“The Tower of Babel”

Series: A Journey through the Old Testament [on screen]

Rev. Matthew C. McCraw, EdD

First Baptist Church, Bartow, Florida

May 23, 2021

Introductory Comments:

The tallest building in the world is the Burj Khalifa, in Dubai, with a total height of 829.8 m (2,722 ft, just over half a mile). [show picture on screen] For reference, the Empire State Building is 443.2 m (1,454 feet) tall, including its antenna. There’s something impressive about a tall building. It represents power, success, and achievement. It means that something is going right for those who built it and in the land where it resides. 

We are continuing our series called “A Journey Through the Old Testament.” Thus far, we’ve learned about Creation, the Fall, and the Flood. 

Well, in today’s story we’re going to see what became of the people who went out on the earth after the flood. We’re going to learn about the Tower of Babel. 

Don’t forget Noah and his family we’re cooped up in the ark for quite some time (I said last week that they were in there 40 days and 40 nights. Of course, it was longer than that as it rained 40 days and 40 nights, but they were in there for as much as a year, so they really must have been ready to come out). 

There is a key verse for us to see before we get into today’s story. I alerted our Wednesday night crowd to this, and now I’m drawing the attention of all of us to this verse. After Noah and his family came out of the ark, this is what God said. Look at Genesis 9:7, “But you, be fruitful and multiply; spread out over the earth and multiply on it.” [on screen]

Let’s pray together before we go any further and ask God to speak to us. 

(prayer)

As we’ve been doing the last several weeks, we’re going to look at some major elements, some major truths, and then see how the Gospel speaks through this story. 

So, first, let’s look at the . . . 

I. Major elements[on screen]

First, Noah’s descendants began to spread out (Genesis 10:32). [on screen]

Remember, God’s command in 9:7 was for them to be fruitful and multiply, and to spread out over the earth. Well, let’s see what Noah’s family did. Look at verse 32, of chapter 10. (read passage in paper Bible). So, Noah and his family, and their descendants, were obedient. They spread out on the earth. 

However, some had come back together to make one unified and powerful people (Genesis 11:1-4). [on screen]

Look at verses 1-4 of chapter 11. (read passage in paper Bible).

The people had settled near Shinar and rather than spread out like God said, they wanted to stay together and build power for themselves, demonstrated in building this tower that reached to the heavens, or far into the sky. 

Notice their motivation in doing this. In verse 4 it says, “Let’s make a name for ourselves.”

Notice, also, what their concern was if they didn’t build this tower. Again, in verse 4, “ . . . otherwise, we will be scattered throughout the earth.”

The result that they were concerned would come about, is the very thing that God commanded them to do: spread out on the earth. 

Finally, the Lord stepped in to scatter the people again (Genesis 11:5-9). [on screen]

Let’s look at verses 5-9. (read passage in paper Bible).

Since the people were not obeying God, God decided to step in and help them obey. 

I believe that this was a sign of God’s grace. Remember, not that long before this, things had gotten so evil on the earth that God destroyed the entire earth because of the great sin of the world. Well, now God is trying to get everyone back on track and they’ve started to disobey again. So, God steps in before things get too bad. 

By the way, when it says in verse 6, “ . . . then nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them,” I believe that it is implied that they will think nothing that they plan to do will be impossible for them. In other words, they will become less and less dependent upon God in their own