Good Morning.
He was a mighty hunter before the Lord; therefore it is said, ‘Like Nimrod the mighty hunter before the Lord.’ And the beginning of his kingdom was Babel, Erech, Accad, and Calneh, in the land of Shinar. (Genesis 10:9-10)
That the beginning of Nimrod’s kingdom was Babel is quite appropriate. First of all, the word Babel means “confusion” or “mixing” and gets it name from the fact that God confused the languages of the people who were building it. Secondly, the Bible records that Nimrod’s kingdom was throughout the “land of Shinar” – a synonymous term with Babylon. The word shinar is believed to be “shaken off” or “empty.”
The tradition about this area is that this is where corpses of flood victims collected as the waters receded from the earth. If so, then Babel (later Babylon) was founded, most literally, upon corruption and the remains of wickedness. Later, the prophet Zechariah saw a vision in which “Wickedness” was taken to the land of Shinar to be “set on its base” (Zech. 5:11). The Hebrew word translated as base is “a resting place,” implying “a foundation” or “origins.” In other words, Wickedness returns to rest where it began – the place established by Nimrod.
This is what Babylon is and what it represents to the world — confusion and wickedness. That is why, in the Revelation, Babylon is the most mentioned city outside of Jerusalem. It is the antithesis of Jerusalem in that it was established by a rebel in opposition to God’s rule. And that is why God’s people are instructed not to associate with this place and its wickedness. Regarding Babylon, the Almighty said:
“For all the nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth have become rich through the abundance of her luxury.” And I heard another voice from heaven saying, “Come out of her, my people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues. For her sins have reached to heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities.” (Revelation 18:3-5)
Today Babylon is much more than a place on the map — it is a philosophy, a mindset and, by extension, a way of life that exists in every nation one earth. Today, it is called “coexistence” or “tolerance” — ideals and behaviors that are abnormal and rebellious but presented as progressive, thoughtful and needed. Once again, the rebellious nature and compelling speech that Nimrod represents is calling for men and women to join in the resistance to God’s rule.
As His people we must stand against this aggressive and destructive philosophy by being faithful to what is true. As His sons and daughters we must not drink “the wine of her fornication” but, as Daniel demonstrated while in Babylon, we must purpose in our hearts not to defile ourselves with the food and drink of Babylon. The Almighty says:
“Come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you.” I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.” (2 Corinthians 6:17-18)
Blessings and Shalom,
Bill
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