“Come, let us build ourselves a city and a tower with its top in the heavens, and let us make a name for ourselves.”
Genesis 11:4
Dear members and friends,
The stories in the Bible are not given merely to display the greatness of God, but to illuminate the nature of the human heart. Within us lies a tendency that can quietly lead us away from the life God intends—a desire to exalt ourselves. The story of the Tower of Babel in Genesis 11 speaks directly to this impulse. The people seek to build a city and a tower reaching the heavens so that they might “make a name” for themselves. Beneath this ambition lies the longing for recognition, praise, and lasting greatness.
This theme is powerfully echoed in the poem “Ozymandias” by Percy Bysshe Shelley:
My name is Ozymandias, King of Kings;
Look on my Works, ye Mighty, and despair!
Nothing beside remains. Round the decay
Of that colossal wreck, boundless and bare
The lone and level sands stretch far away.
Many rulers in history, in their pursuit of glory, brought ruin not only upon others but upon their own kingdoms and families. Self-glory, when fueled by selfishness, narrows our vision until we see only what serves ourselves. The Bible gently and repeatedly warns us of this danger. When our hearts seek greatness for their own sake, we drift away from the humility that aligns us with God. The story of Babel therefore stands as a spiritual reminder: human greatness does not come from making a name for ourselves, but from living in humility, recognizing that all true purpose and lasting good come from the Creator.
My brothers and sisters in God, let us take a quiet time in prayer this week. Let us lift our hearts before God and reflect what selfishness we have in our hearts. May the Lord Creator bless our willingness to reform our hearts to be pleasing to Divine sight.
Blessings, Rev. Junchol Lee