Tuesday, October 04, 2005
Genesis 10-11
Genesis 10-11
“Scatter not Gather”
Genesis 10 and 11 are easier to read together if you read 11 first, then 10. The reason of that is that they are written backwards chronologically. Chapter 11 is the scattering of the people, and Chapter 10 is the Table of Nations, or, where they went. After reading both chapters, consider these thoughts.
Genesis 11:1-9
In these verses, we are given the mindset of humanity in the times of Babel. People of that day were trying to “gather”. Their interests were in glorifying themselves, and making their own name great, rather than the Name of God. They wanted the greatest community known to man. We see this as they say, "Come, let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we may make a name for ourselves and not be scattered over the face of the whole earth” (Gen. 11:4). The culture in that day was self centered, and had lost of sense of purpose that God had given them.
To contrast this, let’s look at the command of God to Noah, “Then God blessed Noah and his sons, saying to them, ‘Be fruitful and increase in number and fill the earth’” (Genesis 9:1). God had given a command to go and fill the earth. Another way of saying that is to scatter instead of gather.
So, the people built a monument to themselves, to attempt to make their name great. Instead of lifting up the God who created them, they went and attempted to lift up themselves, and glorify themselves. So God confused their language, and frustrated their plans (Genesis 11:7-9). Specifically, the text says “the Lord scattered them all over the face of the Earth”.
We have this issue today. It is very common in our churches, and in our culture. We seem to feel that if we build the biggest, best, most dynamic church that we will leave a lasting legacy that matters. We may believe that that is the Godly thing to do. We also tend to have the idea that if we build the most intimate small group, that we will succeed in our Christian journey. Now, both those things are not bad in and among themselves, but who is doing the scattering?
To scatter would be to take the Gospel to those who don’t know it. Are we as a Church making the Gospel known to others? Are we doing it in our neighborhoods? Are we going to the foreign countries that don’t know Jesus? Our we telling the people we sit next to all day at work/school/stores/playgrounds? We are called to scatter, just as the people of Babel were called to scatter. God had to force them. I want to learn how to do it willingly.
This is why the final words of Jesus teach us to go, and not stay!
Matthew 28:19-20
“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
Mark 16:15
"Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation.
Luke 24:46-48
"This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things.”
“Scatter not Gather”
Genesis 10 and 11 are easier to read together if you read 11 first, then 10. The reason of that is that they are written backwards chronologically. Chapter 11 is the scattering of the people, and Chapter 10 is the Table of Nations, or, where they went. After reading both chapters, consider these thoughts.
Genesis 11:1-9
In these verses, we are given the mindset of humanity in the times of Babel. People of that day were trying to “gather”. Their interests were in glorifying themselves, and making their own name great, rather than the Name of God. They wanted the greatest community known to man. We see this as they say, "Come, let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we may make a name for ourselves and not be scattered over the face of the whole earth” (Gen. 11:4). The culture in that day was self centered, and had lost of sense of purpose that God had given them.
To contrast this, let’s look at the command of God to Noah, “Then God blessed Noah and his sons, saying to them, ‘Be fruitful and increase in number and fill the earth’” (Genesis 9:1). God had given a command to go and fill the earth. Another way of saying that is to scatter instead of gather.
So, the people built a monument to themselves, to attempt to make their name great. Instead of lifting up the God who created them, they went and attempted to lift up themselves, and glorify themselves. So God confused their language, and frustrated their plans (Genesis 11:7-9). Specifically, the text says “the Lord scattered them all over the face of the Earth”.
We have this issue today. It is very common in our churches, and in our culture. We seem to feel that if we build the biggest, best, most dynamic church that we will leave a lasting legacy that matters. We may believe that that is the Godly thing to do. We also tend to have the idea that if we build the most intimate small group, that we will succeed in our Christian journey. Now, both those things are not bad in and among themselves, but who is doing the scattering?
To scatter would be to take the Gospel to those who don’t know it. Are we as a Church making the Gospel known to others? Are we doing it in our neighborhoods? Are we going to the foreign countries that don’t know Jesus? Our we telling the people we sit next to all day at work/school/stores/playgrounds? We are called to scatter, just as the people of Babel were called to scatter. God had to force them. I want to learn how to do it willingly.
This is why the final words of Jesus teach us to go, and not stay!
Matthew 28:19-20
“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
Mark 16:15
"Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation.
Luke 24:46-48
"This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things.”
