Thursday, October 26, 2006

Babel 4

Genesis 11:1-9

We have seen stages along the way that have separated humankind farther and farther from God. God responds to these chasm-widening events with judgment, but also follows that judgment with a way through. Adam and Eve were expelled from the garden, Cain was sent away, there was a flood. In each case there was as way beyond the catastrophe and a new way to go forth into the earth. Now humankind is dispersed into the earth, but with no evident word of grace to accompany the dispersion.

I’ll reflect on the rest of chapter 11 tomorrow. Then we’re at the end of the “primeval” history, which describes God’s dealing with all humanity. He still will deal with all humanity, of course, but chapter 12 will begin the story of God working through a specific people (and further on in the Bible through a specific individual, the one the Apostle Paul called the new Adam).

The word of grace, not evident here, is coming in a new and powerful way.

Prayer:
God, help me trust in you and your purposes even when you seem absent. In Christ. Amen.

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