Terminated Tower

"God blessed Noah and his sons, and said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply.... bring forth abundantly in the earth, and multiply therein.... And the whole earth was one speech.... And they said, Go to, let us build 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.... And the LORD said.... Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language.... So the LORD scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth" (Genesis 9:1,7, 11:1-8).

God gave a very plain command
To Noah's children giving birth.
It wasn't hard to understand:
"Be fruitful," filling all the earth.

But his descendants thought instead
That they would rather build a tower,
Thus contradicting what God said,
Unmindful of His sovereign power.

Their purpose set aside God's grace,
As they united then to build
A tower and a dwelling place
In conflict with what God had willed.

God brought their plans to a conclusion,
And they were scattered all abroad.
Through languages He brought confusion
To those who tried to withstand God.

O Lord, how gently then You brought
That tower to its termination,
That rebel sinners might be taught
To turn and find in You salvation!

So teach us, Lord, to know Your will
And do (the first time) what You say,
That we may joyfully fulfill
Your plan for us as we obey.