Babel: the Tragedy of Man

A Sermon on Genesis 11:1-32

Originally preached Nov. 13, 1955

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Scripture

Genesis 11:1-32 ESV KJV

Now the whole earth had one language and the same words. And as people migrated from the east, they found a plain in the land of Shinar and settled there. And they said to one another, “Come, let us make bricks, and burn them thoroughly.” And they had brick for … Now the whole earth had one language and the same words. And as people migrated from the east, they found a plain in the land of Shinar and settled there. 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. 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.” And the LORD came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of man had built. 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. Come, let us go down and there confuse their language, so that they may not understand one another’s speech.” So the LORD dispersed them from there over the face of all the earth, and they left off building the city. Therefore its name was called Babel, because there the LORD confused the language of all the earth. And from there the LORD dispersed them over the face of all the earth. These are the generations of Shem. When Shem was 100 years old, he fathered Arpachshad two years after the flood. And Shem lived after he fathered Arpachshad 500 years and had other sons and daughters. When Arpachshad had lived 35 years, he fathered Shelah. And Arpachshad lived after he fathered Shelah 403 years and had other sons and daughters. When Shelah had lived 30 years, he fathered Eber. And Shelah lived after he fathered Eber 403 years and had other sons and daughters. When Eber had lived 34 years, he fathered Peleg. And Eber lived after he fathered Peleg 430 years and had other sons and daughters. When Peleg had lived 30 years, he fathered Reu. And Peleg lived after he fathered Reu 209 years and had other sons and daughters. When Reu had lived 32 years, he fathered Serug. And Reu lived after he fathered Serug 207 years and had other sons and daughters. When Serug had lived 30 years, he fathered Nahor. And Serug lived after he fathered Nahor 200 years and had other sons and daughters. When Nahor had lived 29 years, he fathered Terah. And Nahor lived after he fathered Terah 119 years and had other sons and daughters. When Terah had lived 70 years, he fathered Abram, Nahor, and Haran. Now these are the generations of Terah. Terah fathered Abram, Nahor, and Haran; and Haran fathered Lot. Haran died in the presence of his father Terah in the land of his kindred, in Ur of the Chaldeans. And Abram and Nahor took wives. The name of Abram’s wife was Sarai, and the name of Nahor’s wife, Milcah, the daughter of Haran the father of Milcah and Iscah. Now Sarai was barren; she had no child. Terah took Abram his son and Lot the son of Haran, his grandson, and Sarai his daughter-in-law, his son Abram’s wife, and they went forth together from Ur of the Chaldeans to go into the land of Canaan, but when they came to Haran, they settled there. The days of Terah were 205 years, and Terah died in Haran. (ESV)

1And the whole earth was of one language, and of one speech. 2And it came to pass, as they journeyed from the east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar; and they dwelt there. 3And they said one to another, Go to, let us make brick, and burn them throughly. And they had brick for stone, and slime had they for morter. 4And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth.

5And the LORD came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of men builded. 6And the LORD said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do. 7Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another’s speech. 8So the LORD scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth: and they left off to build the city. 9Therefore is the name of it called Babel; because the LORD did there confound the language of all the earth: and from thence did the LORD scatter them abroad upon the face of all the earth.

10¶ These are the generations of Shem: Shem was an hundred years old, and begat Arphaxad two years after the flood: 11And Shem lived after he begat Arphaxad five hundred years, and begat sons and daughters. 12And Arphaxad lived five and thirty years, and begat Salah: 13And Arphaxad lived after he begat Salah four hundred and three years, and begat sons and daughters. 14And Salah lived thirty years, and begat Eber: 15And Salah lived after he begat Eber four hundred and three years, and begat sons and daughters. 16And Eber lived four and thirty years, and begat Peleg: 17And Eber lived after he begat Peleg four hundred and thirty years, and begat sons and daughters. 18And Peleg lived thirty years, and begat Reu: 19And Peleg lived after he begat Reu two hundred and nine years, and begat sons and daughters. 20And Reu lived two and thirty years, and begat Serug: 21And Reu lived after he begat Serug two hundred and seven years, and begat sons and daughters. 22And Serug lived thirty years, and begat Nahor: 23And Serug lived after he begat Nahor two hundred years, and begat sons and daughters. 24And Nahor lived nine and twenty years, and begat Terah: 25And Nahor lived after he begat Terah an hundred and nineteen years, and begat sons and daughters. 26And Terah lived seventy years, and begat Abram, Nahor, and Haran.

27¶ Now these are the generations of Terah: Terah begat Abram, Nahor, and Haran; and Haran begat Lot. 28And Haran died before his father Terah in the land of his nativity, in Ur of the Chaldees. 29And Abram and Nahor took them wives: the name of Abram’s wife was Sarai; and the name of Nahor’s wife, Milcah, the daughter of Haran, the father of Milcah, and the father of Iscah. 30But Sarai was barren; she had no child. 31And Terah took Abram his son, and Lot the son of Haran his son’s son, and Sarai his daughter in law, his son Abram’s wife; and they went forth with them from Ur of the Chaldees, to go into the land of Canaan; and they came unto Haran, and dwelt there. 32And the days of Terah were two hundred and five years: and Terah died in Haran.

Sermon Description

What is wrong with the world today? Apart from the Bible, one can only speculate about the trouble humans find themselves in. However, with the Bible, one can know the cause of the broken world, as well as the solution. In the Bible, God works out His plan of salvation for His rebellious people. In this sermon on Genesis 11:1–32 titled “Babel” The Tragedy of Man,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones preaches about the Tower of Babel with this theme of Scripture in mind. In this story, he sees the whole essence of the tragedy of humanity. They displayed great ingenuity in noticing the effect the sun had on clay and used that knowledge to make brick. The tragedy of humanity is that it uses its ingenuity to build a life apart from God. Their controlling ideas revolve around trade, pleasure, and security; thus, the city of Babel was built out of pride and self-sufficiency. The tower was built with brick so it would last forever, yet Dr. Lloyd-Jones notes the trace of humanity’s lurking fear in the building of Babel. There was a threat of being scattered because God abhors the thought of His creation building a life apart from Him. Indeed, God came down, destroyed Babel, and scattered the people.

Sermon Breakdown

Men observed that the sun hardened clay into bricks and developed the skill of brickmaking. This shows man's intelligence and ability to make observations, but also his inability to manage himself and live at peace.
The story of the Tower of Babel shows the essence of the tragedy of man. Man is intelligent enough to develop skills like brickmaking but fails to understand how to live properly with God and with others.
The building of cities and civilization is man's way of organizing life apart from God. Cities are built for trade, pleasure, and security but leave no room for God.
Life in the country is closer to God than city life. Country life is more leisurely, less busy, and more dependent on God. City life encourages independence from God.
The building of the tower and city of Babel was man's attempt to build a permanent, self-sufficient civilization without God. They wanted to "make a name" for themselves and reach heaven without God.
Although confident in their abilities, the builders also feared being "scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth." Man's pride is often accompanied by fear.
God came down, confused their language, and scattered them across the earth. God will not allow man to build a godless civilization. He scattered them to restrain their sin and bring them into line with His command to Noah to "replenish the earth."
The story shows that man's sin is foolishness. Man cannot defy God. God will destroy man's godless plans and civilizations.
The only way to true unity is through Christ and God, not through man's plans. At Pentecost, the Holy Spirit united people across languages and cultures.
We must live under God and rely on His blessing. Otherwise, our lives and plans will come to nothing, just like the Tower of Babel. We must repent of our arrogance and sin and turn to God.

Sermon Q&A

Understanding the Tower of Babel and Modern Civilization: Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones Sermon Analysis

What does the Tower of Babel teach us about the cause of national conflicts and divisions in our world today?

According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, the Tower of Babel account in Genesis 11 explains the origin of national conflicts and divisions in our world. He teaches that this confusion between nations stems from humanity's attempt to organize life apart from God. At Babel, people deliberately disobeyed God's command to "replenish the earth" by choosing instead to centralize themselves, saying "let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven, and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth." Their rebellion against God's plan resulted in God confounding their language and scattering them, creating the divisions between nations that persist today.

How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones connect the Tower of Babel with modern civilization?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones draws direct parallels between the Tower of Babel and modern civilization. He describes civilization as "man's way of displaying his enmity against God" through organizing life apart from divine guidance. He explains: "Civilization really means this. You see men getting together to organize life in this world and on this earth apart from God." The preacher identifies three motivating factors behind both Babel and modern civilization: trade (economic security), pleasure, and security. He argues that modern humanity, like those at Babel, pursues scientific advancement, international cooperation, and human achievement while ignoring God, demonstrating the same pride and self-sufficiency that led to Babel's downfall.

What does Dr. Lloyd-Jones say about the historical reliability of the Tower of Babel account?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones defends the historical reliability of the Tower of Babel account by pointing to archaeological and linguistic evidence. He states that archaeological discoveries were "simply confirming in detail the history of these early chapters of Genesis." Regarding linguistics specifically, he notes that modern languages can be "reduced to certain fundamental types or families" that point back to a common origin: "It takes it so far back that you feel you've gone 75% of the journey back to the Tower of Babel and to a time when there was only one language." He challenges the view that Genesis contains mere folklore, arguing that modern scholarship increasingly supports its historical accuracy.

What does Dr. Lloyd-Jones identify as the only true solution to human division and conflict?

The only true solution to human division and conflict, according to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, is found in Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit. He points to Pentecost (Acts 2) as the divine answer to Babel, where "all these different races and nations and people said, we all hear them speaking in our own tongues and proclaiming the wonderful works of God." He explains: "There is only one point at which men and women can be brought together and be made one legitimately. It is in Christ. It is in God." When people recognize their common sinfulness and need for salvation, they cease being jealous and envious, and instead find unity in Christ, where "the differences are abolished and a new unity comes into being."

How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones contrast city life with rural life in relation to awareness of God?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones contrasts city life with rural life, suggesting that rural living naturally keeps people more aware of their dependence on God. He explains that agricultural life makes people conscious of factors beyond their control like weather, leading them to acknowledge God: "The farmer knows that it isn't all delivered on the doorstep. He's aware of other factors and phases and of man's dependence upon them all." In contrast, city life creates an illusion of self-sufficiency, where food is "delivered on the doorstep" without apparent divine involvement. Additionally, he notes that "life in the country is more leisurely," allowing time for contemplation, while city life is characterized by rushing and organized pleasures that leave "no time to think about God."

Old Testament

Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones

Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones (1899-1981) was a Welsh evangelical minister who preached and taught in the Reformed tradition. His principal ministry was at Westminster Chapel, in central London, from 1939-1968, where he delivered multi-year expositions on books of the bible such as Romans, Ephesians and the Gospel of John. In addition to the MLJ Trust’s collection of 1,600 of these sermons in audio format, most of these great sermon series are available in book form (including a 14 volume collection of the Romans sermons), as are other series such as "Spiritual Depression", "Studies in the Sermon on the Mount" and "Great Biblical Doctrines". He is considered by many evangelical leaders today to be an authority on biblical truth and the sufficiency of Scripture.

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