This week, we have explored the familiar story of the origin of languages in the episode of the Botched Tower of Babel in Genesis 11. After the flood, God was clear that the survivors were to be fruitful and multiply, and to scatter throughout the earth. God had a plan to spread his glory over every corner of the earth, but the people had a different plan to secure their own fame. They built a tower that, from their perspective, would rise to the heavens and make them great. They found a way to make room for everyone to stay in one place, and they believed that this tower would provide the security and the significance they desperately craved. They were fooled to believe that their sense of logic and reasoning would somehow trump God’s flawless plan.

Ironically, from God’s perspective, they had fallen so far short from reaching up into the heavens, that God still had to “come down” in order to see what they were doing. God realized that the danger of their working in unity with one language is that their self-sufficiency and pride would harden their hearts toward him. They would cease to realize their dependence on God, and they would never recognize their need for salvation that God would eventually send through Abraham’s offspring. God could not allow this serious breach of judgment on their part to continue.

As Barney Fife would say, God had to “Nip it in the bud!” God put a stop to their nonsense once and for all by confusing their languages and making it impossible for them to communicate and work together. They were suddenly caught in a mass of confusion and futility. Eventually, the tower was abandoned, and the people migrated to all parts of the earth as God has originally commanded them. The ruins of the tower served as a reminder of what happens when we rebel against God’s ways and insist that we know best.

Interesting to note is that the crowds who had begun the work on the Tower of Babel were depending on their own works to get to God, but they didn’t understand that it would never ever be enough. There is only one way to get to God; we must follow the course laid out by God himself. Jesus said in John 14:6 (ESV), “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” Furthermore, Paul reminds us in Ephesians 2:8-9 (ESV), “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.”

In the time of Genesis, it was a matter of having faith in God and obeying his voice. This was before God had sent his Son to redeem us, and it was before God had given the Law and the system of offering sacrifices for our sins. However, in every season, it has always been about faith, obedience, and depending on God’s righteousness, never our own. It has always been about God reaching down to us rather than our climbing our way up to him. Access to God and redemption has always been about following God’s ways rather than our own. As you will see later when we study the life of Abraham, it was his faith that was credited to him as righteousness, not his works. His obedience was what proved his faith, but he could never have worked his way into to God’s grace on his own merits. Faith led to righteousness.

Additionally, as we studied the life of Noah last week, we saw that he obeyed God because he believed God. Because of his faith and obedience, God imputed his righteousness onto Noah and saved him from the time of judgment to come upon the whole earth. Noah had a sin nature like all of us, but God saved him and declared him righteousness. We too can have this eternal hope of salvation when we put our trust and faith in Christ. As always, there is only one way, and we cannot make our own way. Our works will never be enough, and we will never be able to reach heaven on our own merits. We need Jesus!

For no one can ever be made right with God by doing what the law commands. The law simply shows us how sinful we are. But now God has shown us a way to be made right with him without keeping the requirements of the law, as was promised in the writings of Moses and the prophets long ago. We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are. For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. Yet God, in his grace, freely makes us right in his sight. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins. Romans 3:20-24 NLT

Week 5 Discussion Questions

Here is a preview of what we will be talking about in our small groups for WEEK 5.

ICE BREAKER:  Who is your fictional inspiration? That is, which fictional character, either from literature, TV, or movies, inspires you to be the best you can be?

QUESTION 1:  Think about the building of the Tower of Babel in Genesis 11. The people had defied God’s specific commands to be fruitful and to cover the earth. Instead, they settled in one place and built a tower to reach God on their own terms. Can you think of a time in your own life that you tried to make a name for yourself instead of making God’s name famous, or you did something on your own terms instead of doing it God’s way and with God’s help? What happened?

QUESTION 2: What stood out to you the most about the story of the Tower of Babel? Why do you think this story is significant?

QUESTION 3: On p. 121 in the Personal Bible Study portion, we identified many parallels from the story of the Tower of Babel and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit in Acts 2. What are some things that stood out to you here?

 QUESTION 4: In chapters 12-15, after the people had failed to make a great name or a great city for themselves, we will see that God chose Abram and promised to make not just a great city, but a great nation from his offspring. While the people at Babel were all about building a monument for themselves and promoting their own accomplishments, Abram’s story will reveal what only God can and will do. The difference is that Abram chooses to believe and obey God instead of doing his own thing. We see in Genesis 15:6 that because of Abram’s faith, God credited it to him as righteousness.

What are some ways that the beginning of Abram’s story gives you hope after God’s judgment had fallen on the people at Babel? What do you learn here? What is yet to come?

QUESTION 5: One of the things we learned this week is that the people at Babel were seeking security and significance, but they would never find it on their own terms. So, this leaves us with the big question for the week: “How will your needs for security and significance be met?”

QUESTION 6: Each week, we are learning how the familiar stories of Genesis actually point to the greater story of our redemption through Jesus Christ. Did you learn anything this week that deepens your understanding of God’s plan for salvation through The Promised One?

Week 6 Assignments

LEVEL 1:

1. The Tower of Babel, Genesis 12-15
2. Personal Bible Study, pp. 145-152
3. Teaching Chapter: The Day You’ve Waited For, pp. 153-170
4. Participate in a small group. (Discussing Week 5)

 LEVEL 2:

1. Look for daily activities in the Heart to Heart Facebook group.
2. Watch “Quick Study” video from Genesis 14-17, Timing Is Everything to God

LEVEL 3:

1. Scripture memory of the week: Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness. Genesis 15:6 NIV
2. SOAP Scriptures: See here for instructions and examples.
   1. Monday: Reread Genesis 12, SOAP verse 7
   2. Tuesday: Reread Genesis 13, SOAP verse 17
   3. Wednesday: Read Genesis 14, SOAP verses 19-20
   4. Thursday: Read Genesis 15, SOAP verse 1
   5. Friday: Read Genesis 15, SOAP verse 6
3. (Optional): Watch Video, Week 6

 LEVEL 4:

1. Read Genesis, chapters 26-50
2. Daily journaling or blogging about how God speaks to you through His Word
3. 4 Things  You May Not Remember about Abraham in the Bible
4. Blue Letter Bible commentary on Genesis 12-15
5. David Jeremiah sermon on Abraham

How This Works

1. If you have not done so already, please register by leaving your name and email address in a comment below.
2. Purchase the book, The Promised One: Seeing Jesus in Genesis, by Nancy Guthrie. You can find it at one of these sites:

Nancy Guthrie’s website

Amazon: Paperback, Kindle

Christianbook.com: Paperback, ebook

Barnes and Noble: Paperback Click “View all available formats and editions” for link to purchase Nook book.

LifeWay: This book is no longer available at Lifeway.com. If you would like to pick it up at your local LifeWay store, you may need to request a special order, but they should be able to get it for you.

1. Subscribe to this site to receive future updates by email. Enter your email address in the field to the right, and then click the subscribe button.
2. Join our closed Facebook group, Heart to Heart Women’s Bible Study, for weekly interaction, activities, videos, and small group sessions. Closed means that no one will be able to see our posts unless they are members of the group. This is for your safety and privacy.
3. Small Groups: See the pinned post at the top of the Facebook group, Heart to Heart Women’s Bible Study, for the schedule and instructions. All you need to do is show up at the scheduled day and time, and the discussion will take place underneath the group photo. 
4. Follow my ministry page on Facebook, Shari Lewis Ministries, to stay up-to-date on ministry events and for daily prayers, nuggets of wisdom and encouragement for your life, photos that you are welcome to share, and faith building blog posts to strengthen you in your walk with Christ.

Well, that’s it! A full week of resources to explore and study! I look forward to seeing you in a small group this week, and I pray that this will be an extremely blessed, eye-opening, and heart-transforming week of Bible study!

Have a super blessed week! I hope to see you in a small group this week!