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The Tower of Babel. Gen. 11:1-9. “And God blessed Noah and his sons, and said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth.” Gen. 9:1. Gen. 11:1 ¶ And the whole earth was of one language, and of one speech.
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The Tower of Babel Gen. 11:1-9
“And God blessed Noah and his sons, and said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth.” Gen. 9:1
Gen. 11:1 ¶ And the whole earth was of one language, and of one speech.
“And it came to pass, as they journeyed from the east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar; and they dwelt there.” Gen. 11:2
“Then they said to one another, "Come, let us make bricks and bake them thoroughly." They had brick for stone, and they had asphalt for mortar.” Gen.11:3 NKJV
“And they said, 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.” Gen. 11:4
5. But the LORD came down to see the city and the tower which the sons of men had built. 6. And the LORD said, "Indeed the people are one and they all have one language, and this is what they begin to do; now nothing that they propose to do will be withheld from them.” Gen. 11:5-6
“Come, let Us go down and there confuse their language, that they may not understand one another's speech." Gen. 11:7
“So the LORD scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth: and they left off to build the city.” Gen. 11:8
“Therefore its name is called Babel, because there the LORD confused the language of all the earth; and from there the LORD scattered them abroad over the face of all the earth.” Genesis 11:9
Did this Really happen ?
The Skeptics • Deny that this is actual history • “nonsensical” legend = infidel • “Child-like” “story-answer” = Bowie • “symbolism” - way of explaining tongues
Reasons for Believing Tongues can be traced to a common source: Max F. Muller - book “Science of Language” “We have examined all possible forms of language, …the admission of one common origin of human speech?” Sir William Jones - speaking of Sanskrit “…believing them to have sprung from some common source which no longer exists”
Reasons for Believing Journalists using computers Linguistic scientists - compare languages May be a mother tongue - “proto-world” “Maybe the Bible is right, and there really was a Tower of Babel. Or at least, maybe there really was once a single human language,…”
Lessons Problem of Sin “For all have sinned” Romans 3:23 Sin is the constant problem of man “But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.” Heb. 13:16
Lessons God’s will is to be obeyed regardless • Why they didn’t want to separate? • Loved families • Wanted to be a great people • Wanted the easy life • Make a name for themselves • “He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him.” Hebrews 5:9
Lessons Problem of Pride • People became very confident • Nothing they could not do • Wanted to make a name for themselves • Maybe God would not separate them • Romans 12:3 “….not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think…..”
Lessons Sin Off Limits “Ought we to do it?” Col. 3:17 “And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.” God’s plans will not be defeated !
Lessons No Society can undo God’s will Many have tried Where are those societies now? A society that opposes God is not a society that will exist for long. Daniel 4:34-35 Nebuchadnezzar “and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven,…”
Lessons God’s Punishments are Just • Punished for what they would not do. • Changed their language • Dispersed the people • This is what God wanted all along. • “Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?” Gen. 18:25
Lessons Good Communication is the Key to Goals • True in every relationship • Marriage • Family • Parenting • Workplace • Church • “If he hears you, you have gained your brother.” Matthew 18:15
Men’s projects are small compared to God Lessons Was God unaware of what they were doing? No! He knew. Moses was using satire ! “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.” Psalms 127:1
Tower of Babel • History • Languages • Lessons Scatter Over the Earth
“And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” Mark16:15 Persecution “Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word.” Acts 8:4
The Tower of Babel Gen. 11:1-9
Sermon by Arthur Pigman Evans Church of Christ 515 Gibbs Road Evans, Ga. 30809 706-855-1249 arthurpigman@bellsouth.net www.evansgachurchofchrist.org Sunday Morning October 7, 2012