Taking God's Place

Introduction

God created us with a drive and desire to achieve. Someone has to teach us to not reach beyond the immediate. In our early years, we dream of what may be one day. We envision great things believing that given the opportunity we could do the impossible. In our teen years, we think of the future and think of what can be. The possibilities seem endless. Unless someone forces us to lower our vision, the horizon seems so far. And we are interested in so many things. The difficulty is learning to find a balance between our desire to achieve and still giving God the credit he deserves.

Our pride gets in the way of maintaining this balance. One of the things we have learned in these early chapters of Genesis is that the root of sin is found in our believing that we can be God. Whether we look at the story of the woman listening to the serpent; Cain with his brother Abel; or Noah and the flood; each story has the same underpinning—humans see themselves as God. We have the woman wanting to be like God; we have Cain with an attitude problem; we have Lamech who arrogantly boasts of his refusal to back down from anyone and we have the people surrounding Noah who turn their hearts to violence and evil.

Dissatisfied with God’s provision, there is the belief that something more; something better is to be had if God would just get out of the way. Such pride and arrogance leads to consequences which separate from God. Today we are going to look at Genesis 11 and the story of the city and tower that the people wanted to build. The point of building this monument was still the same—a desire to take the place of God. But the consequences lead to separation. May we learn from this episode so that we may find the balance to achieve and still give God the credit he deserves.

The Text

After the flood story comes another genealogy. Although we generally skip over these interludes, they fit the writing plan of Moses. One of the things that Moses seems to want to do is to highlight certain episodes by surrounding them with genealogies. This is the third time in the first 11 chapters of Genesis. In 6:1-8 we have a narrative about the state of mankind surrounded by genealogies in 5:32 and 6:9-10. The flood story of 6:11-9:17 is surrounded by genealogies. And the Tower of Babel story is surrounded by genealogies in 10:21-31 and 11:10-32. But the question remains, what is Moses trying to highlight by surrounding events with genealogies. We know chapter 10 is out of chronological order because there are different languages in chapter 10 and chapter 11 gives us the reason for these differences (see 10:5, 20, & 31).

It appears that Moses is trying to show us first of all that after the Flood God’s grace and judgment are still in effect. After the flood Noah and his children were told to multiple and fill the earth. Chapter 10 demonstrates God’s blessing upon Noah and his sons so that the earth is repopulated. However, if written after chapter 11, the tendency would have been to see the genealogy more negatively. Moses in chapter 10 wants to highlight the mercy of God. The genealogy is a list of all the nations of the earth and God’s blessing makes this possible. Chapter 11 then demonstrates how the earth will filled. It wasn’t by man’s will but the will of God brought about by his judgment.

The issue of the story is found in verse 4. The people want to “make a name for ourselves and not be scattered.” First, notice that God had already said in 9:1 that the earth was to be filled. His intent was not to have the people all in one place. Second, the pride of the people is driving their experiment. This is not about honoring God, this is about honoring the initiative and resourcefulness of the people. It is taking praise from God and giving it to people. God’s will is to be fulfilled. God confuses the language of the people and scatters them over the face of the whole earth. The plan of God is fulfilled.

Application

I want us to notice a couple of things from this text. First, sin is about trying to take God’s place. The desire to build a gigantic structure which was going to reach into the heavens they believed would result in a gigantic reputation. It isn’t about knowing God; it is about being known. It isn’t about filling the earth; it’s about staying in one spot. It isn’t about honoring God; it’s about being honored. Man tries to take God’s place. But we have the same struggle.

Do you dishonor your parents? Then you say, God’s authority is nothing. What I want to do is everything. Do you rely upon your own strength? Do you compliment yourself for your many good qualities? Do you boast in your own abilities as you compare yourself with others—with other wives other husbands other parents other workers other drivers on the freeway? Then you take credit for what God has given you as though you made that name for yourself.

Every time you are discontent—with your job, with your family, with your life—you ascend into heaven to throw God from his throne, saying “I would run things differently.” You have built a tower to heaven. You have become your own strength, your own Judge, your own God. This is the way of all people. We believe we know better than God what is needed. We shake our fist at God and let him know that we could do a better job. The consequence of such an action is separation. It happened with Adam and Eve; it happened with Cain; and it happens with these people in the plain of Shinar.

But second, let’s be impressed with who God really is. The people intend to build a tower that reaches into the heavens but the irony must not be lost. The text says that God “came down.” He is so high that their building does not even come close to the place of God. In their attempt to make a name for themselves, God confuses them. In verse 9 we are told the place is called Babel. My understanding is that the word there is really Babylon but the word is translated Babel because it sounds like the Hebrew word for confusion. But again the irony must not be lost. Babylon means ‘gate of God’ but instead of building that which would ascend to the gate of God they end up being confused. Instead of ascending to the heavens, they are scattered over the earth. All because this is the will of God.

We can go against God. He gives us that freedom. We can take his place. This is sin and he gives us that freedom. We can try to make a name for ourselves and God will allow us that privilege. But for all of our ambition and determination and abilities we will never be God. In these first 11 chapters one thing is highlighted—God is in charge. God’s mercy is greater than we can comprehend; his patience exceeds our understanding; his love is far deeper than we have ever experienced, but do not presume upon his mercy, patience, and love. If you take his place, the result will be separation and confusion. And everyone of us has tried to take God’s place. In fact, it is a constant struggle to find the balance to achieve and yet making sure that God receives the credit he deserves. Pride says we know better than God and pride keeps us from admitting our sin and asking for God to take his rightful place as Lord of our hearts.

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