When we talk about being saved from the fires of hell, we should view this as being called out of it, not spared from a punishment by it.
They said to each other, “Come, let’s make bricks and bake them thoroughly.” They used brick instead of stone, and tar for mortar.
Genesis 11:3 (NIV)
The Hebrew word for “bricks” is found twice in this verse, and then seven times in Exodus.
Isn’t that interesting? It’s like the writers want to show us something about this word. They want us to look more closely.
Here, a point is made: Bricks instead of stone.
What’s significant about bricks and stones? Why the distinction? There are clues in the following verse.
And they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city, and a tower whose top is in the heavens; let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be scattered abroad over the face of the whole earth.”
Genesis 11:4 (NKJV)
Verse 4 shows us arrogance and pride. Maybe it’s our accomplishments and self-sufficiency, and patting ourselves on the back.
But actually, it’s much worse than that.
“Let’s make A NAME for ourselves.”
What’s lost in the English is that this word “name” (שֵׁם) has a quirky meaning in Hebrew. It’s the same word as a certain person’s name: Shem. That’s right. Shem’s name means “name.” And as we learned in the last chapter, Shem is BLESSED.
But the Jewish reader will also note that one of the designations for God is “HaShem,” which means “THE NAME.”
So when the people said “Let’s make A NAME for ourselves,” this is heavily packed with meaning: “Let’s seize our own blessing. Let’s make a god for ourselves.”
This is idolatry, but it’s a kind of idolatry that’s going to be echoed later in Scripture.
When Israel is delivered from Egypt and are given the 10 commandments, it starts with a reminder of their freedom.
I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.
“You shall have no other gods before Me.
Exodus 20:2-3 (NASB)
It’s in this context of deliverance from slavery that the bricks come up again in the story:
Exodus 1:14 – Bondage and bricks
Exodus 5:7 – Make bricks
Exodus 5:8 – Quota of bricks
Exodus 5:16 – Make bricks
Exodus 5:18 – Quota of bricks
Exodus 5:19 – Daily task of bricks
They were delivered from bondage, from the land of slavery under the Egyptian gods, but they were also spared from God’s wrath, poured like a flood against those who harmed His people.
So God cautioned Israel: Have no other gods; idolatry is intrinsically tied to bondage.
But in the land of Shinar, the people forgot about the flood and God’s mighty hand that preserved humanity in an ark. “Let us make a name for ourselves,” they said, and they stepped into the slavery of brick-making for the first time.
But there’s a problem.
There aren’t enough bricks to make a proper name for yourself, friend. You’ll keep building towards heaven and never get there.
If I make enough money…
If I parent well enough…
If I have enough followers…
If I drive the nicest car…
If I work hard and get that promotion…
“MAKE MORE BRICKS!” the slaver demands.
It’s like Cain’s rejected sacrifice: “Look what I acquired!” as his first-fruits burned to ash. Perhaps his sacrifice was burned atop an alter of bricks.
God doesn’t seem to desire this.
A people who continually provoke Me to My face,
Offering sacrifices in gardens and burning incense on bricks;
Isaiah 65:3 (NASB)
In fact, what God wants is an altar of made of uncut stones, just the way they were found in the ground. Just stones in a pile, big enough to make an offering, as though the rocks are a reminder of who we are, and where we’ve come from. God just wants our whole selves.
And if you make an altar of stone for Me, you shall not build it of cut stones, for if you wield your chisel on it, you will profane it.
Exodus 20:25 (NASB)
So the lesson I see is that every vain pursuit of “making a name for yourself” is ultimately a pursuit of idols. A pursuit of your own claim to a blessing. A pursuit of a god who will reward you and cheer your ever-growing tower.
This always leads to slavery and confusion.
And the king of Sodom and the king of Gomorrah, the king of Admah and the king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (that is, Zoar) came out; and they lined up for battle against them in the Valley of Siddim, against Chedorlaomer king of Elam, Tidal king of Goiim, Amraphel king of Shinar, and Arioch king of Ellasar—four kings against five.
Genesis 14:8-9 (NASB)
Genesis 14 describes a battle between two federations of kings, and it appears to teach us about how God deals with two kinds of evils.
Here is the set up: there are five kings that represent wickedness and rebellion, and there are 4 kings that represent Empires of man.
The rabbis say that the text is pretty plain on this: the names of the five evil kings all have names that mean wickedness and rebellion. The four empire kings can be seen as Babylon, Persia, Greece, and Rome.
What is happening in this story?
For starters, it helps to know that the wicked kings occupy the Promised Land. Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, Zeboiim, and Zoar are all in Canaan, whereas the Empire kings are other nations. Notice who wins the battle.
This is extremely important, because it sets up the lesson.
Israel ends up in the Promised Land, but they fail to drive out all the inhabitants. They begin to worship the idols of the people, and as a consequence, they grow wicked. God raises up Babylon to punish them. Several prophets mention this, but I like Habakkuk:
“Look at the nations and watch—
and be utterly amazed.
For I am going to do something in your days
that you would not believe,
even if you were told.
I am raising up the Babylonians,
that ruthless and impetuous people,
who sweep across the whole earth
to seize dwellings not their own.
Habakuk 1:5-6
“Be amazed!”
It feels like God’s intent is to pour wrath on His people: the text goes on to address their explicit sins, and even the prophets wonder if God will go back on his promise to protect them. “How long, oh Lord?” they cry out as Babylon sieges them.
But it’s clear: God raised up Babylon to address the sin in the people. In the land. In our very hearts. This process is painful.
In Genesis 14, Abram’s nephew Lot is caught up in the war, captured by the Empire kings, and it seems dire.
And yet, by way of miracle, Abram and a band of 318 men pursue the Empire kings, and not only rescue Lot, but manage to reclaim all that was captured, and we see a message: God does preserve his people. Though he raised up Babylon, he does not intend to let his people die.
The Promised Land represents many things; one of them is our hearts. We recognize that our heart is our territory, and that it harbors wickedness at times. When evil grows too great, God uses external forces to teach us lessons. It hurts, but we grow.
But it’s also actual Empires and systems, and the story teaches how to view them correctly.
Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.
Romans 13:1 (NIV)
And this makes what Paul says in Romans much clearer. Paul is coming to the same conclusion: Empire is raised up by God.
It’s raised up specifically to address the kings of wickedness in the land, and in our hearts.
For he is God’s minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God’s minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil.
Romans 13:4 (NKJV)
This doesn’t mean “government is good.” God has much to say against Babylon.
But we know that God rescues his people from Empire, and God will rescue you.