GOD'S PURPOSE OVER OUR SELF-AMBITIONS

The story of the Tower of Babel continues as the people of the earth began to build the tower. Genesis 11:5-9 says, "But the Lord came down to look at the city and the tower the people were building. 'Look!' he said. 'The people are united, and they all speak the same language. After this, nothing they set out to do will be impossible for them! Come, let's go down and confuse the people with different languages. Then they won't be able to understand each other.' In that way, the Lord scattered them all over the world, and they stopped building the city. That is why the city was called Babel, because that is where the Lord confused the people with different languages. In this way he scattered them all over the world." God stopped the people from building the tower by confusing the people with different languages. As God created humans and gave them the ability to communicate through a language, God miraculously confused their language in an instant. All of a sudden, people began to speak different languages. As a result, they couldn't understand each other. Those who could speak the same language congregated among themselves and eventually scattered together to other places where they could build their own communities. This is where all the languages were formed. According to the Ethnologue website, there are 7,170 known languages in the world today. 

God confused the people with different languages to stop them from building the tower and to scatter them to the other parts of the world. One thing that we learn from this event in history is that God fulfills what He intends to do. The people meant to make a name for themselves and not be scattered, but God stopped them from glorifying themselves and scattered them. The best way to live our lives is to follow what God wants. In the end, His plans will succeed. We also need to give all the glory and honor because everything that we have comes from Him. He is the one that sustain us every day. He gives us oxygen to breathe, water to drink, food to eat, clothes to wear, and a home for shelter. He gives us opportunities, such as our jobs and careers. He sustains our health, and most importantly, He died for our sins so that we can be forgiven and have eternal life. There are so many things we can thank God for. Let us not fall into the temptation of thinking that all the good things that happen to us happen by our own efforts alone. Let us not make a name for ourselves, but give all the glory and honor to God.  

We would not be where we are today if God had not sustained us. God has always been providing everything that we need. We may not feel like God is there with us all the time, but He is always with us. Let us give God all the glory and honor that He deserves. 

Questions for application: (Think through these questions carefully, meditate on them while answering them, and let the Spirit of God speak to you.) Why cannot I take all the credit for all the good things that happened in my life? What are the things that God provides me every day in order for me to continue to live on this earth? Do I give God all the glory and honor for all the good things that happened in my life? 

Take a moment to write down all your worries today. Then, lift them to God in prayer, surrendering them to His will and trusting in His guidance.

Prayer:

Dear Father in Heaven, thank you for sustaining my life every day. As I think of the goodness that you have shown me all these years, I give you all the glory, honor, and praise. Please help me never to forget that I exist because of you. Protect my heart from making a name for myself, because it is not about me, but it is all about you. Please help me remain humble and devoted to you, always prioritizing your purpose over my personal achievements and ambitions. In your name, Jesus, I pray. Amen.