Take a moment and think about some of the world’s tallest and grandest buildings. Visualizing these structures will give you a clearer perspective on the builders described in Genesis 11 in the context of our modern era.
Now the whole earth had one language and the same words. And as they migrated from the east, they came upon a plain in the land of Shinar and settled there.
And they said to one another, “Come, let us make bricks and fire them thoroughly.” And they had brick for stone and bitumen for mortar.
Then they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city and a tower with its top in the heavens, and let us make a name for ourselves; otherwise we shall be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth” (Genesis 11:1-4).
The builders’ speech in Shinar clearly reveals their intentions, as seen in their repeated use of the phrase “let us.”
The words of the builders reminded me of the king of Babylon and God’s taunt against him. Consider how often the king, in his pride, declared, “I will.”
You said to yourself,
“I will ascend to heaven;
I will raise my throne
above the stars of God;
I will sit on the mount of assembly
on the heights of Zaphon;
I will ascend to the tops of the clouds;
I will make myself like the Most High.”
But you are brought down to Sheol,
to the depths of the Pit. (Isaiah 14:13-15)
The “let us” and “I will” intentions of humans reflect a commitment to live independently of God.
- They resist God’s command to multiply and fill the earth by building a city and remaining in one place.
- They seek security in human power instead of trusting a loving and powerful God’s protection.
- Rather than giving God the honor He is due, they seek to make a name for themselves.
Before we continue, we should consider our own situation in the world. How does our behavior mirror that of the people who tried to build a tower for protection and personal glory?
What do images of towering buildings, military equipment, luxury yachts, and lavish gatherings tell us about humanity in 2025?
God’s Evaluation
Even though they build the high tower, it is so far from the heavens that God must come down to see it.
The Lord came down to see the city and the tower, which mortals had built (Genesis 11:5).
God responded to the pretentious arrogance of the Babylonians with judgment.
I will rise up against them, says the Lord of hosts, and will cut off from Babylon name and remnant, offspring and posterity, says the Lord.
And I will make it a possession of the screech owl and pools of water, and I will sweep it with the broom of destruction, says the Lord of hosts (Isaiah 14:22-23).
In a similar fashion, He came down to address the pride and disobedience of the people in the land of Shinar.
And the Lord said, “Look, they are one people, and they have all one language, and this is only the beginning of what they will do; nothing that they propose to do will now be impossible for them.
Come, let us go down and confuse their language there, so that they will not understand one another’s speech.”
So the Lord scattered them abroad from there over the face of all the earth, and they left off building the city (Genesis 11:6-8).
There is always a cost to self-exaltation and rebellion against God.
We don’t study the Bible simply to learn history. We study it to find parallels with our own time.
When we examine the self-assertiveness of the Tower of Babel builders or the king of Babylon, we see how God resists arrogance, pride, and blatant disobedience.
Please join me in praying that humanity will return to God with humility and reverence. May we live in a relationship with Him, humbly listening for His guidance and following it.
Our world would be better, and God’s judgment might be averted.
A Name of Shame
The builders of the tower wanted to construct something that would bring great honor to their name. Instead, what they received was a name of shame.
Therefore it was 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).
The Tower of Babel and the king of Babylon teach us a crucial lesson: the last thing we should ever do is be arrogant before God.
Let us strive for genuine humility.
The height of pride is believing we know better than God. The depth of humility is listening to God and following His direction.
YouTube Discussion
Rudy Ross, Bruce Kirby, and I discussed this passage on YouTube today.
Real Voices 