Basic HTML Version
Chapter 9—The Tower of Babel
This chapter is based on
Genesis 11:1-9
.
Some of the descendants of Noah soon began to apostatize. A
portion followed the example of Noah and obeyed God’s command-
ments; others were unbelieving and rebellious, and even these did
not believe alike in regard to the Flood. Some disbelieved in the
existence of God, and in their own minds accounted for the Flood
from natural causes. Others believed that God existed and that He
destroyed the antediluvian race by a flood; and their feelings, like
Cain’s, rose in rebellion against God because He destroyed the peo-
ple from the earth and cursed the earth the third time by a flood.
Those who were enemies of God felt daily reproved by the
righteous conversation and godly lives of those who loved, obeyed,
and exalted God. The unbelieving consulted among themselves and
agreed to separate from the faithful, whose righteous lives were
a continual restraint upon their wicked course. They journeyed a
distance from them and selected a large plain wherein to dwell. They
built them a city, and then conceived the idea of building a large
tower to reach unto the clouds, that they might dwell together in the
city and tower, and be no more scattered.
They reasoned that they would secure themselves in case of
another flood, for they would build their tower to a much greater
[73]
height than the waters prevailed in the time of the Flood, and all the
world would honor them, and they would be as gods and rule over
the people. This tower was calculated to exalt its builders, and was
designed to turn the attention of others who should live upon the
earth from God to join with them in their idolatry. Before the work
of building was accomplished, people dwelt in the tower. Rooms
were splendidly furnished, decorated, and devoted to their idols.
Those who did not believe in God imagined if their tower could
reach unto the clouds, they would be able to discover reasons for the
Flood.
57