01/19/2020
It is so ironic when we forecast, pick, our own punishment, or the path of our spiritual lesson. Have you ever been wrestling with a sin you have committed and while you did so said something like this to yourself? “If God hadn’t meant for me to do this He would/wouldn’t have _________!” Then almost immediately that very thing you said He would or wouldn’t do proves to be your undoing? Saying such things is almost always followed by a lesson, revelation, and in the midst of our ensuing suffering, a prayer for forgiveness. What word(s) did you insert? Was it “let me do it”?
“And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth.”
Genesis 11:4 KJV
Sometimes the most profound and life altering changes in our lives come when we are allowed to fail. There is no revelation more searing, and life altering than the one that comes as we pick ourselves up, or endure the pain of a bad decision. In our scripture reading this morning the people were building the Tower of Babel. Do we really think that one day God just happened to look down from Heaven and seeing the tower said “WOW... what’s this?!” Do we believe that it was happenstance that the people said “let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad”?
When my kids were young they were occasionally obstinate, head strong, and argumentative... sound familiar? Well, sometimes they were so adamant when wanting to do something that Ann and I knew would turn out badly that I would look at Ann and say “Let them go ahead and do it... they will see we were right.” We would then watch as they failed, and we would witness the learning process in action. Sometimes, like in our relationship with God they would say “You were right, I should have listened to you! Can you forgive me?” But, they occasionally were known to shift blame by saying “How could you let me do that? You knew what was going to happen?!”
First of all... have you ever learned a faith lesson in this way?, and secondly... how did you react? Did you give God the respect He deserves, and ask for His forgiveness, or did you claim to be the offended party, and attempt to shift the blame to Him... thus moving straightway to your next lesson... understanding the importance of earning the respect of God.
I read a good statement this morning that was written long ago by a Puritan author, and this is what he said...
“When we hunt after respect from men, and make that the chief scope of our actions, God’s glory will certainly lie in the dust.” - Thomas Manton, Works
As we look at this statement wondering how it deals with our children we can insert “ourselves” for the word “men”, and “parents” for the word “God”, and it will be just as true. Both honoring God, and our parents are important spiritual principals. We are told by way of God’s commandment to honor our parents,
“Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.”
Exodus 20:12 KJV
and we are also meant to honor God as our Heavenly Father tells us...
“Wherefore the Lord God of Israel saith, I said indeed that thy house, and the house of thy father, should walk before me for ever: but now the Lord saith, Be it far from me; for them that honour me I will honour, and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed.”
1 Samuel 2:30 KJV
God is with us always, he knows our heart, he hears us whether we are making bold spiritual proclamations of truth, or murmuring in discontent under our breath, and He has a way of being ironic in dealing with us... or sometimes shows a sense of divine humor... like changing the languages of those building the Tower of Babel.
So, do we find that God uses our own words, or the faulty desires of our hearts while teaching us the error of our ways, or the wages of sin? Does He let us have our own way, and then remains silent as He waits for our contrition and prayer for forgiveness before stepping in to pick up the broken pieces? We are so flighty in our wants, that we desire both free will, and for God to keep us from making the dumb mistakes we so often do. Has He changed your language lately? Has He treated you as His stubborn child?
“Therefore its name was called Babel, because there the Lord confused the language of all the earth. And from there the Lord dispersed them over the face of all the earth.”
Genesis 11:9 ESV
Prayer:
Father, thank you for your Son Jesus Christ who shows us how a son should honor his father, and a man should love, honor, and obey his God. Thank you for your Word that guides us in life, but thank you also for those times when you see our obstinate nature, and remain silent as we stumble over ourselves on the way to realizing you are right in all things... perfect in your judgement and will. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you our God who is perfect in every way, and loved us beyond our wildest expectation. Praised be your name in the times you scatter us, and in those when you call us together once more. Know us Holy Father as we honor, serve, and obey you, and have patience in us your children when we stumble and stray from your counsel and guidance. Have mercy father when we sin, and hear our prayers of contrition and forgiveness; meet them in your grace, and through the blood of your Son Jesus Christ. We strive to honor you now, and forevermore Lord, so we pray that your hand, your staff, and your rod not be spared from us. We ask that you teach and discipline us as your loving children. All glory is yours Lord, and your amazing grace demands that we honor and respect you always.
“Give ear, O Lord, to my prayer; listen to my plea for grace. In the day of my trouble I call upon you, for you answer me.”
Psalms 86:6-7 ESV
Rich Forbes