Weekly Devotional 5-20-19 Do We Have Nimrod’s Among Us?
Nimrod in the Bible was the great-grandson of Noah through the line of Cush (Genesis 10:8). Nimrod is described as the first of the “mighty men” to appear on the earth after the great flood. Previous to the flood, there had been giants and mighty men on the earth, and “also afterward” (Genesis 6:4; Numbers 13:28 and 13:33; 2nd Samuel 21:15-22). From examination of the biblical texts and other ancient documents, it is clear that Nimrod was one of these mighty men. He appears in history several years after the flood of Noah. He established a great kingdom that included “Babel, Erech, Accad, and Calneh, in the land of Shinar” (Genesis 10:9–10). He later extended his kingdom into Assyria, where he built the cities of “Ninevah, Rehoboth Ir, Calah and Resen” (verses 11–12). Besides being a man with great physical stature and strength, he had a great strength of will. With this will he persuaded and dominated peoples of the aforementioned areas.
There is nothing wrong with being a large man with extraordinary strength (a giant) nor of being of strong will, but Nimrod was also a man that denied the authority of God. We read from Genesis 11:1-4. “1Now the whole earth had one language and one speech. 2And it came to pass, as they journeyed from the east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar, and they dwelt there. 3Then they said to one another, ‘Come, let us make bricks and bake them thoroughly.’ They had brick for stone, and they had asphalt for mortar. 4And 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.’” According to the historian Josephus, Nimrod “said he would be revenged on God, if he should have a mind to drown the world again; for that he would build a tower too high for the waters to reach. And that he would avenge himself on God for destroying their forefathers” (Antiquities of the Jews, Book 1, Chapter 4). The motive, according to Josephus, for building the Tower of Babel was to protect humanity against another flood. However, the reason for the first flood was humanity’s wickedness and rebellion (Genesis 6:5–6), from which humanity refused to repent. Nimrod was rebellious against God, just like his antediluvian forebears, and, according to Josephus, he “persuaded [his subjects] not to ascribe [their strength] to God, as if it were through His means they were happy, but to believe that it was their own courage which procured that happiness.” Isn’t this the attitude of many people of our world today, especially the world’s leaders? In similarity to Nimrod they have lead mankind in rebellion against God. Many have adopted the philosophy that man himself, by human devises and governance, will bring the happiness they seek.
While God is adding vast numbers of people in some areas of the world to His kingdom, many others are denying the authority of God over mankind. In our own country, the United States, God is increasingly being denied, cast out of government, schools and even religious institutions. Government has become the God to many. But, God will not be mocked. Psalm two is a great commentary on who is really in charge. Consider, “1 Why do the nations rage, And the people plot a vain thing? 2The kings of the earth set themselves, And the rulers take counsel together, Against the Lord and against His Anointed, saying, 3‘Let us break Their bonds in pieces And cast away Their cords from us’ 4He who sits in the heavens shall laugh; The Lord shall hold them in derision. 5Then He shall speak to them in His wrath, And distress them in His deep displeasure: 6‘Yet I have set My King On My holy hill of Zion. 7I will declare the decree: The Lord has said to Me, ‘You are My Son, Today I have begotten You. 8Ask of Me, and I will give You The nations for Your inheritance, And the ends of the earth for Your possession. 9You shall break them with a rod of iron; You shall dash them to pieces like a potter’s vessel.’’ 10Now therefore, be wise, O kings; Be instructed, you judges of the earth. 11Serve the Lord with fear, And rejoice with trembling. 12Kiss the Son, lest He be angry, And you perish in the way, When His wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all those who put their trust in Him.”
While it may seem to many that either there is no God, or that He is disinterested in the affairs of man, or that He has lost the battle, nothing could be further from the truth. We Christians have the testimony within ourselves that those assertions are incorrect. God deniers should be aware, God does exist. He is interested in the affairs of man, and He has not lost the battle. There is coming a day, perhaps soon, when Jesus Christ The Son of God will physically descend upon the earth and establish His kingdom, which will last for 1,000 years. At the beginning of that 1,000 year period He will have awarded those who trusted in and committed to Him during their lifetime. At the end of that 1,000 year period He will judge all others with this judgment: “11Then I (John) saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them. 12And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. 13The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works. 14Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.” This need not be, because “16God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. 18He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God” (John 3:16-18).
Steve
stevelampman@comcast.net stevelampman.com
Transforming Power; The Work of God on Behalf of Man
All Scripture usage is from The NKJB