Tale Of Two Cities:  Babylon & Bethel

Gen 11:1-9 – Gen 28:16-19

Ever since man was created there has been a tendency for him to do things his own way instead of listening to God’s direction for His life. The same is true now some 6,000 years later.  We today must decide which way our lives will take. Will we join the crowd and take the road which is broad and well traveled, or will we take the path which is straight, narrow, and very rarely traveled.

The choice is ours, but the end results are always the same. Solomon said, “There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death. Even in laughter the heart is sorrowful; and the end of that mirth is heaviness.” Prov 14:12-13

Almost everybody would like to go to heaven or some place of eternal happiness and joy. The real question arises when the discussion of how to get there begins. There are about as many ways as there are people to talk about it. But we are not here today to compare our ideas but to find God’s.

I. The tale of two cities: Babel

A. Man has always tried to reach the heavens

using his own ingenuity and energy

B. Man’s idea then was to build his own way

to the heavens

1. Man’s idea is still much the same

2. Our ways as before always end in confusion

3. The tower seemed like a good idea

a. it took a lot of work

b. it took cooperation

c. God said man would make a way

but He decided to stop it

d. Confusion reigned as the language

barrier became the cause of man

doing what God had asked him to

do in the first place

4. The ruins of that place were the origin

of the city of Babylon

C. Babylon became a great empire later and even came and carried away Israel captive

1. For all of their power they did not give

God glory or seek his ways and they

were brought down

 

2. Most of the occult and mystic religions

have their basis in the city of Babylon

3. They lead people into a world of darkness

and eventually to a horrible end and death

D. Babylon in scripture will be restored and rise

to fight again the plans of God

1. Revelation speaks of Babylon falling

in chapters 17 & 18

2. It speaks of all that is evil coming from

that city which is a type of man’s way

II. Another City,  with Another Tower

A. This city is Bethel founded by Jacob

1. Jacob had a clear view of the priorities of

life as opposed to Esau who saw only his

desires and needs

2. Jacob after stealing the blessing as well as

the birthright from Esau had to run for

his life. He was away from home, lonely,

and tired as he laid down his head upon

a rock to rest

3. That night as he slept, he met the God

of Abraham his grandfather, and Isaac, his dad.

4. God showed him another tower – this one also ascended into heaven but with                            one very great difference, it lead to the throne of God. It was traveled by                              angels, going up and down doing the business of God

5. When he awoke he knew he had been in

the presence of God and established an

alter there to declare the place as the

house of God – Bethel

6. Where there was only a plot of ground

before now it was the House of God

a. Wherever God’s message is preached

and His way made clear through

truth and holiness that is God’s                                                                                                             house

b. God’s house is a holy place because

a Holy God is there

7. Bethel was a place of revelation – truth

was proclaimed there. Jacob saw himself

as he was in the eyes of God. Not a great leader but a humble man in need

of a touch from an almighty God

8. When we become connected with the supernatural we will realize who we are

III. The Revelation

A. When we get the revelation of who God is

we get the revelation of who we are

B. When we go God’s way we become God’s

instrument of His will and not our own

1. We must recognize the power is the Lord’s

2. We must recognize where we fit into

God’s plan

3. We must recognize that if we are to get

where God is we must follow His directions

4. Many are the ways to heaven by man’s ideas, but Jesus said there was only 1                              way.

IV. Moses learned the same lesson that Jacob did

A. He began his life a privileged little boy

spared only by the mercy and plan of God

B. He lived his 1st 40 years Learning at the best

schools that Egypt could offer that He was

SOMEBODY
C. He spent the next 40 years of his life running away and learning that he was

NOTHING

D. He spent the next 40 years of his life

learning what GOD COULD DO WITH A NOBODY.

V. Our choice of Cities to dwell in

A. Babylon living for the world and involved

in all of its vile and wicked ways

B. Bethel – the house of God

C. We alone choose where we will spend each day