When I was a parent of young children, I often observed them and sometimes had to redirect them based on their behavior. There is divine observation, not to condemn us, but because He loves us. Psalm 139:1 O Lord, you have examined my heart and know everything about me. 2 You know when I sit down or stand up. You know my thoughts even when I’m far away. [1]
Our enemy, satan, tells us God is far away and does not care about us, but that is not true. For our good, the Lord watches over us and intervenes so we can fulfill the plans He has for us. Sometimes, the Lord must prune us to make us more fruitful. No one enjoys being pruned, but we are better off for it.
God Observes the Building of the Tower of Babel
In the time following the flood, humankind began to fill the earth again, but they did not spread out like the Lord had told Noah. Genesis 9:1Then God blessed Noah and his sons and told them, “Be fruitful and multiply. Fill the earth.[2]
Instead, the people settled down in the plains of Babylonia where they made their own plans. Genesis 11:4Then they said, “Come, let’s build a great city for ourselves with a tower that reaches into the sky. This will make us famous and keep us from being scattered all over the world.” [3]
Just as God watched over the building of the tower, He continues to watch our behavior. Genesis 11:5 But the Lord came down to look at the city and the tower the people were building.[4] Before God intervenes in our lives or those building the tower, He observes what motivates us. Despite our ambitions, we are never beyond His divine gaze.
Seeking God’s Perspective and Guidance
For the people of this era, building a tower may have seemed like a good idea. We, too, can fall into the same trap of thinking something is reasonable based on human reason and not check with God. It may seem like the right job, person to marry, occupation, or other decision, only to head down the road of heartache without God’s guidance.
If we have made wrong decisions, the best thing to do is admit them to God and repent of our sins. In the Bible, we see numerous people being corrected by God, including Jonah, David, Abraham, and others. In each case, God intervened, and they were better off for it.
I have learned some difficult lessons by not asking God to direct my path first. In God’s mercy, He works through our missteps, but there is a better way. Psalm 25:4 Show me the right path, O Lord; point out the road for me to follow. 5 Lead me by your truth and teach me, for you are the God who saves me. All day long, I put my hope in you. [5] Will you let God direct your steps?
To learn about divine observation, listen here:
https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/human-ambition-humbled
[1-5] Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation. Tyndale House Publishers.