliminate what they consider to be evil and to foster what they consider to be good. The selfishly ambitious think they know the difference, just like God. (Genesis 3:5) They create a single system of authority and power in order to force their often rigid, idealistic, and idiosyncratic views on as many people as they can.
The Lord, for His part, opposes the proud (James 4:6) and opposes their attempts to take over His place in the great scheme of things. That’s why He opposed the people who built the Tower of Babel. He confused their language and, as our verse for today tells us, dispersed them over the face of the earth.
What happened at Babel, however, was not the last time selfishly ambitious human beings have tried to take over. It happens all the time. Whether on a small scale or a large one, the selfishly ambitious keep trying.
And, sooner or later, God still scatters them and puts an end to their prideful and selfish ambitions. The second coming of Jesus Christ, however, will be the last time that He needs to do it. (Revelation 19:11-21)
