Babel

"And the Lord came down to see the city and the tower..."

Genesis 11:5

A fundamental Gospel truth is simply this: Jesus comes to you. You don’t go to Him. The Lord comes to you.

He chases after you. Always. In the midst of despair. When you are at your wits end. When hope is lost. Jesus comes to you. He runs to you. And he does so relentlessly.

He is the Father who runs to the wayward son (Luke 15:20). He is the hound of heaven that chases you with goodness and mercy (Psalm 23:6). Jesus comes to you.

This truth was revealed early in scripture. The first 11 books of Genesis are considered pre history and they speak of the truth of God’s character in creation and the ongoing relationship He works and desires. Chapter 11 is the story of the Tower of Babel. The people are unified and determined that they are going to build their way up to the Lord and up to heaven. In response to humanity building their way to heaven the scripture simply says, “And the Lord came down…” (Genesis 11:5).

This is God’s work. The Lord makes a way for you by coming to you. Humanity has never been able to make our way to God. Jesus is the way. Jesus comes to you.

God brings judgement on the people, confuses their language, and scatters the population across the earth. The Tower of Babel is the origin story of the languages that cover the face of the earth. It is the explanation for the vast diversity across the globe. But, more than diversity, this is the origin story of division as well. And this division continues.

The reality is, God brings judgement on the earth in lots of ways throughout scripture. His judgement is justified. But, it is always met with a moment of grace. He kicks Adam and Eve out of the garden, but he protects them with the clothing of animal skin. He sends serpents to judge the Israelites but instructs Moses to create a bronze serpent to bring healing. And, here, God scatters people across the earth. God’s act of grace following the Tower of Babel is the call of Abraham.

God scatters and then begins the process of gathering. Genesis 12 marks the beginning of God working through His people. The Lord is going to make a nation. The Lord will bless the entire earth. The Lord will draw people back to Himself. This is the promise made to Abraham. This is the promise fulfilled in, through, and by Jesus of Nazareth.

Jesus fulfills what Abraham is promised. Jesus makes a way—He is The Way—to faithfully fulfill what the people of Babel attempted on their own.

It has never been about us climbing our way up to heaven. Jesus climbed onto a cross to bring heaven to you. This is the Good News.

And it is through the cross—not some human built tower—that you walk into the presence of God for all eternity. It is on the other side of the cross of Jesus Christ that the Tower of Babel is fully undone. This is the promise of Revelation. “After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands.” Revelation 7:9

Heaven continues to hold the diversity of our great globe, but is marked by unity, not division. Oh, Come Lord Jesus and make it so!

In all of this, the lesson is simply—our God runs to you. He always has. He always will.

Sit with the Good News that Jesus chases you and reflect on moments in your life when this has been true. If moved, write a note to a key person to let them know how God used them in just the right way to show you God's love.