Best Laid Plans
Gen 11:4
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."
This plan sounds pretty good, doesn’t it? Can’t you just see it? Can’t you just hear the presentation at the City Council Meeting?
“Once completed, it will accomplish important goals! It will be a city for us . . . a great city. People will come from all over the country just to see its glory. There will be a grand tower in the central plaza. It will be so tall that it will look like it reaches right into heaven itself. Our visitors will go home singing our praises for being such great architects and developers to accomplish such a grand plan. They will wish that they, too, could be gathered together in such a magnificent place.”
Sounds pretty good, doesn’t it?
Don’t we ever learn? The plan described in this verse did everything wrong. It began with man’s desire for glory instead of God’s plan for them. They wanted to make a name for themselves – not for God. It was also a response to their fear . . . fear of being “scattered over the face of the earth.”
We can learn much from reading what happened to them as they tried to implement this plan. Exactly what they feared most was accomplished . . . their magnificent city never was built, they made no name for themselves, and – just for added education about the error of their ways – the Lord confused their language so that they couldn’t even communicate with one another!
Wanting to build a city isn’t a bad thing. It’s just that, when we leave God out of our planning, we get into big trouble. Scripture is very clear about how we should plan:
Prov 16:3
3 Commit to the LORD whatever you do,
and your plans will succeed.
We must first seek God and His plan for our actions. We must “resolve to inquire of the Lord” as Jehoshaphat did in 2 Chronicles 20:3. Then and only then can we recognize His calling for us. Then and only then are we given the opportunity to submit and surrender to that calling (agenda) for our work. Then and only then can our plans succeed.
As we go forward in our work, may it be to His glory and according to His plan for us!
Soli Deo Gloria!