Weekly Devotional 8-10-15 The Valley of Shinar Revisited
“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.” (Genesis 11:1-4 NKJV).
By the time we come to Genesis 11 mankind had grown from eight persons to perhaps hundreds of thousands. Nimrod, the son of Cush and great grandson of Noah was an ungodly man who led those that followed him (his subjects) against God. He led them into the valley of Shinar and there they formed a Godless society. God’s rule over them was rejected. They attempted to form their own government. They even had the audacity to believe they could prevent God from destroying the world as He did with the flood. Raising their chins in defiance they began building a tower that would reach into the heavens. However, God would have none of this and confused their tongues so that they could not understand one another. Consequently, the tower went unfinished and they were scattered to various parts of the earth.
It seems that many if not most societies of the world today have, or are entering into their own valley of Shinar. They have rejected God and are following their own vain philosophies or the philosophies of God-rejecting persons of generations before them. Here in the United States ungodliness is the rule of the day. God has been, or is being rejected in almost all avenues of life. Even in some denominations of the Protestant faith God has been cast out, bringing to fruition prophesy of Revelation 3:20 where Jesus is seen as having been cast out. He knocks and calls out, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.” However, God is still in control; Listen to the Psalmist, who was led to sing, “1Why 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.’” (Psalms 2:1- NKJV).
The Son is none other than the Lord Jesus Christ who has been rejected by many persons and societies, even the professing church, but note that the earth is His and all that therein is. Turning to the Book of Revelation once again we read that at a set time the title deed to the earth will be handed to Him and then he will take His throne and be worshipped by all, those in heaven, those on the earth, those under the earth, those who are in the sea. Every creature, no matter where they are, will worship Him at that time.
We read from Revelation chapter 5 (NKJV), “1And I (John) saw in the right hand of Him who sat on the throne a scroll written inside and on the back, sealed with seven seals. 2Then I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, ‘Who is worthy to open the scroll and to loose its seals?’ 3And no one in heaven or on the earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll, or to look at it. 4So I wept much, because no one was found worthy to open and read the scroll, or to look at it. 5But one of the elders said to me, ‘Do not weep. Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has prevailed to open the scroll and to loose its seven seals.’6And I looked, and behold, in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as though it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent out into all the earth. 7Then He came and took the scroll out of the right hand of Him who sat on the throne. 8Now when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. 9And they sang a new song, saying: ‘You are worthy to take the scroll, And to open its seals; For You were slain, And have redeemed us to God by Your blood Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, 10And have made us kings and priests to our God; And we shall reign on the earth.’ 11Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures, and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands, 12saying with a loud voice: ‘Worthy is the Lamb who was slain To receive power and riches and wisdom, And strength and honor and glory and blessing!’ 13And every creature which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, I heard saying: ‘Blessing and honor and glory and power Be to Him who sits on the throne, And to the Lamb, forever and ever!’ 14Then the four living creatures said, ‘Amen!’ And the twenty-four elders fell down and worshiped Him who lives forever and ever.
We Christians can take comfort and be assured in this message, but all deniers should be warned, everyone will someday recognize Jesus Christ for who he is; even those who in their life timed rejected Him, who have been forever banned from the presence of God.
stevelampman@comcast.net stevelampman.com
Transforming Power; The Work of God on Behalf of Man
www.gbchurch.us