10-15-2015

Good Morning All!!

         Genesis 11:3; “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.”

     “When will they ever learn?”  This is an age old question.  The Kingston Trio (and others) asked this question in the song “Where have all the Flowers Gone?”  I can almost envision God, sitting on his heavenly throne, asking the same question about mankind, “When will he ever learn?”

    I was reading a biblical commentator’s thoughts on the story of the “Tower of Babel.”  He focused in on this verse and then on Gen. 6:14.  Both verses refer to using a tar-like substance, here it is bitumen and in Gen. 6:14 it is pitch, in order to seal the thing being constructed.  In Gen. 6:14, pitch is used to seal and to waterproof the Ark.  The commentator makes two points about our verse.  By burning or firing the bricks thoroughly and using a tar-like substance for the mortar to hold them together, they were attempting to build a waterproof building.  By building it to the heavens, the theory goes; this group of people was trying to build a flood proof home.  Once again man wanted to be “like God” (think Adam and Eve) and try to out think God. 

    When will they ever learn?  They were trying to make God’s power moot and trying to make themselves equal to God.  God confounded their speech and the tower construction was stopped.  What about us; when will we ever learn?

    Man has tried many times to make himself God.  We try to tell ourselves that we are too smart to need God.  We try to tell ourselves that we have no need for God.  We have knowledge, technology and skills that replace our need for God.  We turn away from God; destroy his altars and abandon his Word.  As we look around the world, when will we ever learn? 

    We often learn, like our ancestors and predecessors; when everything goes wrong; turn back to God and follow him.  God’s Spirit is always calling us back.  He is always reminding us of his love for us and the redemption we receive through Jesus.  Sometimes this message falls on deaf ears and hard hearts. But God continues to call us to repentance.  God displays his incredible patience and lovingkindness by sparing us from the punishment we deserve.

   We can live free from the fear of God’s wrath and punishment.  Because of Jesus we are free from sin, death and the power of the devil but we are also freed from God’s wrath.  Jesus bore that on the cross.  So cling to his loving forgiveness and stay in his grace.

God of all grace, forgive me when I think that I am the one who matters.  Do not abandon me for I am weak.  Lift me up with your Words of redemption.  Keep me in your loving arms.  Lead me to rejoice in your grace.  In the precious name of Jesus we pray, amen.

God’s Peace,

Pastor Bret