Genesis11_3-4

Genesis 11:3-4

And they said one to another, Go to, let us make brick, and burn them throughly. And they had brick for stone, and slime had they for morter.

And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth.  

They invented a new technology for building quickly and understood how to make bricks from the earth. From the previous chapters, human beings were made from dust; however, they made bricks from the dust of the earth. Although the material was the same, God used it to create life, whereas humanity removed certain life‑related elements from the dust by burning it thoroughly. Obviously, God grants life, but in contrast, humanity destroys life. This was not an accidental discovery; it arose from their essential nature.

They built a city just as Cain did for his son. A city has some basic and crucial functions for human beings, such as habitation, self‑protection, gathering, and so on. Meanwhile, they also intended to build a tower whose top might reach unto heaven. The tower was not only a sign for making their name but also a center of power. Why did they want to build a city and a tower?

Since they did not want to be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth, they undertook this great building project. Did all people want to participate at that time? Perhaps some rejected the project. The simple reason is that only a small group of people who controlled more resources and wealth desired it deeply. The distribution of people and resources was not suitable for centralized management. They hoped to control others through central power.

Meanwhile, those who held higher power rejected and rebelled against the management or arrangement of God Elohim. Therefore, they intended to build their own kingdom. Once a man takes over power, he will build his own city and tower, controlling people in both their physical living conditions and their spiritual world and mindset.

Moreover, this phenomenon has continued throughout the world from ancient times to the present day.