FIRST QUARTER 2023
SABBATH SCHOOL INSIGHT #9
MAY 27, 2023
“A CITY CALLED CONFUSION”

 

 

Our lesson’s title, “A City Called Confusion” calls our attention to the Old Testament city of Babel, where we are told in Genesis 11:9, “Therefore its name is called Babel, because there the LORD confused the language of all the earth; and from there the LORD scattered them abroad over the face of all the earth.” And this linguistic “confusion” is representative of the confusion of truth and error existing in later iterations of Babel reaching from the Garden of Eden to Nebuchadnezzar’s Babylon, to pagan Rome, to papal Rome and to the end of time.

 

Although “confusion” in various forms is certainly present in all of Babylon’s varied manifestations, there is an underlying principle that ties them all together.

 

Notice:

1. I will be like the Most High – Isaiah14:14.
2. You will be like God – Genesis 3:5.
3. Let us make a name for ourselves – Genesis 11:4.
4. Is not this great Babylon, that I have built . . . by my mighty power and for the honor of my majesty – Daniel 4:30.
5. A little horn which grew exceedingly great (Daniel 8:9) and He shall speak pompous words against the Most High (Daniel 7:25).
6. Who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God – 2 Thessalonians 2:4.

 

While we could add much more to this list, notice THE ONE PRINCIPLE that ties them all together – the principle of self-promotion or self-exaltation that necessitates opposition to God.  When the ultimate goal – consciously or subconsciously – is self-exaltation, sooner or later you will need to displace those ahead or above you.  And that progression will always end with the need to displace God in one’s own affections, as well as the affections of others.

 

“I think I’m wonderful – and you should think I’m wonderful too – I’m even more wonderful than the Wonderful Counselor.”

 

While it may be hard to conceive right now of how all the different world religions could unite under one banner, and while it might be hard to conceive of how all the various political factions and financial interests could unite in all their diversity, they ALL have one thing in common that is fundamental to their existence, and to their varied and yet universal appeal. They all endorse and support and encourage the fundamental principle of fallen human nature - to exalt myself and/or to preserve myself!

 

Notice Revelation 18:3 says regarding the “city called confusion” describing a unified religious, political, and financial planet earth:

 

“For all the nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, the kings [political] of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants [financial] of the earth have become rich through the abundance of her luxury.”

 

Notice Ellen White’s contrast of the two warring principles, one that originated with Lucifer and ultimately manifests itself in the “City of Confusion” and the one that has its source in the heart of God and is fully manifested in the humility and love of Jesus:

 

Sin originated in self-seeking. Lucifer, the covering cherub, desired to be first in heaven. He sought to gain control of heavenly beings, to draw them away from their Creator, and to win their homage to himself. Therefore he misrepresented God, attributing to Him the desire for self-exaltation. With his own evil characteristics he sought to invest the loving Creator. Thus he deceived angels. Thus he deceived men. —Ellen G. White, The Desire of Ages, p. 21.

 

Looking unto Jesus we see that it is the glory of our God to give. "I do nothing of Myself," said Christ; "the living Father hath sent Me, and I live by the Father." "I seek not Mine own glory," but the glory of Him that sent Me. John 8:28; 6:57; 8:50; 7:18. In these words is set forth the great principle which is the law of life for the universe. All things Christ received from God, but He took to give.” DA 21.2. “It will be seen that the glory shining in the face of Jesus is the glory of self-sacrificing love. In the light from Calvary it will be seen that the law of self-renouncing love is the law of life for earth and heaven; that the love which "seeketh not her own" has its source in the heart of God; and that in the meek and lowly One is manifested the character of Him who dwelleth in the light which no man can approach unto. — ibid. p. 19.

 

In closing, let us remember that it is easier to see Babel/Babylon, the “city of confusion,” out there; the bigger challenge God has is getting Babylon out of us. In the process of calling God’s people out of Babylon, may we be sensitive to how much of Babylon is still in us.  God’s biggest challenge has always been more to get Babylon out of His people than to get His people out of Babylon.

 

As Martin Luther said, “I am more afraid of my own heart than of the pope and all his cardinals.  I have within me the great pope, Self.”

 

Babylon in all its forms is “merely” the larger corporate manifestation of the universal human tendency, inherited from Satan at the fall of Adam and Eve, to promote and protect and exalt self at the expense and loss of others.  This is in all our fallen natural hearts by birth and by cultivation.

 

There is but one solution to the corporate manifestations of self and the individual promotion of self. “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29, emphasis supplied).

 

In the contemplation of Christ we linger on the shore of a love that is measureless. We endeavor to tell of this love, and language fails us. We consider His life on earth, His sacrifice for us, His work in heaven as our advocate, and the mansions He is preparing for those who love Him, and we can only exclaim, O the height and depth of the love of Christ! "Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us, and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins." "Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God." 1 John 4:10; 3:1.

 

In every true disciple this love, like sacred fire, burns on the altar of the heart. It was on the earth that the love of God was revealed through Christ. It is on the earth that His children are to reflect this love through blameless lives. Thus sinners will be led to the cross to behold the Lamb of God. —Ellen G. White, The Acts of the Apostles, pp. 333,334.

 

~Bob Hunsaker