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Tower of Babel
Question: Who built the tower of Babel? What was their purpose or
intention? What time period was this?

Explanation of text:
1. The text is Genesis 11:1-9. What was done here was in open
rebellion against God In direct opposition to God's command to
spread out and fill up the whole earth (9:1).
2. They were refusing to spread out, and were seeking notoriety.
Then wanted to make a name for themselves. They were thus declaring
themselves to be independent of God. They were going to depend upon
their own strength and wisdom to accomplish their ends.
3. Their pride became their downfall. God is sovereign. God would
accomplish His plan, if not with man's obedience, then in spite of
man's disobedience. Consider Psa. 76:10: "Surely the wrath of man
shall praise thee: The residue of wrath shalt thou gird upon thee."
But ft. nt.: The residue of wrath shalt thou restrain. "Thus what
they would not do in obedience (viz., scatter over the earth, v.4)
He did for them in judgment (v.8)" (BKC.44).
4. Everything that mankind proposed in the first half (11:3-4) was
disposed of in the second (vv. 5-9).
5. Babel means "confusion." God is not the author of confusion (1
Cor. 14:33; see also Jas. 3:16).
6. Probably 11:1-9 explains how the arrangement in ch. 10 came
about.

LESSONS:
1. Sin separates.
     a. Man from God Gen.3
     b. Brother from brother Gen. 4
     c. Family from family Gen. 9
     d. Nation from nation Gen. 11.
2. Throughout the OT, we learn that man is rewarded and blessed for
obedience; he is punished for disobedience.
     a. This is seen not only here with the nations of the world,
but repeatedly in the history of the nation of Israel.

THE QUESTION OF HISTORICITY
     A discussion of this passage raises the question as to whether
Gen. 1-11 is historical, or is it mythological and allegorical?
1. Many dismiss these first 11 chapters as being mythology.
Accordingly, the account of creation is attacked. The account of
Adam and Eve, the fall, the flood, as well as the Tower of Babel
are dismissed as "not a literal, historical record."
2. Jesus' attitude: Lk. 24:25; John 5:46-47. 
     a. Quoted from Gen. 1 and 2 in Matt. 19:4-6, thus "stamping
the chapters as both historically accurate and divinely inspired."
(Henry Morris.EA,vol1:148).
     b. Called Satan the "father of lies" (Jno.8:44) referring back
to the historical account of Gen. 3:4).
     c. Referred to Abel as a real, historical character (Matt.
23:35).
     d. Flood; Mt. 24:37ff.


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