Genesis Chapter 11

Interesting read today, for me at least. Today's verses are Genesis Chapter 11 verses 1-10 (I'll comment after underneath the verses):

Genesis - Chapter 11
1And the whole earth was of one language, and of one speech.

2And it came to pass, as they journeyed from the east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar; and they dwelt there.

3And they said one to another, Go to, let us make brick, and burn them throughly. And they had brick for stone, and slime had they for morter.

4And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top [may reach] unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth.

5And the LORD came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of men builded.

6And the LORD said, Behold, the people [is] one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do.

7Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another's speech.

8So the LORD scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth: and they left off to build the city.

9Therefore is the name of it called Babel; because the LORD did there confound the language of all the earth: and from thence did the LORD scatter them abroad upon the face of all the earth.

10These [are] the generations of Shem: Shem [was] an hundred years old, and begat Arphaxad two years after the flood:



1) I was always taught that God was angry that people even dared to build a tower to get to heaven. These verses don't convey that to me, at all.

What God says here is this:

6And the LORD said, Behold, the people [is] one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do.


To me it says that he's concerned that because everyone can communicate and organize, they can't be stopped. We see here that they are already trying to get to heaven. God doesn't want them to be able to succeed at anything "Which they have imagined to do." He seems less mad, and more, worried. Too much communication, too much knowledge is a bad thing. Perhaps this is why the church has been such a vocal opponent of Science throughout history? They were stubbornly holding onto the *fact* that the earth was flat ! I've heard the expression "Playing God" time and time again by Christian people. They don't want anyone to "play God", especially when it comes to something like Stem Cell research or in vitro fertilization. Is that fear instilled in God's people? How can we play God? To play God means to be like God. Is the fear that God will be angry? How can one simultaneously hold the belief that God is perfect and also that he will be angry with us because of science? Well, we see here, that God was upset that there was an organized effort to build a tower to heaven. He did not want that kind of knowledge nor organization. Why?


I know that won't be a popular question. It's not what we're taught. We're told that God is perfect and vast, all knowing and doesn't make mistakes. However, in his own word, we see that he considers himself to have made a mistake. He proves this by wiping the slate clean and SAYING that he made a mistake. We see that Adam and Eve listened to the serpent over God. Again, he was concerned that they might eat from the tree of life. They already had knowledge like God and the "us" of which he spoke, so he removes them from the garden.

It's right there in black and white. Read it. What other conclusion is there, if you are truly reading it and have no other motives?

2) God said:
7Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another's speech.

Again we see God speaking to others. "Let US go down". The church says it's the trinity. He's speaking to himself, basically. But we also know that there are sons of God with him. We read that they mated with human women. Might there be others he's speaking to?


Things to think about today.

Tracy