Only God's Plan Prevails
The story of the tower in Babel still holds very important lessons for us today. God had told mankind to spread out and fill the earth, yet they refused to obey. Instead, they gathered to create a massive monument as a testimony to their own greatness. Verse 4 tells us their goal is not only be remembered, but to willingly disobey God’s command to spread out. The builders did in fact build a name for themselves – just not how they intended. They will forever be remembered for trying to thwart God’s plan and failing.
There are two great lessons we can learn from this passage:
1) Our plans will never be a success if they contradict God’s plans.
2) Our lives are designed to give God glory – not ourselves.
Proverbs 19:21 says, “Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will be established.” The builders of Babel had many plans, and so do you and me. We can get swept up in our goals for the future, but honestly, only the Lord knows what the future holds. There is nothing wrong with making plans, as long as we leave no room for God make changes.
“Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to thy name give glory, for the sake of thy steadfast love and thy faithfulness!” (Psalm 115:1) What could we do apart from God? Deuteronomy 8:18 reminds us, “You shall remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth; that He may confirm His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as at this day.”
The story of the tower of Babel reminds us to keep our heart in the right place – safely in God’s hands. Nothing we do apart from God will succeed. Nothing we have came because we created it. God gave us our talents and resources. Let us remember to give Him the glory – and the blueprints of our life. He won’t let us down. “The Lord of hosts has sworn: ‘As I have planned, so shall it be, and as I have purposed, so shall it stand.’” (Isaiah 14:24)
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