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NASB | Genesis 3:22 ¶ Then the LORD God said, "Behold, the man has become like one of Us, knowing good and evil; and now, he might stretch out his hand, and take also from the tree of life, and eat, and live forever"-- |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Genesis 3:22 ¶ And the LORD God said, "Behold, the man has become like one of Us (Father, Son, Holy Spirit), knowing [how to distinguish between] good and evil; and now, he might stretch out his hand, and take from the tree of life as well, and eat [its fruit], and live [in this fallen, sinful condition] forever"-- |
Subject: Is God capable of sarcasm, are people 1? |
Bible Note: Sonofmom, "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." With regard to God saying they are "one," I do not think this is sarcasm but rather figurative language perhaps. What he means here is that they are all one language and one people group so to speak. Perhaps we would say "one nation." The point being that humanity was essentially united with no difference in culture, language, or ethnicity. Where God says that nothing that they purpose to do will be impossible for them is a little harder for me to answer. I don't get, the impression that it is sarcasm. If it was sarcasm God would be saying the opposite, that they really couldn't do anything and that doesn't seem to be the case. But neither do I think he means by this that they can for example, create a bird from thin air. So certainly he doesn't mean absolutely nothing is impossible for them. In the end all I think we can say definitively is that their very real ability to achieve their goals coupled with their "man glorifying" focus had them headed for spiritual destruction for the sake of temporal power. See verse 4 for their man centered goals and keep in mind God had commanded them to spread through the whole earth. Coincidentally, I just listened to a sermon on this passage that might interest you. http://www.desiringgod.org/ResourceLibrary/Sermons/ByDate/2007/2354_The_Pride_of_Babel_and_the_Praise_of_Christ/ In Christ, Beja |