A Prayer about the Wrong Kind of Unity

Then they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city and a tower with its top in the heavens, and let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be dispersed over the face of the whole earth.”

Genesis 11:4

Merciful Lord,

In this true story of your people building themselves a city and a tower, 

we see the root of our sin: 

trying to make a name for ourselves. 

Your people, whom you had commanded to “be fruitful and multiply,” 

to fill the earth with your glory, 

were united in the wrong purpose: 

they sought to build their own glory. 

You saw this wrong kind of unity, 

and you said, “Behold, they are one people, 

and they have all one language, 

and this is only the beginning of what they will do. 

And nothing that they propose 

will now be impossible for them” (Gen. 11:6).

And yet, even in dispersing the people across the earth, 

you continued your plan of redemption. 

One day, you would send your Son to unite your people, 

to bring “near” those who were once “far off,” 

to tear down “the dividing wall of hostility” (Eph. 2:14), 

to make all who would trust in you 

“fellow citizens and members of the household of God” (Eph. 2:19).

And one day “soon,” 

your Son our Savior will return 

to bring the glory of all the nations into our eternal home, 

the new heavens and the new earth. 

Because you did what was impossible through your Son, 

may we daily seek to glorify you.

In Jesus’ uniting name. Amen.