E-pistle for March 27, 2009
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E-pistle
Dr. Dan Hite, President FreeWay Foundation March 27, 2009
The Tower of Babel
(Genesis 11:1-9)
Dr. Curt Scarborough
I. Concentration: on the location and identification of Babel
1. It was in the vicinity of the mountain range of Ararat, where Noah's
ark landed (Turkey, southern Russia, or northwest Iran), Genesis 8:6.
2. It probably was in the valley between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers,
possibly identified with Abraham's birthplace, Ur, Genesis 11:28, 31.
3. "Babel" means "mixed up" or "confused," vv. 7, 9 . . . later the site
became known as "the gate of the god."
4. Babel later became Babylon, the capital of the Babylonian empire,
located about 50 miles south of modern Baghdad, Iraq. It was from
this area that Noah's sons "divided" the earth, settling generally in the
northern, central, and southern continents of Europe, Asia, and Africa.
II. Meditation: on some other interesting details about this passage
1. The separation (dividing) of nations caused by the confusion of languages
occurred about the time of Peleg's birth, Genesis 10:25.
2. This was 101 years after the flood and 326 years before the call of Abraham,
Genesis 11:10-32.
3. "Shinar," v. 2, probably is Mesopotamia, Genesis 10:10.
4. "Eber," v. 4, is the man from whom the Hebrews got their name.
III. Revelation: on the events of the tower of Babel account
1. The people decided to build a tower for these reasons: (v. 4)
(1) To establish themselves as a people within the safety of a city,
(2) To approach God's presence (heaven) through their own works,
(3) To enhance their prideful reputation . . . "make a name," and
(4) To keep from being scattered and separated over the earth.
2. The Lord came down to see, spoke His will, and confused their languages
so that they were scattered throughout the earth, vv. 5-9.
3. This tower of Babel incident was God's method of defeating false worship.
4. This incident also was God's method for dispersing the human race to
subdue the earth, Genesis 1:28. (Compare with Acts 8:1)
IV. Applications: as a Christian, I need to . . .
1. Recognize the power of people with a unified tongue . . . "nothing that they
propose to do will be withheld from them," v. 6.
2. Avoid sinning against God by self-preservation, fleshly "good works," pride,
and disobedience.
3. Realize that the Lord sees and knows what is happening on earth . . . and
that He is actively involved in our lives today.
4. Know that whether or not we cooperate, God certainly shall accomplish
His will and purpose on the earth.
God's Call To Abram
(Genesis 12:1-9)
Dr. Curt Scarborough
I. Concentration: on God's commands and promises
1. Commands: (1) Get out of your country, (2) from your family, (3) from
your father's house, (4) to a land that I will show you, v. 1.
2. Promises: (1) I will make you a great nation, (2) I will bless you . . . and
I will bless those who bless you, (3) I will make your name great, and
(4) you shall be a blessing to all families of the earth, vv. 2-3.
II. Meditation: on Abram's responses to God's call
1. At age 75, Abram departed, taking his wife, Sarai, and his brother's son
Lot, along with their possessions, vv. 4-5.
2. Abram traveled into the Promised Land (Canaan) to Shechem, where the
Lord appeared and reaffirmed His original promises, vv. 6-7.
3. Abram build an altar there to the Lord, v. 7.
4. Abram moved his tent to a site between Bethel and Ai, where he built
another altar and called on the name of the Lord before going south
. . . outside of the land which God had promised him, vv. 8-9.
III. Revelation: on the relationship between God and Abram's family
1. Abraham could have known Noah's son (Shem) . . . according to the
genealogy in Genesis 11. (Could Shem be Melchizedek in Genesis 14:18?)
2. Noah's father (Lamech) knew Adam, Genesis 11.
3. Both these genealogical lists (Adam to Noah, and Shem to Abraham)
include ten generations, but Adam lived 930 years while Abraham lived
a relatively short life span of 175 years, Genesis 25:7.
4. In these early chapters of the Bible, God spoke with Adam and Noah and
Abraham (not including Enoch, who was translated); God's intimate
communication with men did not overlap . . . a generation passed after
Adam and before Noah, and after Noah and before Abraham.
IV. Applications: as a Christian, I need to know that . . .
1. Whenever I obey God's commands, His conditional promises become
unconditional promises. (God told Abram to go . . . and I will bless; Abram
obeyed by faith and God affirmed by saying: "I will!" vv. 2, 7.)
2. Just as Noah heard the Garden of Eden story from his father (Lamech) who
got it directly from Adam; and just as Abraham heard the story of the flood
from Noah's son (Shem) who was on the ark . . . even so, I stand in a long
line of spiritual family members who receive God's words and acts, and
pass them along from generation to generation.
3. God's plan is to reveal Himself to individuals who are available to hear His
voice, and His purpose is to use their influence for good all the days of their
lives and into future generations.
4. In my personal life's journey, I "camp" between Bethel ("House of God") and
Ari ("ruin") . . . and my personal choice determines my destiny.
"We need to learn to set our course by the stars,
not by the lights of every passing ship."
-Omar Bradley
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