The Bible makes abundantly clear that pride is not part of an acceptable life plan. Pride is a common element in every sin; it leads from the front: “Pride goes before destruction, And a haughty spirit before stumbling” (Proverbs 16:18).
After the Flood, people were again told to populate the earth (Genesis 9:1, 7). In 11:1-9 pride rejects the leading of God He intended for our good and faces corrective discipline from Him. How would you know when pride is at work? The occasion is stated in 11:1-2: They had been fulfilling God’s mandate, but they decided to stop (“settled”). Pride is at work if what you communicate to others creates doubt toward God and division among His people.
This group would build life and lifestyle their way (11:3-4). “They said” to build a city, but using tar for mortar set them up for failure. And no voice said “No!” A better plan would include obedience.
“For ourselves” in verse 4 indicates they believed they needed no help to build a project they had never built. One homebuilder suggests to build a garden shed before undertaking such a huge project! Pride works when you reject God’s plan for your own. They shortchanged themselves out of the greatness God had in mind for them. A Bible principle proposes when a person gets where God wants him or her to be, that person is blessed and becomes a blessing to others.
Pride appears when you believe your view of yourself deserves popular recognition, even without merit (11:4). Romans 12:3 proposes humility is a wiser choice. Pride appears when you seek a reputation (“name”) having no substance. A deserved reputation results from building unity and changing lives. Pride appears as a smokescreen for personal insecurity (“scattered”). They saw God’s plan as a threat to their personal desires. Rather than facing change and coming to terms with it, they turned away from its prospects.
How did God respond (11:5-9)? He ridiculed their pitiful efforts for the failures they were (11:5). “A people elated by pride is seldom qualified to form a just estimate of their actual situation” (Edward Gibbon). God recognized arrogance would define these people if not changed (11:6). He scrambled their communication ability (“Word Salad”?) and continued His original plan to fill the earth (11:7-9). Lesson: “A man’s pride will bring him low, But a humble spirit will obtain honor” (Proverbs 29:23).
Dr. David Moore can be contacted at dm5867se@outlook.com
