Malaysia is a country fascinated with tall buildings. Kuala Lumpur is the place where the 452m high, 88-storey Petronas Twin Towers is located. It previously held the record as the world’s tallest building from 1998 up to 2004. It will soon be replaced as it’s city’s tallest structure by The Exchange 106 which will be 492m tall. But another building again will surpass these two imposing structures – the Merdeka PNB which will be 500m high. But the tallest skyscraper in the world today is the Burj Khalifa in Dubai with a height of 828m.
In the Bible, there was a time that people were also fixated with building a tall structure. Genesis 11:1–9 tells us about the story of the building of the Tower of Babel in Shinar. Their purpose can be found in Genesis 11:4 Then they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we may make a name for ourselves and not be scattered over the face of the whole earth.”
Why did God stopped the building of this tower?
First, they only wanted to build a city for themselves, and God was out of the picture. This should remind us that any plan that we make should include God.
Second, they wanted to reach the heavens and God using only their own wisdom and strength. God’s self-revelation is the only way that we can reach God. We have to pray that God will disclose Himself to us so that we may understand His will and purpose in our lives, and not the other way around.
Third, they wanted a name for themselves. This desire was full of pride. In short they wanted to be God. They wanted to rule themselves. It was a rebellious act against God. This is a reminder that we must always submit to the rule of God.
I hope that our fascination of tall buildings nowadays is not connected with the intention of the people who were building the Tower of Babel. If it is so, then we await the wrath of God.
May God bless us all!
Rev. Francis Neil G. Jalando-on
#SeedsOfFaith
#BinhiSangPagtuo
January 21, 2019 Mega288