Sunday, March 5, 2017

The Tower of Babel

Week 9 of our Bible Study

Please read Genesis 11:1-2

At the end of the flood there were 8 people on Earth.
This story about the Tower of Babel 

Image result for tower of babel

Occurred about 330 years after the flood.

How many people could there possibly be?

If we give a conservative population growth rate of 3.5%
(most third world nations have a much higher rate)

Then in 330 years there would be about 900,000 people.

Image result for ancient biblical market place

That may not sound like much, but it really is.

The entire state of Delaware has less than 1 million people living in it.
The entire state of Vermont has less than 800,000 people.
Wyoming less than 600,000 people.

And during this time period, the sons of Noah were still alive.
They may have even lived in the city where the Tower of Babel was built.


Read Genesis 11:3-4

In Ancient times people thought Heaven was not that far above the Earth.

They believed if they could climb up to the clouds 
and they could open a gate to Heaven.

Image result for tower of babel


There is debate as to why they wanted to go up to Heaven.

Some scholars believed they wanted to 
Declare war on God and become gods themselves.

Others believed they wanted to build this Tower out of pride.
They wanted it as a symbol to their own greatness.

Image result for tower of babel nimrod

The leaders (Nimrod was probably the king at this time) believed 
they were god like---and wanting to be like God 
is the same sin committed by Adam and Eve
(They ate from the tree of knowledge so like God they would know all)

Also note their fear----
They feared being scattered over the face of the Earth

Which is what God had commanded Noah's sons to do.
(Genesis 9:1 and Genesis 9:7---God told them twice to fill the Earth!)


Archaeologists agree that the Tower of Babel was most likely a Ziggurat

Some believe they have found the site of the Tower of Babel in Iraq.
(Iraq is the ancient land of Shinar)

Image result for archaeologist finds tower of babel found in iraq

Read Genesis 11:5-7

Who is "us"?
This is the Trinity in Unity


Read Genesis 11:8-9

Image result for god destroys the tower of babel

So we see the origins of Diversity of peoples and language.

Diversity is loved by God
Just look at the amazing diversity in nature!

Image result for diversity in nature

And as people spread across the Earth
they took with them the knowledge of building towers.

We find Ziggurats all over the world from the Middle East to Latin America.

Image result for ziggurats around the world


Remember this scene in Star Wars IV?

Yavin 4, in Star Wars IV: A New Hope.


Those are ziggurats in Tikal, Guatemala
which you can climb

Image result for stormtrooper on top ziggurat in tikal

I was lucky enough to visit them years ago!!

But back to the Bible....

The Tower of Babel is a very short story.

Why is it important enough to be in the Bible?


I think it teaches us two very important lessons:

1. Obey God's commands

2. Pride is sin


Some say Pride is the greatest of all sins.

Image result for pride is greatest sin

Would you agree with that?
Why or Why not?

I'd love to see your thoughts in the comments below!
(and you can always email me at tiggerkat101@gmail.com)



Also
If you want to read more, 
I came across this blog that is very interesting: 

6 comments:

  1. Love your thoughts and ideas regarding all this!!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Foi bem assim mesmo que ela conseguiu!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Ensino sobre isso no meu treinamento Método Partida.

    ReplyDelete
  4. The historic parts reminded of Kyoto and the modern of Tokyo.

    ReplyDelete