The Tower of Babel

PRAYER PRACTICE

Prayer Journal – To begin your daily worship today, grab a pen and paper and write out a prayer to God. Give thanks to God for all that He gives. And then finish with supplication – with your prayer requests to God. When you are done, tuck this away somewhere (so you can read it later and see how God has answered your prayers) and then move into hearing from God through His Word.

DAILY READING

Genesis 11:1-9

DEVOTION / REFLECTION

Hand in Hand

by Judy Webb

The story of the tower of babel seems quite fanciful. Build a tower that reaches to the heavens? How ridiculous, and whatever for? There might be folks in our future who look back at some of the seemingly bizarre things we are attempting, and utter the same questions.

The descendants of Noah’s three sons were going against the command of God as written in Genesis 9:7, “As for you, be fruitful and increase in number; multiply on the earth and increase upon it.” They rejected God and His plan for them.

Don’t we do the same when we turn our backs on each other? When we shout hateful slogans and embrace wicked practices, aren’t we also rejecting God and His perfect plan? The grandsons of Noah wanted power and prestige; they wanted to choose their own destiny. Sound familiar? It should, as that is the road we are also traveling.

I can recall one of my daughters, while very young, was also so very independent. I would grasp her hand when preparing to cross a busy street and she should indignantly pull her hand from mine and declare, "me hold me own hand". Isn't that just what we do when God tries to lead us on the safe path? When His Word teaches us to zig, we prefer to zag.

Until we open our eyes to recognize God as our Heavenly Father, we will live in a world confused and unhappy. I am convinced though; this is the perfect time for us to tell the world the reason for our hope in Jesus. He is the light in a very dark world. Read Acts 2:4 and you will see how Jesus changed everything when He sent His Holy Spirit. “All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.”

The Holy Spirit brought clarity to the babel, ending the confusion, and overcoming the language barrier. He breathed life into a world desperate for unity. If we humbly and gratefully grab hold of His hand, He will do it again.