The Lord Came Down One Language Shem Ham

The Lord Came Down

One Language • Shem, Ham and Japheth came out of the ark with Noah (Genesis 9: 18 -19) • Nations came out of them (Genesis 10) • The whole world had one language (11: 1) • Genesis 11: 2 – Journeyed – “to pluck up (tent pegs)” according to John T. Willis – Shinar – later known as Babylon

Making a Name for Themselves • Genesis 11: 3 -4 The expression “let us” is used 3 times, showing they were more concerned with their own thoughts than the will of God – There is no particular sin in building – The problem is the intent and desire for personal fame which prevented them from giving glory to God (Jer. 32: 17 -22; Neh. 9: 712; Gen. 9: 1)

The Gate of God • The confusion of the languages resulted in the end of the tower project and not one name of one builder remains (Genesis 11: 8) • They were scattered to the 4 corners of the earth • Babel originally meant “the gate of God, ” but it has come to mean “a confusion of sounds or voices (Genesis 11: 9) • In a sense, God used the confusion of voices to send people out so the city proved to be a gate for God’s purposes

The Lord Came Down • Man was doing his greatest work, but God had to come down to see their insignificant work (Genesis 11: 5; Isaiah 40: 15 -17, 22 -24) • God is all-knowing (Ps. 139: 1 -6; Prov. 15: 3) • God is everywhere (Ps. 139: 7 -12; Jer. 23: 24) • God created all we see and know (Gen. 1: 1) • God confused the languages because (11: 6 -7): – Their unity because of common ancestors and language was used in a bad way – No form of rebellion would be out of the realm of possibility

Conclusion • God’s plan is the only one that will meet with success (Prov. 19: 21; 16: 3) • Unity helps accomplish goals (1 Pet. 4: 11; 1 Cor. 1: 10; Eph. 4: 1 -6) • Sin has a long range impact—even today we are confronted by the language barrier