March 25, 2024 -- Genesis 11:4-8 and Luke 9:51-53 -- God investigated before He punished

Then they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city and a tower with its top in the heavens, and let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be dispersed over the face of the whole earth.” 5 And the LORD came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of man had built. 6 And the LORD said, “Behold, they are one people, and they have all one language, and this is only the beginning of what they will do. And nothing that they propose to do will now be impossible for them. 7 Come, let us go down and there confuse their language, so that they may not understand one another's speech.” 8 So the LORD dispersed them from there over the face of all the earth, and they left off building the city.
Genesis 11:4-8 EV

When the days drew near for him to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem. 52 And he sent messengers ahead of him, who went and entered a village of the Samaritans, to make preparations for him. 53 But the people did not receive him, because his face was set toward Jerusalem.
Luke 9:51-53 ESV

In the first passage, believers are taught that God the Glorious Who knows all things, stepped down into history to investigate the great sinfulness of the people. Thereby showing His people, when He punishes them, it is not arbitrary or random actions of the LORD, but a measured, appropriate response to the people who owe Him everything. The previous chapter of Genesis lists the table of nations, all the descendants of Noah’s three sons—the point is the family of nations, all of them, exist by the mercy of God. All of them are descendants of the eight people rescued from the Flood waters. With awe and rejoicing they should have offered their lives in service to the High King of Heaven. They did not. They were chasing their own fame and glory.

Back to Genesis 11. The LORD’s judgment of confusing language and dispersing the people is merciful—the LORD our God would be fully justified to say to the people of the earth, “You have violated My direct commands and decrees—to be fruitful and multiply and spread through the whole earth—therefore I will wipe you off the face of the earth”. He does not. He confuses their language. By doing this, He restrains them so that they cannot be cooperative in greater and worse sins. Then He disperses them across the globe. It is foreshadowing.

Now to Luke. Jesus came as the prophet of God—Who saw the great sinfulness of the people firsthand. As in Genesis 11, and as is evidenced through-out the Bible, the punishment of God is not arbitrary. Through-out His 30 plus years of life on this earth, Jesus saw how great the wickedness of humanity was. Once again, the judgment of God is mixed with mercy. Jesus bore on His Person the anger of God against sin. He was punished in the place of sinners so that their sins would be fully punished by the wrath of God and those who take refuge in Him would be fully freed from the anger of God. Those who refuse Jesus, who refuse to acknowledge their sin, their need of such a Savior, face an eternity in hell, bearing the punishment on themselves for their own sins.

Christians rejoice at the goodness of God. He decreed, from before the creation of the world, to choose His people in Christ, the Beloved One. He does not punish innocent people, He fully repays the treachery and vileness of human sin. He gives mercy to those who cry for mercy. Today is the day of salvation. Today, if you are aware of your sinfulness—the fact that your words don’t match your deeds, your deeds don’t match the values by which you know you ought to live, then there is hope. Confess your sins to Jesus. Declare God is in the right in punishing sins, and He is merciful in putting your sins on Jesus and giving to You Jesus’ purity, that is His sinlessness.

Such is the wonder and blessedness of Easter. Jesus was crucified on Good Friday, taking our punishment. He went to the grave, so that believers are united with Him in His punishment and His death. Then, those who believe in Jesus rise with Jesus to newness of life, as Jesus rose that first Easter Sunday. In Jesus there is newness of life. What a Savior!

Easter

O HEAVENLY FATHER who hast made us glad this day because thy Son our Lord Jesus Christ has triumphed over sin and death; Grant that we who are members of him may also triumph over every evil thing by his power, and having worked for him in this life may live with him, where he lives and reigns with thee forever. Amen.

from “Divine Service Book for The Armed Forces” 1950, page 44

https://youtu.be/0arouoCJ8es?si=JYGQamGEzM_BxK7g “Christ Arose, Low in the Grave He Lay”

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