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NASB | Genesis 11:6 The LORD said, "Behold, they are one people, and they all have the same language. And this is what they began to do, and now nothing which they purpose to do will be impossible for them. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Genesis 11:6 And the LORD said, "Behold, they are one [unified] people, and they all have the same language. This is only the beginning of what they will do [in rebellion against Me], and now no evil thing they imagine they can do will be impossible for them. |
Bible Question:
At the tower of babel, man was trying to build a tower "whose top was to reach unto heaven" (Gen 11:4 KJV). In v.6, God seems to respond almost fearfully saying, "this is only the beginning of what they will do, and now nothing they have imagined they can do will be impossible for them." I notice that He didn't say, "they have disobeyed me" or "their pride has angered me" or "those fools think they can actually build a tower to reach heaven" (which is what i was taught!)but "nothinkg they plan to do will be impossible for them." God then mixed up their languages and we all know the rest. my question is what was God so upset about? why did His response seem to convey fear of His own creation? |
Bible Answer: proffitt_79, This is a very complicated matter that only God could solve. Gen 11 4And they said, "Come, let us build ourselves a city, and a tower whose top is in the heavens; let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be scattered abroad over the face of the whole earth." 5But the LORD came down to see the city and the tower which the sons of men had built. 6And the LORD said, "Indeed the people are one and they all have one language, and this is what they begin to do; now nothing that they propose to do will be withheld from them. 7Come, let Us go down and there confuse their language, that they may not understand one another's speech." 8So the LORD scattered them abroad from there over the face of all the earth, and they ceased building the city. 9Therefore 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 all the earth. Notice verse 4: "...let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be scattered abroad over the face of the whole earth." There pride can be clearly seen here. They were intent on making a name for themselves. Also notice the world today. Over the last couple hundred years or so we can see the “benefits” of all people working together. Innovations like the printing press, standardization of measurements, the industrial revolution, the electronics communications revolution, the computer revolution, and the internet information revolution; all are coming upon us faster than we can take. So, God knew that “…now nothing that they propose to do will be withheld from them…” It is clear that this would have come far too prematurely if God had not stepped in. The “benefits” hide the dangers! A single world government sounds great at first glance. The problem comes with who will be the one single world leader? We now know that this will be the Antichrist for a short period. Also, God was giving time for His great plan of mercy, grace, and love as a chosen people of faith would bring forth God’s Son into the world. He had already promised not to bring another great flood. God now brings judgment on nations individually rather than to the whole world together as He did with the great flood. So God was not at all afraid “of” man. But rather, He was afraid “for” man. He wanted them to disperse across the world willingly, but instead, He had to disperse them forcefully. Hope this helps, Pastor Glenn |
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Questions and/or Subjects for Gen 11:6 | Author | ||
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DLanning | ||
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jbw | ||
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proffitt_79 | ||
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Pastor Glenn | ||
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BetsyK70 | ||
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KarenDUsher |