Pointing to Jesus (Genesis 11)

Summary:

Genesis 11 describes two main sections. First, the Tower of Babel: In the plain of Shinar, humanity, united by one language, decides to build a city and a tower reaching to the heavens to make a name for themselves and avoid being scattered. 

God sees this act of pride and rebellion, confuses their language to prevent understanding, and scatters them across the earth, halting the project. Second, the chapter provides a genealogy from Shem (Noah’s son) down to Abram (later Abraham), tracing the line through Terah and noting key descendants like Nahor and Lot, setting the stage for God’s covenant with Abram.

Pointing to Jesus:

Genesis 11 vividly illustrates humanity’s innate rebellion against God post-Flood. 

The Tower of Babel exemplifies total depravity: mankind, in unified arrogance, seeks self-glorification and autonomy (“let us make a name for ourselves”), echoing the original sin of Adam and Eve. God’s sovereign intervention—confusing languages and scattering peoples—demonstrates His irresistible will to thwart human schemes that oppose His glory, while also mercifully restraining further unified evil (as seen in the Noahic covenant’s promise against total destruction).

Redemptively, this scattering creates the nations and languages that set up God’s elective plan of salvation. 

Immediately following in Genesis 12, God calls Abram out of this dispersed, idolatrous world (unconditional election) to form a covenant people through whom “all the families of the earth shall be blessed” (Gen. 12:3). 

This promise points forward to Jesus Christ as the ultimate seed of Abraham (Gal. 3:16), who fulfills the covenant by His atoning death and resurrection. 

Babel’s division is reversed at Pentecost (Acts 2), where the Spirit enables gospel proclamation in diverse tongues, uniting elect believers from every nation into one body—the church—under Christ’s headship. 

This highlights particular redemption: Christ dies effectively for His chosen people across scattered humanity, drawing them irresistibly by grace to faith, glorifying God where Babel sought self-glory.

Reflection:

In the Christian life, the Babel narrative reminds us of our natural bent toward prideful self-reliance, which are attributes to indwelling sin even after regeneration. 

Yet, through union with Christ, believers experience the redemptive reversal: instead of building towers for personal fame, we are called to humility, depending on God’s sovereign grace for perseverance. 

This fosters unity in the church amid diversity—crossing cultural and linguistic barriers in gospel mission—as we proclaim Christ to all nations, echoing Abraham’s blessing. 

Practically, it challenges us to combat division with Spirit-empowered love, prioritizing God’s glory in our daily pursuits, work, and relationships, assured that He will complete His redemptive work in us.