Reflection:
“The Tower of Babel represented doubt of God’s word and defiance of His will. It was designed as monument to apostasy and as a citadel of rebellion against Him. This was but the first step in an evil master plan to control the world. Prompt and decisive action was called for, to warn men of God’s displeasure and to frustrate their wicked schemes.” SDA Bible Commentary Genesis 11:6
This tower was a precursor to Babylon, and it also represents an alternate means of salvation. Noah’s ark represents Jesus, the way of salvation provided by God. The tower of Babel represents human efforts at salvation, man working to save himself from God’s judgments by his own ingenuity and efforts. It is also the enemy’s instrument to bring confusion about God’s judgment and His plan. When we trust any way other than Jesus, we build our own tower of Babel. All human towers do not look the same and they are not built with the same materials. This is why some build towers while others build bunkers.
Genesis 11 makes the genealogical link from Shem to Abraham. After the flood, there is a decrease in the total age of human beings.
“Although Noah himself reached the antediluvian age of 950 years, Shein’s age was only 600 and that of his son Arphaxad but 438 years. In succeeding generations the process continued, so that Nahor, the grandfather of Abraham, lived to be only 148 years of age. This greatly abbreviated life span may have been due partly to climatic changes. More important still was the change in diet from vegetarian to one including the flesh of animals (PP 107; CD 391). With each succeeding generation the human race was further and further removed from the vigorous physical heritage of Adam and from the invigorating fruit of the tree of life.” SDA Bible Commentary
In Genesis 12 The Lord calls Abram to enter a covenant with Him. In different words, it is the same covenant made with mankind in Genesis 3:15.
“… And all the families of the earth shall be blessed in you”, refers to Jesus.
“As his spiritual offspring, Christians today share in the blessing imparted to Abram (Gal. 3:8, 29). The blessing vouchsafed to him would finally unite divided families on earth, and change the dread curse pronounced upon the ground because of sin into a blessing for all men. All further promises to the patriarchs and to Israel either clarified or amplified the promise of salvation offered the entire human race in the first promise made to Abram.” SDABC Genesis 12:3
“Henceforward Abram is the hero of the Genesis narrative. This is the first recorded divine revelation to Abram, although it is known from Acts 7:2 that God had appeared to him at least once previously. The word of The Lord begins with a command, continues with a promise, and ends with a blessing. These three significant aspects characterize every manifestation of God to man. The promises of God are fulfilled, and His blessings received only as His commands are obeyed.” SDABC Genesis 1
In Egypt, Abram lied about his wife Sarah, or rather, he told a half-truth or hid the truth all together. Whatever we consider it to be, let us put ourselves in their shoes and remember that they came to an unknown land, were among an unknown people, and fear led them to act in this way. They lacked faith, but God protected them from their own mistakes. He is good and merciful.
May the blessing and promise to Abraham be fulfilled in you and your family today.
