Step Out and Step Up!

The Voice version of the Bible shares in the comments on these verses, a portion of that commentary follows:

The desire to settle in one place and build a city runs counter to God’s command to spread out across the earth. 

If we read this comment I would imagine many of us could identify with the people of Babel. We want to make a mark on the world rather than conform to God's plan for our lives. But we know we must tell the world about the truth of Jesus. We also know that sometimes that means getting outside our comfort zone, our 'safe place', where we feel content and unthreatened. Stepping out and following the nudge of the Holy Spirit takes courage and faith.

Stepping out often requires us to change our plans; we will need to be more flexible and willing. Wow, those are two words that can make one shudder, especially when we are so content where we are, not to mention, satisfied with our lives. Why would we want to upset this perfect applecart? Where is the sense in that?

I am learning that God doesn't need my permission to change my trajectory. I only need to read the story of the Tower of Babel to know that truth. God wanted his people to step up and step out and they had other ideas. Grandiose plans to gain fame they and don't have to run the risk of being "scattered all over the earth." Genesis 11:4 (The Voice)

God wants us to depend on Him, to turn to Him for all our needs. But when we go out on our own, and do our own thing, we are only dependent upon ourselves. We begin to feel we don't need God in our lives, and we start to do what makes us feel good and not what God has commanded us to do; namely, Make Disciples of all Nations. We can't do that if we are living in our own personal bubble.

Genesis 11:1-8