The Power of One
Now the whole world had one language and a common speech. As people moved eastward, they found a plain in Shinar and settled there. . . . Then they said, "Come, let us build ourselves a city . . . so that we may make a name for ourselves; otherwise we will be scattered over the face of the whole earth."
But the LORD came down to see the city and the tower the people were building. The LORD said, "If as one people speaking the same language they have begun to do this, then nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them. Come, let us go down and confuse their language so they will not understand each other."
So the LORD scattered them from there over all the earth, and they stopped building the city.
Genesis 11:1-8.
But the LORD came down to see the city and the tower the people were building. The LORD said, "If as one people speaking the same language they have begun to do this, then nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them. Come, let us go down and confuse their language so they will not understand each other."
So the LORD scattered them from there over all the earth, and they stopped building the city.
Genesis 11:1-8.
This is one of the most powerful illustrations of unity in all of Scripture. It shows the power of being united as one. The entire human race spoke one language, they came together with one purpose: to build a city and make a name for themselves. God was struck by the unstoppable power humans had unleashed for themselves. God knew that united as one, "nothing will be impossible for them." The only way to dismantle that power was for that unity to be broken through confusion. So, God disunited them by confusing and scattering them all over the earth.
I believe God wasn't so much against the unity among humans as He was against the selfish purpose behind that unity. They united for a selfish reason: to make a name for themselves. God was concerned that if the selfishness behind their unity continued, there was no telling what else they would purpose to do! They had to be stopped before greater harm was done.
It is interesting that God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, approached the situation in a united fashion. United, the LORD said, "Come, let us go down and confuse their language . . ."
All through history, humans have united either to accomplish evil or to do good. People have united behind the evil of superiority and waged wars to destroy other humans. By the same token, others have united behind the banner of our common human dignity and fought to liberate suppressed humans. There is incredible power in unity. It can be used to accomplish much evil or much good. Before Jesus left for heaven, He prayed that all His followers would be united as one just as He and the Father were one.
When we unite for a good cause, we attract divine favor and blessings. That is why Satan does everything he can to create disunity among God's children. He knows the power of One!
Imagine if families, spouses, business partners, neighbors, children, communities, churches, sports and business teams all decided to operate in unity for laudable purposes.
The results would be phenomenal! How about stating that from your end today?
I believe God wasn't so much against the unity among humans as He was against the selfish purpose behind that unity. They united for a selfish reason: to make a name for themselves. God was concerned that if the selfishness behind their unity continued, there was no telling what else they would purpose to do! They had to be stopped before greater harm was done.
It is interesting that God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, approached the situation in a united fashion. United, the LORD said, "Come, let us go down and confuse their language . . ."
All through history, humans have united either to accomplish evil or to do good. People have united behind the evil of superiority and waged wars to destroy other humans. By the same token, others have united behind the banner of our common human dignity and fought to liberate suppressed humans. There is incredible power in unity. It can be used to accomplish much evil or much good. Before Jesus left for heaven, He prayed that all His followers would be united as one just as He and the Father were one.
When we unite for a good cause, we attract divine favor and blessings. That is why Satan does everything he can to create disunity among God's children. He knows the power of One!
Imagine if families, spouses, business partners, neighbors, children, communities, churches, sports and business teams all decided to operate in unity for laudable purposes.
The results would be phenomenal! How about stating that from your end today?
Prayer: Lord, I ask that you help me to ponder over the power of unity and desire to be an instrument of unity. Amen.