Lesson 5 Review: All Nations and Babel

 

Introduction

Memory Text: “Therefore its name is called Babel, because there the LORD confused the language of all the earth; and from there the LORD scattered them abroad over the face of the earth”(Genesis 11:9, NKJV).

His father cursed Canaan, the son of Ham; there was also a curse from God that confused the language of man. These curses, however, turn out to be a blessing because first, it is through the subduing of that Shem will inherit Canaan and be a blessing to the rest of the nations would be blessed and by confusing the language of man the whole earth will be filled.

What is the parallel between Noah’s act in the vineyard and Adam’s act in the garden?

Adam and Noah both ate of the fruit, resulting in nakedness, then a covering, a curse, a blessing.

Why does the curse of Ham not justify the theories of racism?

The prophecy was restricted to Canaan, Ham’s son. The Biblical author has in mind some of the corrupt practices of the Canaanites and it is a gross theological mistake and ethical crime to think that this text justifies racist theories.

What are the functions of the genealogy in the Bible?

First, it emphasizes the historical nature of the biblical events, which are related to real people who lived and died and whose days are precisely numbered. Second, it demonstrates the continuity from antiquity to the contemporary time of the writer. Third, it reminds us of human fragility and of the tragic effects of sin’s curse and its deadly results on all generations that followed.

Why were the people of Babel so keen to achieve unity?

They were so keen to achieve unity because they doubted the promises of God, they believed that the flood was from a natural cause and they desired to achieve unity to prevent the effect of another flood. Their keenness to achieve unity shows a desire to take the place of God. God said in the beginning, “Let Us…” the people of Babel said “let us build…”. Building the tower to reach to the heavens, and their plans to avoid been scattered abroad on the face of the earth all support the fact that they wanted an autonomy of their own.

What does God’s coming down to meet the people of Babel teach us?

God’s coming down to meet us teaches us first that no matter how much we try to be more than God, God is still superior to us, while men built the tower up to meet God, God descended to see them. It also points to the fact that whatever we do cannot save us, it is only God’s actions that is able to save us.

Why is God’s dispersion redemptive?

God confusing their language was to redeem man back to the initial design and blessing, which is to “multiply and fill the earth”.

What crucial reason caused the men of Babel to stick together to build the tower?

They sought to “make a name for themselves”, a powerful indication of their arrogance and pride.

In Conclusion,

The event of the tower of Babel was in total defiance of what God intended for man, they did not only go against God’s blessings to “be fruitful and multiply” they also sought to make a name for themselves, which caused God to confuse their language. In many ways, we seek to make a name for ourselves and claim glory for ourselves but God is forever supreme. I pray that we glorify God in our lives and not seek to make a name for ourselves in Jesus’ name.