Scattering and Gathering

By Frank Johnson on February 13, 2020 0

Some musings this morning:

1. At the tower of Babel in Genesis 11, the nations were scattered because they wanted to make a name for themselves.

2. In Genesis 12, Abraham is told that God would make his name great and that in Abraham all the families of the earth (the families/nations of Genesis 10 that were scattered in Genesis 11) would be blessed.

3. God gives us the capacity to develop culture (every good gift is from above – James 1:17; and all wisdom and knowledge come from Jesus – Colossians 2:3). Because we are scattered, the cultures of the nations are diverse (though distorted by sin).

4. When the community of Christ is formed by God and crosses those cultural lines, so that people from diverse cultures become one (because of Jesus’ work in their lives), then the world takes notice (John 17:21-23). And the community that the nations sought for the wrong reason (to make a name for themselves) at the tower of Babel becomes the foundation of bringing many to Christ, resulting in God being glorified by the nations.

Still pondering …

About Frank Johnson

Frank is a 1985 graduate of Bethany College in Scotts Valley, California (B.S. Ministerial Studies) and a licensed minister with the Northern California and Nevada District Council of the Assemblies of God. Frank has been an internet strategist for over 20 years, applying principles of digital media strategy to spread the gospel. In addition, he is the author of Find A Job Through A Temporary Service, “Bringing in the Outcast” (under pen name, John Norman) in Issue 43 (January 1, 1988) of Discipleship Journal, and numerous articles in the Santa Cruz Sentinel.

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