Making Something Of Ourselves

Making Something of Ourselves

At one time all the people of the world spoke the same language and used the same words. . . . They said, “Come, let’s build a great city for ourselves with a tower that reaches into the sky. This will make us famous and keep us from being scattered all over the world.”

Genesis 11:1, 4

Everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in other languages, as the Holy Spirit gave them this ability.

Acts 2:4

I saw a vast crowd, too great to count, from every nation and tribe and people and language, standing in front of the throne and before the Lamb . . . shouting with a great roar, “Salvation comes from our God who sits on the throne and from the Lamb!”

Revelation 7:9-10

Did you know that there are more than 6,800 known languages spoken in the two hundred countries of the world? Where do all the languages in the world come from—and all the people groups? The Bible tells us in Genesis.

God had given clear instructions after the Flood for people to “be fruitful and multiply. Fill the earth” (Genesis 9:1). But they weren’t spreading. They were clustering. They were refusing to scatter and fill the earth, and they were trying to make something of themselves that would be impressive. They were trying to make themselves feel safe and secure by building an immense tower and by grouping together instead of spreading out. It was a classic example of human pride and rebellion toward God’s specific instruction.

So God came down and dealt a blow to their disobedience and made their clustering impossible. They began speaking different languages and couldn’t understand each other, so they stopped building their city and scattered all over the world. Humanity was broken into many peoples and languages, and all the alienation and conflict throughout history has been the result.

We’re not meant to find our security in our connection to other people but in our connection to God. And God doesn’t intend for us to look for praise for ourselves. He wants us to find our fulfillment and joy in praising him and making him famous.

DISCUSSION STARTERS

Have you ever tried to communicate with someone who speaks another language? What made it difficult?

We might not try to build a city with a huge tower to make us feel secure. But what are some things people today look to for security instead of putting their hope in God?

Looking at the three verses on the left, how has God already begun to restore and redeem his judgment on the tower builders? How will he complete it?