Year 2 Day 213

Year 2 Day 213


Pray (ACts)


Read - Genesis 11


Message - Scott Woodburn  
It is said that Alexander the Great wept because there were no more worlds to conquer. Yet even as tears were running down his cheeks, Alexander founded multiple cities called…wait for it…wait for it…Alexandria! Alexander the Great certainly believed that he was special and worth remembering but he wasn’t the first man who believed his own hype.


In Genesis 10 we meet someone called Nimrod who the Scriptures describe as a mighty man and a mighty hunter. Nimrod was also a builder of cities and both Nineveh and Babel could trace their roots back to Nimrod. Nimrod isn’t held up as a hero in the Bible. He is a descendent of Ham and soon the city of Babel will unite in an attempt to overthrow God.


In those ancient days the whole earth shared the same language (v1) and despite the Lord’s command for mankind to multiply across the face of the earth, humanity did the opposite. With one tongue the peoples said “Come, let us build ourselves a city and a tower with its top in the heavens, and let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be dispersed over the face of the whole earth.” (v4)


This was an act of rebellion and a declaration of war. Humanity was once again shaking an angry fist at the Lord and seeking His removal. Despite mankind’s arrogance the Lord brought His swift judgement to bear. Mankind would seek to use their unity to wage war against the Lord’s people and so the Lord confused their speech (v7) and scattered humanity throughout the world (v8). To this day we speak of the tower of Babel as the place where the Lord confused human speech. No one wants to be a babbler!


The Genesis 11 account of ancient humanity is bleak but the story does not end there. Many years later Jews from every nation under heaven returned to Jerusalem for the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2). It was there that the Apostles began to speak and amazingly despite the multitude of languages represented, everyone heard the mighty works of God in their own tongue.


As the inhabitant’s of Nimrod’s city reached arrogantly towards heaven, the Lord confused their speech and scattered them throughout the earth. At Pentecost the curse of Babel was reversed. Humanity's  confused speech was put in order as the Spirit worked and many heard the Gospel. The prophecy of Joel 2v28-32 was being fulfilled on the day of Pentecost. The  Lord's  promise  to  gather  a  people  from  the  nations  was  being  fulfilled  and  the  Gospel  was  leaving  the  boundaries  of  national Israel. 


We  may  not  be  able  to  order  a  meal  in  Thailand  and  we  might  struggle  to  ask directions  in Peru  but  the  Gospel  is  the  same  in  every  language.  Christ  Jesus  died  for  sinners  and all  who receive  Him  will  be  saved.  Paul  tells  us  of  Pentecost's  significance  in  Ephesians. "Therefore remember  that  at  one  time  you  Gentiles  in  the  flesh,  called  'the  uncircumcision'  by  what  is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands— remember that you were at that  time  separated  from  Christ,  alienated  from  the  commonwealth  of  Israel  and  strangers  to  the  covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you  who  once  were  far  off  have  been  brought  near  by  the  blood  of  Christ."  (Ephesians 2v11-13)


In Christ your nationality is irrelevant and the language you speak is not a factor. The curse of Babel has been reversed and one day with united voice the church of Christ will sing His name forever.


Pray (acTS)


Sing


WSC
Q92 What is a Sacrament? A Sacrament is a holy ordinance instituted by Christ; wherein, by sensible signs, Christ and the benefits of the new covenant are represented, sealed, and applied to believers.
​