CHASING POWER (GENESIS 11:4-9)

REFLECTION The theme of “Chasing Power” is a timeless story of human ambition. To “chase” means to run after something with great energy, often without stopping to think about the consequences. “Power” is the ability to control others, stay in command, or make a name for oneself. In Genesis 11:4-9, we see a clear example…

Jean-Paul Agidi

Mar 12, 2026

3–4 minutes

REFLECTION

The theme of “Chasing Power” is a timeless story of human ambition. To “chase” means to run after something with great energy, often without stopping to think about the consequences. “Power” is the ability to control others, stay in command, or make a name for oneself. In Genesis 11:4-9, we see a clear example of what happens when people try to reach the top without considering God’s plan. The key lesson from this passage is that any success built on pride and independence from God is destined to fail.

The background of this story takes place after the Great Flood. The people of the earth spoke one language and stayed in one place. Instead of filling the earth as God had asked, they decided to settle in a plain called Shinar. They wanted to build a massive tower to prove their own greatness.

The Danger of Self-Exaltation

The main lesson we learn from the Tower of Babel is that chasing power for our own glory leads to separation from God. The people said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we may make a name for ourselves; otherwise we will be scattered over the face of the whole earth” (Genesis 11:4).

They were not building the tower to be closer to God; they were building it to replace Him. They wanted to be their own masters. In our world today, we see this when people focus only on getting more money, higher job titles, or more “likes” on social media just to feel superior to others. However, the Bible warns us in Proverbs 16:18 that “Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.” True power does not come from what we build for ourselves, but from serving others and following God’s will.

God’s Response to Human Pride

Another lesson is that God holds ultimate authority. We might think we are in control, but God sees our hearts. The Scripture tells us, “But the Lord came down to see the city and the tower the people were building” (Genesis 11:5). No matter how high they built, God still had to “come down” because their greatest achievements were tiny compared to His greatness.

To stop their prideful plans, God confused their language. “That is why it was called Babel—because there the Lord confused the language of the whole world. From there the Lord scattered them over the face of the whole earth” (Genesis 11:9). When we chase power for the wrong reasons, it often leads to confusion and broken relationships. A practical example is a business leader who treats their staff poorly just to get ahead; eventually, the team stops communicating, and the business fails. As Psalm 127:1 says, “Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labour in vain.”

Conclusion

In summary, the story of Babel teaches us that chasing power through pride only leads to being scattered and confused. Real success is not about making a name for ourselves, but about honouring God’s name. We must remember that human strength is limited, and we need God’s guidance in everything we do.

Call to Action: Today, let us stop trying to build our own “towers” of pride. Instead of chasing power to control others, let us seek the power of the Holy Spirit to serve others. Let us choose humility over fame and obedience over ambition.

Prayer

Dear Lord, thank You for Your Word. Please forgive us for the times we have tried to make a name for ourselves instead of honouring You. Help us to stop chasing power that does not last. Give us humble hearts to follow Your plan for our lives. May everything we build be for Your glory alone. In Jesus’ name, Amen.