Human Effort

[Genesis 11:1-9]

V3. This verse discloses that human will conceived the idea of building the tower. Not only that, but the method of how to build the tower was cunningly devised by the human mind; what materials would be used to build and how to appropriate those materials. There would be nothing wrong with this if the purpose of the task was pure, and those involved exercised Godly wisdom for a goal to the glory of God and not their own. From the standpoint of salvation, we learn that our ideas of reaching God by our own efforts are futile; as is our ideas of what materials are necessary to accomplish that end.

[Galatians 4:22-31]
This story explains that the child of human effort is a cast away, while the child of promise was the inheritor of the covenant. This type is also found in the rending of the kingdom from Saul and giving it to David.

V4. This verse shows the true motivations of the builders: to make a name for themselves. This is what displeased the Lord. It’s the same for us in ministry. What are the motivations behind what we do? Are we seeking God’s glory, or glory for ourselves?

V5. Verse 5 shows us that God’s eyes are on all we do. He sees our hearts. The Apostle John describes Jesus as having eyes of flames of fire. We are told in the scriptures that all works that are wood, hay and stubble will be burnt.[Revelation 1:1 Corinthians 3:13]. Our works are tried by the Lord’s eyes. On judgment day, all the wood, hay and stubble we worked for will be burnt up by his very gaze.

V6. Notice the parallel between this verse and Genesis 3:22-3. In two cases, God prevented man from making the same error that Lucifer made. It was pride in himself that caused Satan’s fall. He had hoped to exalt himself above God’s throne. God prevented man from eating the tree of life; a tree that had not been previously forbade to them before the fall. Now with sin entered into the world, that tree was no longer offered to Adam and Eve at that time. In the same way, the builders of the Tower could not be left in a state where unification for evil and pride would be possible.

V7. God confounds their language. This world is blind and confused without Jesus. Our own attempts at achieving salvation by works and legalistic systems will leave us even more confused. For those who are born-again, ministry can be wrought with the same perils. If we act out of our own will with out listening to the Guidance of the Holy Spirit, we doom ourselves to failure. If the motivations are not correct, our attempts will leave us confused. Have you ever thought you and a group of people were doing something for God, but just couldn’t get on the same page? It’s something to think about. God places specific callings on our lives, and we can’t be successful unless we are obedient to what he has for us individually.

V8-9. God scatters the builders. The Church can only function as a body if we allow Christ to be the head. If Christ is not allowed to be the head, the limbs of the body will be scattered and sent to connect to another body where Christ is the head. Many Churches have broken and split up because Christ was not allowed to be the head.