Day 3.
Then they 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.” (Genesis 11:4 ESV)
When Noah and his family left the ark God gave them a mandate to go and multiply and fill the earth that they might subdue it. But here we find the people refusing that mandate. They don’t want to be dispersed over the whole earth. But rejecting God’s mandate means they need to find another purpose, another means of significance. And so they seek to build a city and a tower to make a name for themselves.
Isn’t this still the case today? When we seek to “build a name for ourselves” or spend our energy and passion on building a kingdom of our own it gets in the way of doing as God directs. We have a purpose and a name from God in Christ. We are to seek His kingdom and His righteousness instead of worrying and scurrying about trying to establish our own.
Lord, your name means “God saves”. Would you give us in 2013 a passion to come together as a church and seek to see your kingdom extended in Katy, Houston, and the world. Give us faith to trust in your provision for us.
