Tower of Babel Question: Who built the tower of Babel? What was their purpose or intention? What time period was this? Explanation of text: 1. The text is Genesis 11:1-9. What was done here was in open rebellion against God In direct opposition to God's command to spread out and fill up the whole earth (9:1). 2. They were refusing to spread out, and were seeking notoriety. Then wanted to make a name for themselves. They were thus declaring themselves to be independent of God. They were going to depend upon their own strength and wisdom to accomplish their ends. 3. Their pride became their downfall. God is sovereign. God would accomplish His plan, if not with man's obedience, then in spite of man's disobedience. Consider Psa. 76:10: "Surely the wrath of man shall praise thee: The residue of wrath shalt thou gird upon thee." But ft. nt.: The residue of wrath shalt thou restrain. "Thus what they would not do in obedience (viz., scatter over the earth, v.4) He did for them in judgment (v.8)" (BKC.44). 4. Everything that mankind proposed in the first half (11:3-4) was disposed of in the second (vv. 5-9). 5. Babel means "confusion." God is not the author of confusion (1 Cor. 14:33; see also Jas. 3:16). 6. Probably 11:1-9 explains how the arrangement in ch. 10 came about. LESSONS: 1. Sin separates. a. Man from God Gen.3 b. Brother from brother Gen. 4 c. Family from family Gen. 9 d. Nation from nation Gen. 11. 2. Throughout the OT, we learn that man is rewarded and blessed for obedience; he is punished for disobedience. a. This is seen not only here with the nations of the world, but repeatedly in the history of the nation of Israel. THE QUESTION OF HISTORICITY A discussion of this passage raises the question as to whether Gen. 1-11 is historical, or is it mythological and allegorical? 1. Many dismiss these first 11 chapters as being mythology. Accordingly, the account of creation is attacked. The account of Adam and Eve, the fall, the flood, as well as the Tower of Babel are dismissed as "not a literal, historical record." 2. Jesus' attitude: Lk. 24:25; John 5:46-47. a. Quoted from Gen. 1 and 2 in Matt. 19:4-6, thus "stamping the chapters as both historically accurate and divinely inspired." (Henry Morris.EA,vol1:148). b. Called Satan the "father of lies" (Jno.8:44) referring back to the historical account of Gen. 3:4). c. Referred to Abel as a real, historical character (Matt. 23:35). d. Flood; Mt. 24:37ff.