Genesis 11:1-9 The motivation of leadership is not to dominate but to serve

Genesis 11:1-9

Now the whole earth used the same language and the same words. 2 It came about as they journeyed east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar and settled there. 3 They said to one another, “Come, let us make bricks and burn them thoroughly.” And they used brick for stone, and they used tar for mortar. 4 They said, “Come, let us build for ourselves a city, and a tower whose top will reach into heaven, and let us make for ourselves a name, otherwise we will be scattered abroad over the face of the whole earth.” 5 The Lord came down to see the city and the tower which the sons of men had built. 6 The Lord said, “Behold, they are one people, and they all have the same language. And this is what they began to do, and now nothing which they purpose to do will be impossible for them. 7 Come, let Us go down and there confuse their language, so that they will not understand one another’s speech.” 8 So the Lord scattered them abroad from there over the face of the whole earth; and they stopped building the city. 9 Therefore its name was called Babel, because there the Lord confused the language of the whole earth; and from there the Lord scattered them abroad over the face of the whole earth.

Background

This section is a flashback to explain why the three sons of Noah become separated and scattered at the time of Peleg (see Genesis 10:25). The base instinct of the human hubris is to concentrate power by making a name so that he can dominate and enrich himself at the expense of others. God responded from heaven by confounding their speech and consequently, their plans for world domination are scuttled. Today’s devotion teaches the importance of maintaining a right motivation towards work and leadership. When man’s heart goes awry and deviates from the course of godly leadership, God scuttles and scatters. The motivation of leadership is not to dominate but to serve as Christ serves.

Observation

Now the whole earth used the same language and the same words.

Imagine not having to grapple with foreign languages (same language), nuances in vocabulary (same words) and for that matter cultural variance. Here is a world without borders where everybody understands everybody. The speed and ease of building trust among people and the exchange of ideas and technology is beyond what we have experienced. This is truly a one world system where people can be integrated very quickly concentrating enormous power on a small group of people. In the same token, people will be more vulnerable, being subject to the abuses of the regime.

Come, let us build for ourselves a city, and a tower whose top will reach into heaven…

The idea of constructing a city with a tower appears to be motivated by a small group of ambitious and influential men. The motivation is shown by their intention to build a tower whose top will reach into heaven. The idea of building a high tower must be read together with the intention to “make a name” as the human hubris endeavours to consolidate and draw the population to himself. To make a name is to portray oneself as benevolent while harbouring a self serving attitude. Therefore, the agenda here is really about power and world domination. What is appalling is man’s tendency to concentrate power, to oppress the helpless and to terrorise those who refuse to submit to their control. A towering and imposing structure serves to create for them a symbol and image of formidability.

Perhaps, what God has in mind in confounding their speech is the protection of the weak and helpless. As such being easy targets of power hungry men; the criticality of the situation calls for immediate divine intervention. Otherwise, what these men have envisioned will surely come to pass: and now nothing which they purpose to do will be impossible for them.

Come, let Us go down and there confuse their language, so that they will not understand one another’s speech.

God, resolves to scuttle their plans of world domination by confusing their means of communication. In doing so, man can no longer build trust with one another without having to learn multiple languages. The people are scattered and consequently, the work of building the city stops. The founders of the city give it a name “Babel” which denotes “gate/residence of the gods”. But the narrator lampoons that significance by a Hebrew word meaning “confused”.

Truth

In order for the fruit of our labour to endure, our work must be founded on the right motivation.

The founders of Babel build the city with the intent to dominate the world and to enrich themselves at the expense of others. They do not have a noble vision to benefit the population at large. “Let us make for ourselves a name…” is seen to come from a few given to unconscionable unscrupulousness. God’s recourse to such corrupt and evil devices is to scuttle it. If a company or organisation sees incessant in-fighting within its ranks, one only has to look to the motives of the leadership for answers. The purpose of leadership is not to dominate but to serve. Christ is appointed by God to the highest station of all creation because He comes to serve and gives His life for all.

Many businesses, religious and charity organisations are founded on the noble course of bringing hope to the less fortunate. Unfortunately, when these founders see some results, their motivations take a turn in small unnoticeable ways. They make for themselves a name and permit a little unaccounted privilege, a taste of the forbidden trappings of success supposing that to be inconsequential. Before long, they are no longer in control of their passions. Blinded by fleshly ambitions, they begin to oppress their charges by making unreasonable demands. Injustice and oppression of the weak becomes the dominant culture of their establishment. For them, the cherished commodity is the ability to influence and control whatever the means and whatever the cost. Anyone who has the nerve for audacity and underhanded exploitations are considered goal getters and high achievers in their right, envied and admired by the benign. The benign are instead taken for granted because of their selfless dedication and sense of responsibility. Such cultures are a recipe for disunity and eventual demise of the organisation. As a result, many of these companies and organisations are experiencing human resource problems. They are like shells in the sand, beautiful on the outside, but deathly on the inside. If the leadership becomes shamelessly self-serving, God will certainly scatter the people. When the faithful and diligent start to consider leaving, one only has to look to the leadership to understand why.

Therefore, companies, churches and organisations must endeavour to build justice, mercy and a respect for God into their corporate culture. The purpose of existence for every organisation is not to enrich themselves but to be a blessing to the population at large. Companies must in all their endeavours benefit the nation by bringing work and new skill sets to the people. Churches must bring eternal life into the community by teaching Christ’s way of life through the indwelling Spirit. Charity organisations if they are to be successful must stop looking to easy fixes, but to do the hard work of rebuilding the hearts and values system of the people.

Application

You, as a leader in your family, church or workplace, do you submit to God as your Lord and serve Him? The bible defines a leader as one who comes to serve and not to be served. Here is a brief checklist for leaders that will reveal the secrets of our hearts:

a.  Are you given to moments of anger and tantrum?
b.  Do you speak to your members without regard for their feelings?
c.  Do you see your members as work horses or men and women whom God has saved?
d.  Do you put your members’ welfare above yours?
e.  Do you harbour bitterness as one who has been abandoned and used?

Dear Lord, forgive me for the times when I think I deserve better. Forgive me for being selfish and unreasoning toward those who can never fight back. Create a new motivation within me to serve and not to be served. Use me as a shining model of Christ who comes to give Himself for all. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.