They said to each other, “Come, let us make oven-fired bricks.” They used brick for stone and asphalt for mortar. And they said, “Come let us build ourselves a city and a tower with its top in the sky.” Let us make a name for ourselves; Otherwise, we will be scattered over the face of the whole earth.” Genesis 11:3-4 HCSB
I had the opportunity to visit the Twin Towers before 9/11 and to actually go up to the observation deck of the Empire State Building in New York City. These buildings were impressive and are a testimony of the skills and abilities of man to build great skyscrapers. I have also toured the stadium where the Dallas Cowboys play football. The big screen in the middle of the building is seven stories tall and even the smaller televisions on each end are 52 feet tall. It is amazing what man can build.
The people of earth had become very accomplished. They could make bricks for building structures. They decided to build a great tower to themselves to show how great they were. The tower was probably a Ziggurat, a common building of that day. A Ziggurat was built like a pyramid with steps or ramps leading up the sides to the top of the structure. They would often reach heights of 300 feet high and 300 feet wide. Naturally, these structures were the focal point of the city. They could be seen for miles away. The Tower of Babel was a monument to human greatness. The focus was on the people themselves rather than on God and His greatness.
Challenge: Are you gathering expensive cars, clothes, and houses to prove your greatness? Does your job and status in life determine who you are as a person? These interests are not necessarily wrong, but when they take the place of God such acquisitions becomes sin. We are free to accomplish great things, but we are not free to think we can replace God with “towers” or “things” in our lives. Pray that God will help you to keep Him first place in your life.