After the flood, the only humans on earth were Noah and his family. From his three sons came three strains of peoples of which all today trace their heritage. In Genesis 10 and 11 we read how nations began.
Famously, Nimrod founded a city called Babel. In defiance and open rebellion against God, the population decided to build a tower. Archaeologists have discovered in that part of the world a style of construction called ziggurats, a type of tall temple pyramid, often decorated with symbols of the sun, moon and stars with an altar for false worship on top.
Babel, then, is the birthplace of astrology and all other false religions that worship the host of heaven, instead of the God of heaven. They look to the creation for signs, instead of the Creator and Sustainer of the universe. In response to Babel, God intervened by giving them different languages so they can no longer work together in such united rebellion. To this day the word Babel refers to confusion. And, Babylon remains in current news.
Arrogant independence and open defiance against God will only lead to destruction of a nation and a life.
Psalm 9:17-"The wicked shall return to Sheol, all the nations that forget God."
Proverbs 14:34-"Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people."
How does God respond to those who think like William Ernest Henley-"I am the master of my fate, I am the captain of my soul"? Psalm 2 should strike such a fear of God that all humble themselves before Him. Verse 4 states, "He who sits in the heavens laughs." God does not laugh because sinful rebellion is funny, but because a human being thinking of challenging Almighty God and living without Him is so absurd. It is insane.
The Apostle Paul wrote in Philippians 2:10 that one day-"at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."
May our nation return to its true spiritual roots before its too late. May this be the year when those we love who continue to defy the Lord surrender themselves to Him.
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