relationships (Genesis 11:1-9) Finding Hope and Unity

(Genesis 11:1-9)  Now the whole earth used the same language and the same words. 2 It came about as they journeyed east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar and settled there. 3 They said to one another, “Come, let us make bricks and burn them thoroughly.” And they used brick for stone, and they used tar for mortar. 4 They said, “Come, let us build for ourselves a city, and a tower whose top will reach into heaven, and let us make for ourselves a name, otherwise we will be scattered abroad over the face of the whole earth.” 5 The Lord came down to see the city and the tower which the sons of men had built. 6 The Lord said, “Behold, they are one people, and they all have the same language. And this is what they began to do, and now nothing which they purpose to do will be impossible for them. 7 Come, let Us go down and there confuse their language, so that they will not understand one another’s speech.” 8 So the Lord scattered them abroad from there over the face of the whole earth; and they stopped building the city. 9 Therefore its name was called Babel, because there the Lord confused the language of the whole earth; and from there the Lord scattered them abroad over the face of the whole earth.

TODAY'S THOUGHTS AND MEDITATION:

The people were building an extravagant center with a tower to be worshiped by all, with the goal of getting the entire world's population to buy into their manmade religion.  Anyone can use terms like "hope" and "unite", but anything manmade is hopelessness, and comes with the real intentions to dominate and control people.  And because of sinful pride, people will fall into all sorts of manmade religions and cling to it because they believe that they can build, work or earn their way into heaven.

Interestingly, the things we fear - are the very things that we create.  The people did not want to be scattered, but in their efforts, not only were they scattered, they were given different languages!   Difficulty in communicating with each other makes it very difficult to get along with each other.  Even when we speak the same language, if we each have different goals, directions, ideas and ethics. we will struggle to get along.

It is so awesome that God, who is extremely patient and understanding, knows every single language!  He wants to communicate with each one of us, and He is there for us 24-7!  And only through Him will we find true hope - by accepting His free gift of salvation!  We do not have to work for it.  We cannot work for it!  It is not a religion.  It is all about having a close, personal relationship with a loving, heavenly Father.  And in Him we have an everlasting union.  And for all His children, as we all get closer to God, we will all get closer to each other in true unity.