Lessons from the Tower of Babel

Genesis 11:1-9

INTRODUCTION: Certain principles bring forth better results regardless of the purpose for which they are being implemented. For example, intense physical and tactical training will make one man a better terrorist and another a better defender of liberty. The same holds true for the implementation of biblical or natural principles.

I. UNITY IS POSSIBLE (Genesis 11:1-4)

A. In Communication (Genesis 11:1)

1. They were of one language.
2. They were of one speech.

B. In Habitation (Genesis 11:2)

1. They journeyed from the east.
2. They found a plain in the land of Shinar.
3. They dwelt there.

C. In Occupation (Genesis 11:3-4a)

1. They planned together for labour – “they said one to another” (Genesis 11:3).
2. They laboured for materials (Genesis 11:3).
a. Let us make brick.
b. They had brick for stone.
c. They had slime for morter.
3. They laboured for an end (Genesis 11:4a).
a. A city
b. A tower whose top may reach unto heaven

D. In Purpose (Genesis 11:4b)

1. Let us make us a name.
2. Lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole eart

II. UNITY GETS THE LORD’S ATTENTION (Genesis 11:5)

A. The LORD Saw

1. The Lord is generally unimpressed with the labours of man (Matthew 24:1-2; Acts 7:49).
2. Something about this structure caused the Lord to further investigate.

B. The LORD Came Down

1. To see the city and tower
2. Which the children of men builded

III. UNITY IS POWERFUL (Genesis 11:6)

A. Their Unity Noted

1. The people is one.
2. They have all one language.

B. Their Potential Noted

1. This they begin to do.
2. Now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do.

IV. UNITY CAN BE DESTROYED (Genesis 11:7-9)

A. The Point of Attack (Genesis 11:7)

1. Let us…confound their language.
2. They may not understand one another’s speech.

B. The Product of the Attack (Genesis 11:8-9)

1. A scattered people (Genesis 11:8)
2. A stopped work (Genesis 11:8)
3. A confused people (Genesis 11:9)

C. The View of the Church

1. God’s plan for unity (Philippians 2:2)
2. The outcome of God’s plan (Acts 17:6)
3. Satan’s plan
a. Destroy the unity of communication
b. Scatter the saints
c. Stop the work
d. Confuse the masses

CONCLUSION: The work of Satan in the midst of the New Testament Church appears to be a page out of God’s strategy book. The question is, why is it that the world can experience such unbridled unity with wicked motives and wicked purposes and we cannot find unity for the life of us in order to accomplish a pure and eternal work?