We continue our “Series in “Genesis“
BEFORE READING GENESIS 11, I RECOMMEND READING JOHN GILL’S INTRODUCTION TO GENESIS
GENESIS 11
Chapter CONTEXT from MHCC: The old distinction between the sons of God and the sons of men (professors and profane) survived the flood, and now appeared again, when men began to multiply: according to this distinction we have, in this chapter, I. The dispersion of the sons of men at Babel (v. 1-9), where we have, 1. Their presumptuous provoking design, which was to build a city and a tower (v. 1-4). 2. The righteous judgment of God upon them in disappointing their design, by confounding their language, and so scattering them (v. 5-9). II. The pedigree of the sons of God down to Abraham (v. 10-26), with a general account of his family, and removal out of his native country (v. 27, etc.).
| Genesis chapter 11 Simplified Outline | |
| Ge 11:1. | One language in the world. |
| Ge 11:2-4. | The building of Babel. |
| Ge 11:5-9. | It is interrupted by the confusion of tongues, and the builders dispersed. |
| Ge 11:10-26. | The generations of Shem. |
| Ge 11:27-30. | The generations of Terah, the father of Abram. |
| Ge 11:31-32. | Terah, with Abram and Lot, remove from Ur to Haran. |
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How soon mankind forgets. Historically the Great flood is taken to have happened around 2370 B.C. (Gen 7:1-16) and the Tower of Babel appears around 2269 B.C. or about 100 years later (Gen 11:1-11). It took less than 5 generations for mankind to forget the blessings of God and become so self-centered that he would once again be god-like.
We should easily see the similarities to modern western civilizations, many of whom started out at least professing a desire to follow the God of the Bible and now persecuted those who openly speak of Christ. These nations have put themselves above the omnipotent, omnipresent, and omniscient God of the universe. We need to pray they can learn from the failures in this chapter before it is too late.
Some key points of theology in this chapter include:
- God gives mankind one language v.1- this is meant to make man’s command to subdue the earth and spread out and multiply easier
- Mankind refuses God’s Wisdom v.2-4 – can you imagine waking up one morning and saying I am smarter than God? Well, these folks did (in a way) and decided to go their own way.
- Man’s plans are evil v.5-6 – anytime we are disobedient to God we are expressing evil, with no excuses, and with no exceptions.
- God divided man so as to not foil God’s Plan v.7-9 – There are always consequences to disobedience to God’s commands
- GOOD NEWS v.10-26 – God promises restoration through the righteous seed of Shem.
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Praying through Genesis 11:4
Heavenly Father, I pray You would teach me all there is to learn from the foolish decisions made by the post diluvian people and the rebellious attitudes they fostered in their heart. Thank You that You are my God and Creator and that You have given me all I need for life and godliness. Help me to make the right choices in life and to refuse to adopt the sinful ways of the world which encourage independence from You. May I look to Jesus day by day and rest my hope and future in You. This I ask in His dear name’s sake, AMEN.
“And 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.” (Genesis 11:4)
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