Tower of Babel?

[Reynolds]

I have often wondered what the real motive behind The Tower was. Scripture is a bit vague
I can't help but think that due to the timing of it's building, the real purpose was to make a tower so big and so tall that God could (in their minds anyway) not destroy them with another flood. I am sure they had forgotten Gods promise not to do that.
Any thoughts?

 

[rlvaughn]

The statement of the builders indicates a twofold reasoning for their purpose:

• let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven
• let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth

This statement of purpose does not give any indication of reaching up high above possible flood waters, but more of a unifying city with a unifying purpose. The city would be a place to live. A tower in the heavens would be a beacon to all. They wanted to have a name (which may suggest the desire for power and fame, and perhaps putting their name in place of God's name), and they did not want to scatter across the whole earth -- in contrast to God's command, Genesis 9:1.

God's judgment broke up their plans, and in contrast to the building of the city, the work was abandoned. In contrast to banding together and making a name, God scattered them (Genesis 11:8). So it seems that God's judgment addressed the two things of their intent, with no hint of anything about a flood.

 

[37818]

God's purpose is also summarized, Acts of the Apostles 17:26-27, ". . . and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation; That they should seek the Lord, . . ."

 

[AustinC]

I have often wondered what the real motive behind The Tower was. Scripture is a bit vague
I can't help but think that due to the timing of it's building, the real purpose was to make a tower so big and so tall that God could (in their minds anyway) not destroy them with another flood. I am sure they had forgotten Gods promise not to do that.
Any thoughts?

The best explanation I have read comes from "The Promised One - Seeing Jesus in Genesis" by Nancy Guthrie.

Essentially, man attempted to rise up to be God (like Satan tried). Instead, we see that no matter how high the tower was, God still descended to man. God then showed his authority and in love he gave different languages so that mankind would know their need for God by being separated. Now bring in Jesus. Jesus comes and brings unity. At pentacost we see God showing the unity of all nations in Christ by giving the believers the gift of tongues, which testified to all nations regarding the unity of all who would believe under Christ's redemptive work.
Babel separated so men could not worship themselves and would know their need (an act of love by God). The cross unified and brings all nations tribes and tongues together through Jesus atoning sacrifice (an act of love by God).

 

[Scarlett O.]

Well, I don't have the answer, but I do have a side story.

I was teaching the Tower of Babel once in Vacation Bible School to 5-year-olds. I am a firm believer in digging as deeply as you can with small children. They can handle it.

I also teach with questioning techniques. It always brings explosive results.

As I told the story, we built a very tall tower with wooden blocks - on the table. You'd think they weren't listening to me, but they were.

After the story and tower were finished, I began the questioning. I made them put their hands in the laps. I said, "God could have just knocked the Tower down and destroyed it. Why do you think he didn't do that?"

One 5-year-old boy raised his hand and said, "Well, you know those people were so bad that they would have just built it right back!"

 

[Salty]

The Tower happened about 100 years after the Flood.
Which means Noah was still alive -as well as his 3 sons

I'm sure they told their offspring why the Flood happened -
yet the descendants still went into wicked ways.

 

[Jerome]

Explained by the Flannelgraph Televangelist, Beka Horton

Video Here

 

[JonC]

In ANE thought they built towers not to get to their god but to get god to come down to them (and the city would be a great city). The tower was usually in temple cities but did not constitute the temple itself. Offetings of food was often left atop these towers.

I suspect the Tower of Babbel was along these lines. In a way, it was an attempt to recreate Eden.