Wednesday, January 4, 2017

God First

(reposted from 2014)

2016-01-04 Today’s Reading: Genesis 9-11, Luke 4

Title: “God First”
Topic: Pride


SCRIPTURE: Genesis 11:1-9 (particularly v. 4)

1 Now the whole earth had one language and one speech. 2 And it came to pass, as they journeyed from the east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar, and they dwelt there. 3 Then they said to one another, “Come, let us make bricks and bake them thoroughly.” They had brick for stone, and they had asphalt for mortar. 4 And 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.”
5 But the LORD came down to see the city and the tower which the sons of men had built. 6 And 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. 7 Come, let Us go down and there confuse their language, that they may not understand one another’s speech.” 8 So the LORD scattered them abroad from there over the face of all the earth, and they ceased building the city. 9 Therefore 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.


OBSERVATION:
Why did God confuse the languages at Babel? Was He afraid of man getting too advanced and strong (v.6)? God afraid? Hardly! What really seems to be the issue here is the pride, arrogance and selfishness of man— "...let us build OURSELVES a city..." "...let us make a name for OURSELVES..."
A fundamental principle of God was violated: Be humble—honor God first—let Him exalt you. It seems to me that what happened to the people at Babel was a natural consequence of violating a godly principle.


APPLICATION:
If you want to avoid confusion in your life, remember to always put God first. Don't try to exalt yourself. Remain humble, let Him exalt you.


PRAYER:
Thank You Lord for the reminder to keep You first in every aspect of my life. I do not need to exalt myself. I need only exalt and serve You. You will take care of the rest. Amen. -AP

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