Genesis 8-11

I love the phrases “fountains of the deep” and “windows of the heavens” in Genesis 8:2. It gives the impression of an inexhaustible supply of water. Then we see that God has control over it like a tap that can be shut off.

What control of nature and power. Yet Genesis 8:21 shows something in creation that is tapless. “The intentions of man’s heart is evil from his youth” is so similar to “man’s wickedness was widespread on the earth and that every scheme his mind thought of was nothing but evil all the time” (HCSB, Gen 6:5). Talk about an inexhaustible supply. This one however, God will not turn it off. The flood of sin that caused the flood of water seems beyond God’s control or at least outside of his will to stop.

Instead, God chooses to bless humankind with life and prosperity, especially to the righteous, to those who desire to shut off their own flow of sin and be closer to God. Leave it to humans to get it all wrong. Chapter eleven is the famous tower of Babel story. Here, people decide to get closer to being god. They build a tower, not to get to God but to be gods—to make themselves famous (Gen 11:4).

In the midst of this self-centered act, we see God being the God who is so specifically Jewish and Christian. What is God’s response to the Babylonian skyscraper? Throwing lighting bolts? Sending a hurricane? No. First, “the Lord came down” (Gen 11:5). I love this. As though he couldn’t tell from Heaven what was going on in the earth… But it is so much more. What is really shown in the coming down of the Lord is not so much inspection but the telltale sign of God’s true desire. He wants to be with humanity. It is his willingness to come down and be near these arrogant people that shows God’s greatness and his grace.