Pride and Arrogance

MEMORY VERSE: “Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.” —Proverbs 16:18

GENESIS 11:1-9

THE story of the Tower of Babel, and of how God confused the language of the people, is always interesting. The first verse of our lesson states that “the whole earth was of one language, and of one speech,” which was true at that time. This was not a great time removed from the Flood.

The Revised Standard translation of the 30th verse of the preceding chapter reads, concerning the descendants of Noah through Shem, that the place in which they lived “extended from Mesha in the direction of Sephar to the hill country of the east.” According to this same translation the second verse of chapter 11 informs us that when “men migrated in the east, they found a plain in the land of Shinar, and settled there.”

These, according to our lesson, are the ones who decided to build what today is referred to as the Tower of Babel. Clearly, this was displeasing to the Lord, and in defiance of him, and we could hardly think of Shem and his family as participating in any such project. These descendants of Noah through Shem, and the progenitors of Abraham, and the nation of Israel, reverenced the Lord, and were never in open defiance of him. They settled in a hill country, and the Tower of Babel was erected by people living on a plain.

This plain was called Shinar, and is now identified as the ancient land of Babylonia. It is thought by many that the ill-famed Nimrod may well have been the leader of these insurrectionists. While the record emphasizes more of the details concerning the tower and its destruction, together with the confusion of tongues, the 8th verse of the lesson informs us that “they left off to build the city.” From this we gather that the over-all plan included, in addition to building a tower, the building of an entire city (see also verse 4).

The general view of scholars now is that while the building of the city at that time was halted on account of the language difficulties, later this work was resumed, and the city which was built was ancient Babylon. The word “Babel” or “Babylon” means confusion, this meaning deriving from the confusion of tongues which the Lord brought about to hinder their plans for the great tower and city.

The purpose of those who attempted to build the tower was that they might make a name, “lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth.” The scheme seemed to call for a sort of centralized control over the people through a display of grandeur and accomplishment. Certainly in this they were leaving the Lord out of their plans, and this apparently was the cause of his displeasure.

Because of its background of association the name “Babylon” is used in the prophecies of the Bible to symbolize the confusion in the worship of God which results from ignoring the precepts of his Word. Thus the great and imposing church system which dominated the old Roman world for so many years, and still does to some extent, is called “Babylon.”

Symbolic Babylon’s confusion is not only represented in her contradictory and blasphemous doctrines, but also, and more importantly, in the manner in which that unholy system has confused the worship and service of God with the worship of man. The system emphasizes the importance of approaching God through human channels. The Bible, on the contrary, encourages us to worship God directly, through his beloved Son. We are bidden to go boldly to the throne of grace to obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Our memory verse might well harmonize with what occurred in connection with the destruction of the Tower of Babel. However, it is a timely warning to any and all of the Lord’s people. We are all so inconsequential that it ill behooves us to be proud of ourselves or of our accomplishments.

To be proud and to have a “haughty spirit” ruins one’s influence for good in the community, and especially among our brethren in Christ. Besides, these characteristics inevitably lead to disaster, just as our memory verse reminds us. Let us endeavor to keep humble and unassuming in our relationship to one another.

QUESTIONS

Why was God displeased with the effort to build the Tower of Babel?

What is the meaning of the word “Babylon,” and how is it used symbolically in the Bible?

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