Twisting Heaven’s Arm – Genesis 11:1-9

Genesis chap 11 recalls specific events instrumental in establishing the individual identity and geographic dispersion of the clans, languages, lands, and nations of Gen 10. This record is foreshadowed in chapter 10 as Moses describes the descendents of the cursed line with special mention of “Nimrod” (8-12). Nimrod is the archetypal strongman and pagan hero figure. His name literally means: “we shall rebel” and like the Cain impulse in defiance of the Word of God (4:13-17), he built cities to establish himself and society on the name of humanity rather than the glory of Yahweh. The blueprints for Babel archetypically illustrate the perennial problem of unity and diversity. Do we find our unity in common cause with our fellow man, or do we find unity in the true worship of the God who has made us and covenanted with us? Do we preserve our identity as individuals securing the authority to define ourselves, making our own name – or do we find true individual meaning as we live in submission to our Creator and Savior. Which view of social order is sustainable? Babel teaches that the only secure footing and coherent worldview is found in covenant with the Triune God of scripture. All other schemes will not stand of the Day of the Lord!