The Stories of God

Recently, Poh Sun (my ISM - Phd accountant friend) started a yahoogroup entitled, [The Stories of God] for our friend Keiko. As Keiko is still new to the Bible and Christian teachings, we have come together to provide her with a weekly 'devotion' kind of write-up of a chapter or 2 from the Bible. This week, it's my turn and I just completed Chapter 10-11 on The Tower of Babel. Since I have already written it all up, i fig

ured i should post it up here as well. 

THE TOWER OF BABEL 

Before you proceed on, click on this link to read a children's version of the story. 

Genesis 10 

After the flood, only Noah's family was left on earth. However, this began to change as the earth began to be populated by his family. chapter 10 is a detailed family tree of Noah's family through his 3 sons. Have a look. 

Each one of these man became a tribe and subsequently a nation on its own. Obviously, land became scarce as more the population grew, not to mention the very large likelihood of conflicts occurring, these nations, 'spread out over the earth after the flood.' (10:32) 

Genesis 11

Despite the increasing number of people on earth, the whole world had one language and one speech. Everyone understood one another. The people became skilled in construction and decided to build a tower so high and great that reaches the heavens. 

Aim? 

To make a name for themselves, for their own glory. 

When God came to have a look at this tower, He realised that there is nothing impossible for men to do if they all have the same language. So as a 'team' (noticed in verse 7, its, 'let us...") their language was confused and everyone spoke a different language. 

the Result? 

The tower never got completed. Thats where the name of the tower came from. Babel means 'a confusion of sound and voices'. 

The next section of Chapter 11 records the continuation of Noah's family tree from his son Shem. It also acts a link to the next chapter where Abram (or later called Abraham ) is introduced. =) 

Reflection 

After reading this two chapters, some of my thoughts include:

1. Today's towel of babel 

Things arent very much different today is it? Reading this story reminded me of how different countries race to build the tallest skyscraper in the world. 

some examples of these towers: 

1. PetronasTwin towers in malaysia 

2. Taipei 101

3.  Shanghai world financial centre 

reason/aim?

To make a name for themselves, for their own glory. 

2. nothing is impossible when we all speak the same language. 

As Christians, we speak the same language of love. We might come from different cultural backgrounds, different countries, grow up learning different languages but God's love language of 1) loving God 2) loving others unites us together and nothing is impossible!. Just look at our group! 

We have Singaporeans, Malaysians, Koreans, Chinese, Japanese, Taiwanese (as well i think). Yet, we speak one language of love and that has enabled us to do things like Soup Van for instance. =)