Revelations 22:12-21

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Read Revelations 22:12-21 Verses for meditation: Revelations 22:12-13, 16, 20-21 ESV: 12 "Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay each one for what he has done. 13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.” 16 “I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify to you about these things for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star.” 20 He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon." Amen. Come, Lord Jesus! 21 The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all. Amen. Reflect How does it feel to be reading the very last few verses of the bible? What do the proclamations, the last few of them, say about Christ? Come, Lord Jesus! Does this really express our desire? How does the greatest book end, and on what note? But is this really the end? Relate With mixed feelings, I'm writing this last devotion based on the final ten verses of the greatest book, the bible. What a journe...
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Genesis 10:1 to 11:9 and Psalm 5

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READ: Gen.10.1-11.9 / Ps.5

Verse chosen for meditation: Gen.11.9

"That is why it was called Babel - because there the Lord confused the language of the whole world. From there the Lord scattered them over the face of the whole earth."


REFLECT

Genesis 10 traces the descendants of Japheth (vv.2-5), Ham (vv.6-20) and Shem (vv.21-31). Among them, Nimrod stood out. He founded an empire of naked aggression based in Babylon. He was a tyrant, a mighty hunter to be feared and most significantly, a builder of cities (vv.8-12). With Nimrod the tyrannical city-builder, we come to the building of the tower of Babel (Gen.11:1-9). 

Babel, like many cities in the ancient Near East, was designed as a walled enclosure of a great temple or ziggurat, a mud-brick stair tower designed to reach the realm of the gods. With such a tower, people could ascend to the gods, and the gods could descend to earth. "Let us build ourselves a city, and a tower with its top in the heavens, and let us make a name for ourselves; otherwise we shall be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth" (Gen.11:4). What did they want? Fame and glory. They wanted to make a name for themselves by building skyscraper defining the skyline in one geographical location. What did they fear? Being scattered without security in numbers.

God's objection to such a tower was found it Gen.11:6. The people would think there would be nothing impossible for them. Instead of filling the earth, they would then concentrate themselves in one place to consolidate their power. So the Lord scattered them by confusing the language of all the earth (vv.8-9). Therefore, it was called Babel. 

While it might appear that the scattering of the people was a punishment, it was in fact a means of redemption. From the beginning, God's purpose was to disperse people across the world - 'Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth" (Gen.1:28). So by scattering the people, God put them back on track in filling the earth, ultimately resulting in the beautiful diversity of peoples and cultures that we have today. Yet at the same time, it was a reminder that no one could reach God or "the heavens" on their own accord unless God provides a way. 

RELATE

What can we learn from the Tower of Babel for ourselves today? The specific offence the builders committed was disobedience to God to spread out and fill the earth. Although God would like people to work together for the common good (Gen.2:18; 1 Cor.12:7), He has not created us to accomplish it through centralisation and accumulation of power. He had previously warned Israel against the dangers of concentrating power in a king (1 Sam. 8:10-18). Instead, God has prepared for us a divine king, Christ our Lord, and under Him there is no place for concentration of power in human individuals or institutions. 

In a world where even Christians struggle with sin, God's ideal of earthly dominion seems to be to disperse people, power, authority, and capabilities, rather than concentrating on a single person, institution, party or movement. Even in the spread of the gospel, the Great Commission speaks of making disciples in "all nations". Besides, no one can reach God by his or her own efforts. 

REST

Lord, affix our eyes on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith. Demolish the towers we try to build by our own selfish ambition for they will come to naught. Help us to focus on Your will for Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in Heaven.

Tan Tee Khoon



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