We are living in the age of communication. I am able to pick up my phone or log on to my computer, tablet, or smartphone and talk to someone on the other end of the world within seconds. There is Twitter, Facebook, Snapchat, and numerous other applications to share our thoughts, communicate our feelings, and express ourselves yet division among people is growing. We are not able to understand each other. The race relationship is deteriorating, relationship between countries is growing distant, there is no tolerance. there is even misunderstanding within the church regarding issues of sexuality, doctrine, salvation Etc. In every case, we just say why can’t they see? Don’t you see it is so clear to me and the other side says, it is you who does not get it, it is very clear to us and it should be this way. How can this be? In this age of communication, why is there so much misunderstanding? Well, We find an answer to this question at the same place where we find answers to all difficult questions in life. THE BIBLE and answer is chapter 11 of Genesis.
In chapter 10 verse 8, we were introduced to the man named Nimrod, who is a type of anti-Christ. In chapter 10 we learned how all the nations were created, In chapter 11 we learn what prompted this event. After the flood people moved eastward and came to a place called Shinar ( this is Mesopotamia ). They all spoke one language. Just a note for those who want to endorse evolution, the evolutionist is unable to explain the bridge between chattering of animals and human language. By this time Nimrod had become the leader of the people and under his leadership, they came up with the idea of building a tower that reaches heaven. ( start of astrology. they wanted to look into heaven. this is the start of all the pagan religion as we know it.)
3 They said to each other, “Come, let’s make bricks and bake them thoroughly.” They used brick instead of stone, and tar for mortar. 4 Then they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens so that we may make a name for ourselves; otherwise we will be scattered over the face of the whole earth.
God had commanded sons of Noah to ” Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth” Gen 9:1. once again they were disobeying God instead of scattering they said ” Let us make Bricks” and ” Build Ourselves a city” so we make ” name for Ourselves”. How many times we see this same scenario in our churches today. How many times in church we say let us have a fundraiser? Let us build a building? we do all of these in name of God just like people in genesis 11. We want to build a big cathedral that bears our name while we forget to feed the hungry and we forget to give the gospel. How we fail to find direction from God? How many times we forget to pray and ask God to provide direction and funds?
They were to scatter but that is exactly what they are afraid of and instead of trusting God, they decided to build a tower with bricks. Now when God builds something, it is made out of stone not bricks. Stones are chiseled ( just like he does with us) and they fit together and no tar or mortar is needed to keep them together. This was a carefully planned project. They wanted a name for themselves and so they gave it a purpose ( so we would not scatter). Today we are no different, Preachers ask for a car or a plane and say I need it so I can preach. So many time our purpose as Christian, as a body of Christ is so contrary to God’s plan.
Verse 5-7. God was not happy to see what was going on. He saw what the unity in people did to his plan and ultimately to the plan of salvation he had for us. Am I saying God is against UNITY? I would say YES if we are not united for the purpose of God. He knows our every desire and thoughts. Before the flood and after the flood, He said every thought of man is evil. He knew our every thought is going to lead us to hell and that is what was happening at ” Tower of Babel “. He confused their language and they were no longer able to understand each other. This structure was going to dominate the skyline and become the center of their life, Just like some of us have made our portfolio or our workout routine or our church center of our life instead of GOD. Once again, we are speaking the same language. Technology (the language of math) has united us. We can communicate with someone from remote parts of the world thru this language and there is no longer confusion as it was the tower of babel. As it was at that time, we want to unite people. World leaders and Christian religious leaders are talking about one currency, one government ( Google agenda 21). We want to solve climate issues, we want to explore space, cure diseases, and massage is clear we don’t need God. We can solve our problems but let Gen 11 be a lesson to us. What they feared is exactly what happened. They were afraid to scatter and God scattered them. People were no longer able to understand each other.
So how does God fix this? We find the answer in Acts 2. On the day of Pentecost, disciples were filled with the Holy Spirit and they began to preach.
All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues[a] as the Spirit enabled them.5 Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. 6 When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken. 7 Utterly amazed, they asked: “Aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans? 8 Then how is it that each of us hears them in our native language?
That day once again they began to understand each other. It is the power of the Holy Spirit and the blood of Christ that unites us. So we are no longer black, white, Indian, Chinese, Methodist, baptist, slave or master but we are all one. All sinners cleansed by the blood of Christ and filled with the Holy Spirit. Look at what Paul says in Galatians
There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
I belong to a bible study group. The study is led by African American man, I am of Indian origin, there is a man who is of Spanish descent, a man from Islands, a Caucasian man, We range in age from 30-85 years of age. We all come from different backgrounds but what has bought us together is the cross of Christ. Although we come from different countries, culture, speak different languages yet we are able to understand each other. It is the Christ who unites us. The world constantly wants to remind you how different you are physically but God unites you in spirit.
So is God against UNITY? NO. As long as you are ready to unite under the cross of Jesus. If there is a unity problem in the church, your family, then one needs to examine how you trying to bring unity. If it is by any other means but the blood of Christ, it will not happen. There is no unity between believers and nonbelievers.
May God bless his word and hope we continue to grow in Jesus. Amen
only savior jesus 