The Bible consistently reveals one fundamental conflict that lies at the heart of human rebellion: Who gets to be king? We see this dramatically illustrated in two key stories. First, in David and Absalom—a son who wasn't content being a prince but wanted his father's throne, leading to his downfall. Then, in Genesis 11, with the Tower of Babel, humanity collectively tried to exalt themselves instead of God, refusing His command to spread throughout the earth. These stories expose three critical players in every kingship conflict. First, there's always a pretend king—Absalom in David's story, the people at Babel in Genesis, and frankly, all of us today when we live as though we're in charge. Second, there's the true King—David in his kingdom, and God Himself in the universe, who responds to human pride not just with judgment (confusing languages) but also with grace (preventing worse consequences of rebellion). But the Babel story ends unresolved, with the fundamental problem of human hearts trying to usurp God's throne still unsettled. That's where those genealogies surrounding the passage become so important—they trace a line forward through history, pointing to the ultimate resolution in Jesus Christ, the King of Kings, who doesn't just end the conflict but transforms pretend kings into willing servants who finally find fulfillment in submitting to the True King. The question isn't whether God is King—that's settled—but whether we'll stop playing pretend and surrender our plastic crowns to embrace His perfect rule.