One of my favorite scriptures is Ephesians 3:20 and following. It encourages me that God has plans that I can't even imagine or comprehend. Way above what I could ever think or dream up. A several years ago He showed me a link between these verses and the story of the Tower of Babel in the book of Genesis. I was reminded of it today, so I thought I would share it here.
In Genesis 11:1-9...the people are building a tower, wanting it to be the tallest ever built.They said "let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we may make a name for ourselves..." The Lord decides that they have gone too far and scatters them over the face of the earth, changing their languages so that they cannot speak to each other. God says this about them..."If as one people speaking the same language they have begun to do this, then nothing will be impossible for them. Come, let us go down and confuse their language so they will not be able to understand each other."
Maybe you think that God is acting badly, that He is jealous of their abilities, or that He's afraid they won't need Him anymore. I don't think so. I think He's watching over them and knowing they will decide to live without Him and just how disastrous that will be. Human beings, when left to their own imaginings and designs, can come up with some very bad ideas. Just take a look at some of our history. (And yes, I know all about the Crusades, but that was also man's design, without the truth of who God is and how He loves His creation. That's the point, isn't it?)
In the letter to the Ephesians., Paul writes "Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we can ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen!" (italics mine)
Can you imagine how different the world would be if we actually believed that? I believe this was God's plan from the beginning. I think mankind strayed away from God and devised their own way to heaven and power. And I think that God seperated us so that we would depend on Him and ask Him about His plans for our lives and this earth and then go and do those very things "according to His power that is at work within us"...and I can't imagine what that would be like! Far better than what we have accomplished over the millenia since the tower erecting was abandoned.(or has it been?) Just my thoughts in the beginning of a new year...maybe my resolution. Thanks for stopping by, friends.
In Genesis 11:1-9...the people are building a tower, wanting it to be the tallest ever built.They said "let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we may make a name for ourselves..." The Lord decides that they have gone too far and scatters them over the face of the earth, changing their languages so that they cannot speak to each other. God says this about them..."If as one people speaking the same language they have begun to do this, then nothing will be impossible for them. Come, let us go down and confuse their language so they will not be able to understand each other."
Maybe you think that God is acting badly, that He is jealous of their abilities, or that He's afraid they won't need Him anymore. I don't think so. I think He's watching over them and knowing they will decide to live without Him and just how disastrous that will be. Human beings, when left to their own imaginings and designs, can come up with some very bad ideas. Just take a look at some of our history. (And yes, I know all about the Crusades, but that was also man's design, without the truth of who God is and how He loves His creation. That's the point, isn't it?)
In the letter to the Ephesians., Paul writes "Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we can ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen!" (italics mine)
Can you imagine how different the world would be if we actually believed that? I believe this was God's plan from the beginning. I think mankind strayed away from God and devised their own way to heaven and power. And I think that God seperated us so that we would depend on Him and ask Him about His plans for our lives and this earth and then go and do those very things "according to His power that is at work within us"...and I can't imagine what that would be like! Far better than what we have accomplished over the millenia since the tower erecting was abandoned.(or has it been?) Just my thoughts in the beginning of a new year...maybe my resolution. Thanks for stopping by, friends.
