The Lord said, “If they have begun to do this as one people all having the same language, then nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them. Come, let’s go down there and confuse their language so that they will not understand one another’s speech.”
Genesis 11:6-7
Imagine That
Have you ever been part of group task or project at work or school? Imagine you proposed the idea that resulted in the group being formed, and you put forth the most effort in the success of the task at hand. Then, at the very last minute, the group decides to toss out your contributions and go in a different direction without letting you know or giving you any credit whatsoever.
Wouldn’t you be angry, frustrated, disappointed? I mean, you were the reason there was a group in the first place. But now no one seems to care about you or your efforts.
The God Who Intervenes
God was probably feeling the same way when He saw His people uniting in their efforts to build a great city and tower without acknowledging the One who created and placed them there in the first place. However, God did not choose to condemn them. This is the story of the God who has drawn near to our mess.
Instead of condemnation, He chose to put an end to those efforts that He knew would not end well for them. He knew and does know better than us, even when we think we’re doing just fine without Him.
Faithfully Interceding
God could have simply allowed His people to continue in their building of this great city and tower. And He could have allowed them to live in unity in one place with one language their whole lives. It’s incredibly difficult to wrap our minds around the fact that God wanted to “mess up” something that seemed so good to us as humans.
However, He knew they would never see their need for a savior or reach true unity in Christ if they succeeded in their efforts.
Now What?
As you make your plans for the day, the month or the year, remember to make room for the possibility that those plans may not go exactly the way you like. After all, your “ruined plans” may just be God getting you back on track for His purpose for your life or shifting your focus back to Him, the One who placed you here to begin with; He has drawn near to our mess.
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