Woven Day 6 Coming To Us

Genesis 6:5-8
Genesis 11:1-9
Psalm 36
Romans 5:8

Have you ever had that feeling of loneliness when everyone around you is speaking a language you don’t know? It may have been in a big city on the other side of the world, an airport, or in an ethnically diverse part of town. When I’ve found myself in these situations, my head feels all jumbled up, and I can’t quite think straight. The feeling can be frightening and leave you feeling unsafe and alone. What if I were to cry out? Would anyone know to help me? What am I to do if I am in trouble? I usually think to myself, “Why didn’t I pay better attention in foreign language classes in high school?!”

Imagine all of those feelings, but you aren’t in a foreign country or culture. You’re right at home in your own neighborhood. With no warning, friends you’ve known your whole life are speaking words that are unfamiliar. Just yesterday everyone was getting along and working together, but now everything is confusing and disjointed.

After the flood, the descendants of Noah “spread abroad on the earth” (Genesis 10:32). Because they were one family, they had one language and all spoke in a similar way. Once the ground dried up, God’s people began to settle and build a city. But this wouldn’t be just any city. This city would have a tower. But this wouldn’t just be any tower. This tower would reach to the heavens. God’s people wanted to make a name for themselves. They wanted to be something great. They didn’t want to be scattered across the earth. They thought they could build a tower high enough to get to God.

So the people got to work. With no language barrier and a lot of determination, they began building their tower. When God surveyed what His people were up to, He was impressed – but not in a good way. “And the Lord said, “Behold, they are one people, and they have all one language, and this is only the beginning of what they will do. And nothing that they propose to do will now be impossible for them.” (Genesis 11:6)”.

When I read this verse I think, “What’s so bad about that? These people are crushing it! Productivity city!” But God says nothing will be impossible for them. That means the good and the bad. Have you ever been asked the question, “What would you do if anything were possible?” Your answer is probably something selfish. It may not be a bad thing, but it’s most likely something that would add to your fame, security, pride, etc. In Genesis 6, “The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.” (Genesis 6:5).

God redeemed humanity by sending the flood, by restoring His people through Noah and his family. Perhaps He was seeing the warning signs he’d seen in His people before, but this time they were more powerful.
Can you imagine the destruction brought about by a people whose hearts are only evil and for who nothing is impossible?

In His steadfast love for His people, God intervened.
He knew that something must be done to keep His people from their own sinful destruction. Instead of a flood, He confused their speech and diverse languages were born.

Genesis 11:5 says, “And the Lord came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of man had built.”
While the people of Babel were trying to build a tower to heaven,
God came down to them.
Throughout the Old Testament,
we see God relentlessly pursue His people because of His great love for them.

Thousands of years later, God would come down to His people again.
He would send His Son, Jesus, to come to earth.
While we were still sinners,
while we were still building our own towers,
Christ died for us (Romans 5:8).

Like the people of Babel, will we try to make a name for ourselves?
Or will we find our identity and hope in Christ?
Let us rest in the truth that God loves us so much, that He comes to us!

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