 Now the whole earth had one language and the same words. 2 And as people migrated from the east, they found a plain in the land of Shinar and settled there. 3 And they said to one another, “Come, let us make bricks, and burn them thoroughly.” And they had brick for stone, and bitumen for mortar. 4 Then they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city and a tower with its top in the heavens, and let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be dispersed over the face of the whole earth.” 5 And the Lord came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of man had built. 6 And the Lord said, “Behold, they are one people, and they have all one language, and this is only the beginning of what they will do. And nothing that they propose to do will now be impossible for them. 7 Come, let us go down and there confuse their language, so that they may not understand one another's speech.” 8 So the Lord dispersed them from there over the face of all the earth, and they left off building the city. 9 Therefore its name was called Babel, because there the Lord confused the language of all the earth. And from there the Lord dispersed them over the face of all the earth.
Shem's Descendants 10 These are the generations of Shem. When Shem was 100 years old, he fathered Arpachshad two years after the flood. 11 And Shem lived after he fathered Arpachshad 500 years and had other sons and daughters. 12 When Arpachshad had lived 35 years, he fathered Shelah. 13 And Arpachshad lived after he fathered Shelah 403 years and had other sons and daughters. 14 When Shelah had lived 30 years, he fathered Eber. 15 And Shelah lived after he fathered Eber 403 years and had other sons and daughters. 16 When Eber had lived 34 years, he fathered Peleg. 17 And Eber lived after he fathered Peleg 430 years and had other sons and daughters. 18 When Peleg had lived 30 years, he fathered Reu. 19 And Peleg lived after he fathered Reu 209 years and had other sons and daughters. 20 When Reu had lived 32 years, he fathered Serug. 21 And Reu lived after he fathered Serug 207 years and had other sons and daughters. 22 When Serug had lived 30 years, he fathered Nahor. 23 And Serug lived after he fathered Nahor 200 years and had other sons and daughters. 24 When Nahor had lived 29 years, he fathered Terah. 25 And Nahor lived after he fathered Terah 119 years and had other sons and daughters. 26 When Terah had lived 70 years, he fathered Abram, Nahor, and Haran. Terah's Descendants 27 Now these are the generations of Terah. Terah fathered Abram, Nahor, and Haran; and Haran fathered Lot. 28 Haran died in the presence of his father Terah in the land of his kindred, in Ur of the Chaldeans. 29 And Abram and Nahor took wives. The name of Abram's wife was Sarai, and the name of Nahor's wife, Milcah, the daughter of Haran the father of Milcah and Iscah. 30 Now Sarai was barren; she had no child. 31 Terah took Abram his son and Lot the son of Haran, his grandson, and Sarai his daughter-in-law, his son Abram's wife, and they went forth together from Ur of the Chaldeans to go into the land of Canaan, but when they came to Haran, they settled there. 32 The days of Terah were 205 years, and Terah died in Haran. Meditation Do you understand the burden and blessing of technological advancements, from Artificial Intelligence, the internet of everything, to virtual reality? This ancient text launches scripture into a healthy understanding of how Christians faithfully navigate technology in a fallen world. Examples of technology in the days of Babel were bricks and bitumen (2). Bitumen had been used to waterproof the ark (6:14) and will be used for rescuing baby Moses (Exodus 2:3). Here the technology is used in rebellion to God, to “make their name great.” (4) Humanity was rejecting God’s design to “fill the earth” (Genesis 9:7; 1:28) and distorting God’s intention for His image bearers (see the meditation on Psalm 8). Their stewardship of technology was mis-directed. The same technology used for salvation and sanctity of life is re-directed for personal glory. The structure of creation remains good, though fallen, so the solution is not abandonment but a re-direction of stewardship, redeeming technology for the glory of God. God’s word commands we direct all of life for the glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:31) and this includes how we use technology. Throughout history the church has redeemed technology for the advancement of the Kingdom of God- Roads in the Roman Empire empowered missionary activity in the early Church and the printing press fueled the Protestant reformation in the 16th century. Will Christians use technology today for the advancement of the glory and name of God or will we, like the people at Babel, seek to make our own name great? Dwelling Richly -Where do you see the abuse of technology for the glory of humanity and the continuing of dis-ordering God’s good design? -“Abuse does not negate proper use…” The same internet used to publish these Scripture meditations can be used to bully people, extort money, or advance illicit trades. How can your use of technology bring glory to God? -Take a moment to look at the Resources page and see the ways technology is being used for God’s glory. Key Verse 4 Then they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city and a tower with its top in the heavens, and let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be dispersed over the face of the whole earth.” Comments are closed.
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