So the Lord scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth: and they left off to build the city. Genesis 11:8.
The dwellers on the plain of Shinar established their kingdom for self-exaltation, not for the glory of God. Had they succeeded, a mighty power would have borne sway, banishing righteousness and inaugurating a new religion. The world would have been demoralized…. But God never leaves the world without witnesses for Him. At this time there were men who humbled themselves before God and cried unto Him. “O God,” they pleaded, “interpose between Thy cause, and the plans and methods of men.”
When the tower had been partially completed, a portion of it was occupied as a dwelling place for the builders; other apartments, splendidly furnished and adorned, were devoted to their idols….
Suddenly the work that had been advancing so prosperously was checked. Angels were sent to bring to naught the purpose of the builders. The tower had reached a lofty height, and it was impossible for the workmen at the top to communicate directly with those at the base; therefore men were stationed at different points, each to receive and report to the one next below him the orders for needed material or other directions concerning the work. As messages were thus passing from one to another the language was confounded, so that material was called for which was not needed, and the directions delivered were often the reverse of those that had been given. Confusion and dismay followed. All work came to a standstill….
Up to this time all men had spoken the same language; now those that could understand one another’s speech united in companies; some went one way, and some another. “The Lord scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth.” This dispersion was the means of peopling the earth, and thus the Lord’s purpose was accomplished through the very means that men had employed to prevent its fulfillment.
In our day the Lord desires that His people shall be dispersed throughout the earth. They are not to colonize. Jesus said: “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature” (Mark 16:15).
Conflict and Courage p. 43
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Prayer Requests
—– a member of our church was in an accident last evening. she was able to walk away from it pretty busied up . but the other people had to go by ambulance. please keep all in prayer. the lady from church she and her husband along with another couple are planning on joining me and another lady in going door to door .giving bible enrollment cards for amazing facts. Please pray for us that the Holy Spirit will go before us. thank you . M
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Dear Friends,
Children can sometimes have very strange tastes. Often they will eat dirt or paste on a regular basis. One day when Eileen was six, she and her cousin, Annie, were outside playing together. Annie’s little brother, DJ, aged 2 was nearby. They saw that he was eating something, so they walked over to him to see what he had. There he was, happily eating live, wiggly worms.
Eileen and Annie thought that was “yucky” and decided that they should cook the worms for him. Now Alabama is very hot in the summertime—hot enough that you can fry an egg on the sidewalk. So, they decided to fry the worms in that manner. They took the worm that DJ was about to put into him mouth and placed it on the sidewalk. DJ protested a little, but they explained that they were going to make the worm taste better for him. When the worm was hard and stiff, they gave it to the two year old boy. He seemed to like fried worms much better than live ones, so they helped find him more.
After this had gone on for awhile, I decided it was time to check on Eileen and see if she was alright. I walked over to where the children were playing and saw them putting worms on the hot sidewalk. I saw many dried worms. Hating to see any animal tortured, I let them know that what they were doing was very wrong. I took Eileen by the hand and led her into the house. She could not play outside for the rest of the day.
Eventually, Eileen was able to make me understand why they had done what they did. I could see their that in their childish reasoning that they were doing what they thought was right. I had misjudged their motives. Even so, it was right that I should put a stop to what they were doing. Worms, although not poisonous, were certainly never intended to be food.
Jesus said, “Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?
Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother’s eye.” Matt 7:1-5 By this He did not mean that we should allow wrongs to exist. He explains, “Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.” John 7:24
Just as it was right to stop Eileen and Annie from feeding DJ worms, so we see that there is a time to judge, but not in a condemning way. Instead, with the judgment should come restoration. “Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ. Gal 6:1,2 When we see a wrong, we should not keep silent, but we should in love “lift up our voice like a trumpet” Isa 58:1 and seek restoration.
Let us ask for wisdom, that we might not misjudge another’s motives. Let us ask for His Spirit in working with the erring, seeking for their restoration, knowing that if we do not approach them correctly, we will drive them further away from the right path. Let us, when corrected, study and pray to see if we, ourselves, have strayed; and if so, step back upon the right path; but if not, stand firmly for the right.
Rose