Book Review: Tower Of Babel - Bodie Hodge

One of the things I wanted to do with this blog is share some of what I have been reading, studying, and learning.   I usually have 4 or 5 books that I'm chipping away on at any one time, and Tower of Babel by Bodie Hodge is the latest one to finish.  I've got one other I just finished (probably the only benefit of having been under the weather for a couple of weeks) and will get a review done on that one soon.

I bought this book last summer when De and I took a short vacation to the Creation Museum and Ark Encounter in northern Kentucky.  It was one offering in the very well appointed bookstore associated with the Creation Museum.  If you ever get the chance to visit either or both, jump on it. (They're located some 40 miles apart, as I recall.)   They've done amazing things with both and you will be blessed for a lifetime for making the trip.  For us it's about a 5 hour drive so we'll be visiting again, God willing.

The book is primarily a cultural history that starts with the account of the Tower of Babel in Genesis 11, which includes the table of nations that came about after the people were scattered.  It combs through the scriptures to located passages that provide insights into the migrations throughout the post-Babel event years.  The book also refers to lots of extra-biblical supporting documentation.  LOTS of extra-biblical supporting documentation.  It is well foot- and end-noted for those that care to check references.

Hodge traces the likely origins of many of the world's cultures all around the globe starting with the Babel event.  The basis of his claims begins with biblical references and he then brings in the corroborative extra-biblical accounts of the creation, the Flood, the Babel event, and the subsequent spread of humanity of which nearly every recorded history has some version.  Hodge is quick to point out all this is not happenstance or coincidence but accomplished per God's plan and instruction down through ages.

The book is not a casual read, if you want to get the whole benefit of all the research done by Hodge and the many others that are included.  It is, in fact, tedious for significant stretches.  The book is loaded with names, genealogies, and the tracing of languages, all of which takes some attention to follow.  It does, however, "come up for air" frequently enough that one does not lose hope.  That being said, I think would be possible to 'skim through' some of the more tedious passages and still get a lot out of the book.

I enjoyed and recommend the book, but do go in 'with your eyes open'.  There is much to be learned in reading and I found it be one more confidence builder in the reality of God's work and plan.  At a time when most of academia seems "hell bent" to discredit the whole of God's word one account at a time, Tower of Babel is a refreshing bit of encouragement that points to the ample evidence available to prove the Biblical accounts are accurate, factual and true as written.

Tower of Babel is available on Amazon in both paper and Kindle versions, as well as other Christian book sources both online and in brick-and-mortar stores.

Col. 1:9-12,

Mark

I Felt Awful

This past summer De and I bought some chicks.  We had a broody hen but the eggs had failed to hatch, so we decided to buy chicks and hope she would just adopt them.  She did and everything was great.  Six cute little chicks all running around doing just what chicks do.  It was adorable. Then there were five.  Mama had decided to settle down with them outside for the night and in the process of getting them all back inside where they belonged, one got underfoot.  I killed it.  I felt awful.  For days.  In a moment of carelessness and inattention, I had been responsible for the death of an innocent little life.

A couple of days later, during my morning quiet time, a question came to me.  "So why don’t you feel that bad about the sins you’ve committed that sent the innocent Son of God to the cross?   What about the moments of carelessness and inattention during which you sinned against God and those around you?  Why don’t you feel that bad about those?"  Wow…  But after agonizing over that a few more days, and feeling worse the whole time, the answer came to me.

I can’t ‘undo’ those sins any more than I bring back that chick.  But I don’t have to.  All those sins have been forgiven.

In 1 John 1:8-9 we read, ⁸If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. ⁹If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.   

Jesus himself made this clear to us the night before He was crucified.  His words are recorded for us in Matt. 26:26-28.   ²⁶While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.” ²⁷Then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. ²⁸This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.”

"...for the forgiveness of sins."  God's word reminds us that, if we confess our sins to Him, if we believe and truly trust in Him, we are forgiven and we can leave the guilt behind.

I still feel bad about the chick, and hope I never cease to feel the Spirit’s conviction when I sin.  Most importantly, I pray I will never forget or take lightly the gift of forgiveness that was given through the death of an innocent Savior.