God continued with His discourse.
As we have previously discussed Joyce, the world in Noah’s day had gone bananas as you humans would say. It indeed had become quite wicked. The world was not a safe place to be. Of course, I protected Noah and his family. Just as with the world today Joyce murder had become the norm. Killing and stealing had become the norm. Rape and molestation had become the norm. Scamming, swindling, and con was the norm. Marrying and being given in marriage was the norm. Eating, drinking, and making merry was the norm. Sexual immorality had become the norm. If you will take notice Joyce throughout your bible reading, you will see that when sin increases sexual immorality hits an all-time high. We will discuss this more as we journey to other biblical historical events that led to destruction. Lawlessness was the norm. There was little to no justice in the land.
Viewing the world in its present status at that time Joyce; use your imagination to determine what the world would have been like; had it not been destroyed.
With a heart of sadness, the world was washed under by God sent rain. Yes, God sent; not natural disaster but God sent. The purpose behind the emphasis is to indicate that all weather disasters are not God sent. The first chapters of the book of Job, will bring clarity to my statement.
JOB Chapter 1 (New Living Translation)
In the land of Uz there lived a man whose name was Job. This man was blameless and upright; he feared God and shunned evil. 2 He had seven sons and three daughters, 3 and he owned seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen and five hundred donkeys, and had a large number of servants. He was the greatest man among all the people of the East. 4 His sons used to hold feasts in their homes on their birthdays, and they would invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them. 5 When a period of feasting had run its course, Job would make arrangements for them to be purified. Early in the morning he would sacrifice a burnt offering for each of them, thinking, “Perhaps my children have sinned and cursed God in their hearts.” This was Job’s regular custom.
6 One day the angels came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came with them. 7 The Lord said to Satan, “Where have you come from?” Satan answered the Lord, “From roaming throughout the earth, going back and forth on it.” 8 Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil.” 9 “Does Job fear God for nothing?” Satan replied. 10 “Have you not put a hedge around him and his household and everything he has? You have blessed the work of his hands, so that his flocks and herds are spread throughout the land. 11 But now stretch out your hand and strike everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face.” 12 The Lord said to Satan, “Very well, then, everything he has is in your power, but on the man himself do not lay a finger.” Then Satan went out from the presence of the Lord.
SATAN’S ATTACK
13 One day when Job’s sons and daughters were feasting and drinking wine at the oldest brother’s house, 14 a messenger came to Job and said, “The oxen were plowing and the donkeys were grazing nearby, 15 and the Sabeans attacked and made off with them. They put the servants to the sword, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!” 16 While he was still speaking, another messenger came and said, “The fire of God fell from the heavens and burned up the sheep and the servants, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!” 17 While he was still speaking, another messenger came and said, “The Chaldeans formed three raiding parties and swept down on your camels and made off with them. They put the servants to the sword, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!” 18 While he was still speaking, yet another messenger came and said, “Your sons and daughters were feasting and drinking wine at the oldest brother’s house, 19 when suddenly a mighty wind swept in from the desert and struck the four corners of the house. It collapsed on them and they are dead, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!” 20 At this, Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head. Then he fell to the ground in worship 21 and said: “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will depart. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised.” 22 In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing.
God’s Continued Discourse
As previously stated, I did not relish, take delight in the death of the wicked. I did not take joy in the destruction of the wicked. I simply exercised justice in the death of the wicked. The death of the wicked at that time was a had too, not a want too. Remember I am a God of justice as well and also; purposes and plans were running its course with such purposes and plans still in effect today from the flood event. Many would think that Noah and his family rejoiced over the death of the wicked, but they didn’t. Having been spared the destruction, the family experienced their own inner turmoil over the destruction of man. They also had other concerns as well. The re-population of the earth rested upon the shoulders of 8 people. Can you imagine their worries and concerns? There were questions of, “What if the world after re-population becomes worse than the world just destroyed? How do we give to Yahweh, a people, a world, nations that will serve him; living righteously and upright? There were many concerns. The honest truth is…humans in their own strength and abilities could never have given nor produced an upright being. Remember man fell in the garden and sin was ushered into the human race. Therefore, from conception to birth all are sinners. I quote King David. “Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me (Psalm-51:5)! David realized that he was “fearfully and wonderfully made,” yet he acknowledged his sinful nature from the moment of conception; a nature that has passed on to all of humanity. No one was or is born righteous. Every one born is a sinner. Joyce I’m going to say my next thought in your lingo. “My Boy is the only one who was born sinless and this is only because he didn’t come through the channels of humanity but was conceived by the power of the Holy Ghost therefore a sinful nature was not passed down to him.
The flood did not do away with sin. In fact, the 8 people saved were considered righteous because of their faith and walk with me. They were not crossing every T and dotting every I as you humans say. With this being said, I add…. the surprise of those who reign with Christ will be great, because man has a standard by which he judges the righteousness of man and I have a different standard. He that has an ear to hear…. Let him thus hear what has been spoken.
The saving of Noah and his family was for the purpose of preserving faith in the earth. The answer to the concerns of Noah and his family referencing the condition of the world after re-population is, “the proof is in the pudding.” The world now is the repopulated world after the flood. Remember the world has never been destroyed since the flood. From the flood to now is the repopulated world. So… Joyce what do you think? Don’t answer. Let’s move on.
The world was populated again and the whole earth spoke one language. The inhabitants were of one speech. In the travels of man, a plain was found in the land Shinar. A multitude had traveled. This multitude dwelt in that land. They were close knit. One of their major concerns was being scattered so an idea came to mind. The idea then took the shape of a plan. It wasn’t a carefully thought-out plan and this is due to limited knowledge as well a limited fellowship with me. The multitude decided that they would build a city in the plain of Shinar with their purpose being; permanent togetherness. Their idea was to build a city where all could remain and the city would house a tower which top would reach to the heavens. The multitude decided that in doing this they would make a great name for themselves; a name that was above all names. The idea was put into action and the people where building and doing a very good job I must add. They had put their minds, their talents, and abilities together and was succeeding greatly in their project. Obtaining the knowledge of “where there is unity there is strength and nothing being impossible being on one accord; the multitude worked.
The danger of the project wasn’t that it presented a problem for me…I’m God, the omnipotent one. Nothing and no one can destroy me. I made all things…no one made me. I am that I am.
One of the dangers referencing the tower is that there was only so far into the sky that the tower could be built before the oxygen was cut off. The building of the tower unbeknown to the multitude, was a suicide mission. The idea of reaching heaven by their own means presented the problem for man. Once the idea was conceived, the heart of man and the mind of man was turned to himself. Come let’s make for us a name” they said.Man was all about himself. If they could make a name for themselves by and through their own abilities, strengths, and efforts, there would be no need for God, so they thought. So….once again for the good of man I had to disrupt his agenda. The main concern that the multitude had that prompted them to start the building project is the very judgement that fell upon them. The languages were confused, and the people had to disperse. They were scattered. Many are the plans in the heart of man, yet it is I who has the last say so. (Proverb 19:21) Many are the plans in a person’s heart but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.
So, what was so wrong about the building of the city and tower of Babel you’ve asked. “Self-reliance.” Self-reliance is defiance. One of the instructions given to Noah and his family after the flood was to repopulate the world. The world certainly could not be repopulated if everyone lived in one place now, could it? The actions of the multitude simply said, “We know what has been instructed, but we think it would be much better if we settled in this place and stayed together. Now just if it so happens that a flood comes again, we will have this tower that reaches to the sky. Surely waters will not come this high. The tower will be our place of refuge. In our building and accomplishments, we will make for us a name. Peoples in the other part of the world will hear of our accomplishment and our name will be great.”
I will quote King Solomon: The name of the Lord is a strong tower’ the righteous runneth into it and is safe.” I will quote lyrics from a song King David sang: “The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; my God, my strength in whom I will trust; my buckler and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower. I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised; so, shall I be saved from my enemies.” I will quote Jeremiah; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man and maketh flesh his arm and whose heart departeth from the Lord. Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord, and whose hope the Lord is.”
continued……….