The Tower of Babel story is a tough one! In my mind, the fear that God had is that the people may have really made a tower to heaven (or at least as tall as they could) and then they would begin to feel superior and then have no need for God. Was it that God needed to feel superior or did God not want people to forget God? There are some commentaries that point out the wall and tower would have been waterproof, and that the people may have not believed God when God said that there would be no more floods-- so was God angry that they didn't believe God? The word usage of "us" comes up a few times, pointing to the Trinity again.
We then turn to the story of Abram's call to leave Haran and journey to Canaan. According to the text, Abram was 75 years old when God called. Can you imagine being 75 and pulling up stakes to wander to wherever God wanted? That's the big part of this story-- Abram didn't question God's intention or calling. How many times do we get an idea that God is requesting us to do something, but we shy away or back out of it? I know that has happened to me many times. My calling into ministry was one of doubt and fear and feelings of inadequacy. But, God persisted, and I finally(?) answered that call. Five years of active ministry at my current appointment-- with hopefully many more ahead!
Abram and Sarai get caught in a lie while they are in Egypt and it is the Egyptians that are punished! I think that this comes from God knowing the bigger plan. Had nothing happened to the Pharaoh, he may have kept Sarai as his wife. If that happened, then Abram and Sarai would not have had their son Isaac and the whole plan God had imagined would have failed. Does this make sense? I guess the point is, God does have long range plans and will let nature take its course, even if its bad, to fulfill God's plan.
Paul's letter to the Ephesians highlights much of these stories in Genesis. Trust and obey each other- trust and obey God! How easy is it to forget those things though- especially the part about trusting and obeying God. Abram trusted and obeyed God and became the chosen people-and we follow in that lineage! Thanks to Abram we are children of God!
Being children of God allows us to wear the "clothing of God" as Paul continues: righteousness, peace, and truth so that we can fully and faithfully fight the evils in the world!
Our next reading: Genesis 14- 15, Psalm 47, Matthew 1
My study bible notes that the first cities of Genesis represent arrogance, tyranny, and wickedness. The city on the Babylonian plain was a magnet for human pride and idolatry. A tower that reaches the sky; this was probably a temple-tower (a ziggurat). Common in ancient Babylonian urban culture, ziggurat were regarded as sacred mountains by which deities defended to earth.
ReplyDeleteThought that was interesting enough to share.
I found it interesting that Abram and his wife were not punished for the lie. But as you pointed out there are bigger plans ahead.
The tower was humanity's way of trying to be equal or greater than God (or other gods). The people felt that if they could get to the place where their gods were (or where God was), that they would then have the powers that God has.
DeleteGood point Shannon! Thanks for sharing.
Pastor Paul... do you think Abram knew that the Lord would do something to the Pharaoh and that Sarai would be safe. It just seems like...not very nice of her husband to put her in the position in the first place unless he had faith that the Lord would react and protect her. As far a Lot goes... I have read commentary that Abram disobeyed the Lord by taking him with him in the first place... your thoughts on that? Do you think it might of been a punishment to Lot or Abram that Lot ended up in that God forsaken town of Sodom? Or was it perhaps punishment for choosing the nicer piece of land and leaving Abram with the less plentiful/bountiful piece? Divine retribution...or something. I know the Lord would give the promise land to Abram's descendants anyway but it seems funny that he mentioned the promise of the land right after Abram has been sooo humble to let Lot have his pick.
ReplyDeleteHi Melissa-- sorry for the delay in responding.
ReplyDeleteThere are some commentaries that report Abram and Sarai were somehow related- half-sister or possibly niece, so Abram might have not totally lied. However, Abram was a man of great faith, and it is highly plausible that he felt God would protect Sarai.
As far as Lot goes, Abram does rescue Lot in Genesis 13 from the army that captures him. So, even if it was punishment, God-- through Abram-- saves Lot. Possible morale of the story- God will do what God needs to do to get the point across!