Q:Genesis 11 talks about the Tower of Babel. In verses 6&7 it says: "6. And the LORD said, "Behold, they are one people, and they have all one language, and this is only the beginning of what they will do. And nothing that they propose to do will now be impossible for them. 7. Come, let us go down and there confuse their language, so that they may not understand one another's speech." It sounds as if the people were making God nervous: "nothing that they propose to do will now be impossible for them." Why were they stopped? Advances in our day far eclipse anything that they did and those projects are moving forward...

A:While one might infer that "God was getting nervous" by the plans of man, I like the words of Psalms 2:1-4. Rather than "nervous," God was likely "disappointed" in His created people, even laughing or scoffing at mankind's desire to do something outside His divine design.

Psalms 2:1-4 says: Why do the nations conspire and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together against the LORD and against his Anointed One. "Let us break their chains," they say, "and throw off their fetters." The One enthroned in heaven laughs; the Lord scoffs at them.

Rather than building a tower reaching to the heavens, Genesis 9:1 tells us that God had a different plan for His people. It reads: Then God blessed Noah and his sons, saying to them, "Be fruitful and increase in number and fill the earth." The tower being created was in direct disobedience to this command of God, and simply something humanity wanted to do to "make a name for themselves and not be scattered over the face of the whole earth."

At the tower of Babel we see an example of God stepping into history, and in His Grace, bringing a solution to disobedience. We also see God do this through the cross of Jesus Christ.

Today, while evil, rebellious plans are still undertaken - the God of Psalm 2:1-4 still laughs and scoffs, and in many instances still frustrates the plans of man that are not a part of His overall divine plan. We can pray God continues to do so, while finding comfort in the tower of Babel story - knowing that God sees what is going on and can frustrate all who oppose Him...also using us who follow His Son, Jesus Christ, to do the same.