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Tower of Babel - Gen. 11:4 “Come, let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we may make a name for ourselves” 

Do you ever worry life is out of control? It's an experience common to all humanity. There is an old story from the Bible about some builders. This tower of Babel, which even non-Christians are probably vaguely familiar with, is often thought to be about human pride. However, there is another consideration. In the ancient world, a world where life seemed like it might always be on the edge of chaos (ie. floods or drought) it was thought necessary to get the gods on their side. A tower was a way of inviting a god down into a city to protect it. God (Yahweh), condemned this idea, but started His own.  

Much of what we call the Old Testament is focused on accessing the presence of God. For example, Moses met with Yahweh in the Tent of Meeting. In the New Testament, Jesus is the very presence of God on Earth. Ancient people worried about life and its uncontrollable chaos, just like we do. They wanted to take control by arm-twisting the gods into attending to their needs. Our God doesn’t work like that. You can’t make him do something. You can ask, though. And God does promise his very presence in your life when you commit to Jesus. There are no easy answers to the problems of this life, yet we have a God that took on a physical body to be with us. He understands humanity. That’s the story of Christmas. 

How would knowing you have the very presence of God in your life change you?

 

*stay tuned for tomorrow’s advent reflection* 

(advent reflections have been prepared by a variety of writers from Peace Church)