The Tower of Babel, Abraham, and Empire- Kingdom of God E4

Episode Summary

In this fourth installment of the Kingdom of God series, hosts Trevor, Taylor, and Tyler explore the Tower of Babel narrative and its connection to Abraham's calling. Engaging with Peter Leithart's book "Between Babel and Beast," they examine how Abraham was called out from one empire to establish God's Kingdom, representing a pivotal contrast between human empire-building projects and God's alternative Kingdom vision.

Main Themes

The Tower of Babel as Empire

• The theological significance of humanity's first attempt at empire-building
• How the Babel project represented human autonomy and rebellion against God's command to fill the earth
• The tower as a symbol of consolidated human power in opposition to God's Kingdom
• Language confusion as God's judgment on human pride and self-exaltation

Empire vs. Kingdom

• The fundamental tension between human empires and God's Kingdom purposes
• How empires throughout biblical history follow the Babel pattern
• The contrast between top-down coercive power and God's servant-leadership model
• Empire as an idolatrous alternative to God's rule and reign

Abraham's Counter-Cultural Calling

• Abraham's call to leave Ur of the Chaldeans as a departure from empire
• How God's covenant with Abraham establishes an alternative to Babel's ambitions
• Abraham as the beginning of God's redemptive counter-empire
• The significance of Abraham being called to be a blessing to all nations

Scripture Deep Dive

• Genesis 11:1-9 - The Tower of Babel narrative and God's judgment
• Genesis 12:1-3 - God's call to Abraham to leave his homeland
• Genesis 10:8-12 - Nimrod's kingdom and the first biblical mention of Babel
• Isaiah 14:12-15 - Prophetic connections to Babel's tower-building ambitions
• Acts 2:1-11 - Pentecost as a redemptive reversal of Babel's language confusion

Theological Implications

• The persistent human tendency toward empire-building throughout history
• God's consistent opposition to human attempts at absolute power
• The Kingdom of God as an upside-down alternative to imperial systems
• How God works through remnants and outsiders rather than through centers of power
• The theological importance of diversity and dispersion versus homogeneity and centralization

Practical Applications

• Recognizing and resisting empire-thinking in contemporary Christian culture
• Following Abraham's example of faith and counter-cultural living
• Building Kingdom communities that contrast with worldly power structures
• Embracing God's call to be a blessing to others rather than elevating ourselves
• Cultivating a healthy skepticism toward centralized human power

Recommended Resources

• "Between Babel and Beast" by Peter Leithart
• "Kingdom Through Covenant" by Peter Gentry and Stephen Wellum
• "A House for My Name" by Peter Leithart
• "Kingdom Prologue" by Meredith G. Kline

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• Check out our other podcasts: The Classical Mind, Pilgrim Faith, The Classical Thinkery

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