Due to normally meeting in a school, we’re affected by restrictions earlier than other churches. This week as our first livestreaming the service, it is a good time to step out of our series to look at what the current covid-19 pandemic means for us using two examples from the Bible. Our thoughts and prayers are with all affected.

Our passage:  Genesis 11:1-11 & Ephesians 2:18-22. Preacher: Ian Bayne (22nd March 2020).

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Introduction

Our passages today reflect two contrasting contacts with God that involve building. One in Genesis which shows a human plan for glory, and one in Ephesians, which is God’s plan for glory.

Our way: The tower of Babel

Genesis 11:1-11 is the famous Tower of Babel passage. This is set early in the biblical timeline, shortly after God had commanded the people to be fruitful and multiply.

And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it

Genesis 1:28

But the people were not doing this.

And as people migrated from the east, they found a plain in the land of Shinar and settled there.

Genesis 11:2 ESV

They thought it was better to stay in one place. They are rebelling against God.

And they said to one another, “Come, let us make bricks, and burn them thoroughly.” And they had brick for stone, and bitumen for mortar.

Genesis 11:3

Notice they do not use natural stone or mortar (God’s materials). They had to manufacture bricks and mortar themselves because the land did not have those materials.

Then they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city and a tower with its top in the heavens, and let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be dispersed over the face of the whole earth.”

Genesis 11:4

Building the tower was a hopeless attempt to gain access to heaven. Notice their motive: they wanted to make a name for themselves. They wanted to be great. They are deliberately rebelling against God’s command, and are wanting protection.

And the Lord came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of man had built.

Genesis 11:5

They do not get anywhere near heaven, nor can they. The Lord has to “come down” to see the tower (because it’s so small).

Therefore its name was called Babel, because there the Lord confused^[a] the language of all the earth. And from there the Lord dispersed them over the face of all the earth.

Genesis 11:11

As a result of their rebellion, God comes down and confuses their language, scatters the people, and humbles them. The very opposite of what they were trying to achieve and avoid.

Today the effect of a small insignificant virus like covid-19 is scattering people and shows humans that we are not in control. He is humbling us.

God’s way: a holy temple and kingdom

In Ephesians 2:18-22 God is building:

built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, [21] in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. [22] In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by^[e] the Spirit.

Ephesians 2:20-22

He is building a holy temple to Himself, that includes us and gives us access to God. We are part of it.

For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. ¹⁹ So then you are no longer strangers and aliens,^[d] but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God,

Ephesians 2:18-19

Ephesians 2 contains God’s plan and building contract. Look how different it is from Genesis 11. A superstructure is being built that includes us today: the Kingdom of God. This time it is completed according to God’s plan, by God, with materials He has created.

God has done extensive preparation, and built a solid foundation, unlike the Genesis 11 account which is built on an idea at the time.

built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone,

Ephesians 2:20

The apostles refer to the New Testament, the prophets refer to the Old Testament. We have both available to us.

This time the motive of building the temple is to reach God and be part of His plan and Kingdom. By being a part of His plan and participating in building the Kingdom, we are exalting His greatness. This motive is pleasing to God.

Application

What is the result of this building that God has established?

1. Confusion is overcome – peace is established

In the tower of Babel story, the people are confused and scattered. In this building peace is established.

You keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.

Isaiah 26:3

2. The scattered are brought home

We will be brought home being “fellow citizens” and “no longer aliens”

1 Peter 1:1 ESV

Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who are elect exiles of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,

Here they are being referred to as aliens, but in our passage they are being brought near and into through the tabernacle.

3 After humility comes repentance

We are insignificant. The covid-19 virus proves that – everything has been turned upside down. Society and the economy have been humbled. We cannot help ourselves or control what’s going on around us.

God is declaring that He is God and we are not. Even the best medical advancements can only stave off death for 100 years or so. We cannot fully protect ourselves and this is a cause of fear to many.

We must trust God and place ourselves in His hands. He is sovereign and “works all things according to the counsel of his will” (Eph 1:11b)

Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, ⁷ casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.

1 Peter 5:5-6

He is mighty and he cares for us. In due time this trial will be over.

But for all of us watching and reading: Which building will you choose to meet God? Will you choose man’s plan like the Tower of Babel, or God’s plan through the church, where Christ is the cornerstone?

4. After repentance comes praise and exaltation of God

What is the motive for our choice: for our own glory or for God’s glory.

We cannot avoid death, from the covid-19 virus, or other sources. God’s way offers a promise of eternal life.

For God so loved the world,^[a] that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

John 3:16

For Christians, death is not the end, but an entry to eternal life.

“O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?”

1 Corinthians 15:55 ESV

Those who will live forever will enter the temple built by God.

But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come, then through the greater and more perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation)

Hebrews 9:11 ESV

Even in the early days of the Old Testament: Abraham was looking forward to a city whose architect was God.

For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God.

Hebrews 11:10 ESV

Which way will you choose?

But no matter how many times you go to church, or do ‘good things’ we still fall short. We can’t build a building tall enough to reach heaven. The tower of Babel was futile.

For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin.

Romans 3:20 ESV

We can’t manufacture enough bricks or tar to reach the heavens ourselves. Only through Jesus can we enter into the presence of God. He wants us to join Him in this great building project. Will you?

We need to trust God’s Word as our guide to lead us to the Lord.

Resources

Questions? Please contact us. Inspired? Come and worship with us on Sundays.