Sunday: Nimrod and Nineveh
Daily Lesson for Sunday 20th of April 2025
Eden was created as the ideal home for the human race. Once sin entered, God had no choice but to separate humanity from the Garden and the tree of life, at least for now.
Outside of the Garden, humans were required to work hard to provide for their own continued existence. Life became harder; we had to live with pain and by the sweat of our brow (Genesis 3:16-19). Our first parents trusted that the rightful King would provide a path back into the Garden, and they brought sacrifices to the gates of Eden in faithful anticipation of the redemption that God, right from the start, offered the fallen world.
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“The Garden of Eden remained upon the earth long after man had become an outcast from its pleasant paths. . . . Hither came Adam and his sons to worship God. Here they renewed their vows of obedience to that law the transgression of which had banished them from Eden. When the tide of iniquity overspread the world, and the wickedness of men determined their destruction by a flood of waters, the hand that had planted Eden withdrew it from the earth. But in the final restitution, when there shall be ‘a new heaven and a new earth’ (Revelation 21:1), it is to be restored more gloriously adorned than at the beginning.”—Ellen G. White, Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 62.
Others, however, worked on man-made “solutions” to our newfound problems, and we see the birth of city-states, an attempt to create an easier life, and perhaps to try to recapture what was lost in Eden.
Read Genesis 10:1-12. This is where the Bible introduces a number of key political players found throughout the rest of the Bible, including Nineveh and Babylon. Given what we know about the roles of those cities later on, what can we deduce from these texts?
Some have read about Nimrod and concluded that he is a noble hero, much like the conquering heroes of pagan mythology. But when the Bible describes him as “a mighty one on the earth,” and a “mighty hunter before the Lord,” it is not a compliment. Nimrod is great in his own estimation, and he stands “before” the Lord in the sense that he defies God. What we see in these texts is the spreading of the rebellion against God, a rebellion that will exist until, ultimately, all rebellion will be forever eradicated.
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Why is the sin of rebellion against God more subtle than we might realize? How can we protect ourselves against this very human trait? |
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After the flood, God blessed Noah and his three sons (Shem, Ham, Japheth) and He instructed them to “Be fruitful and multiply. Fill the earth” (Genesis 9:1, NLT). This instruction meant that they were to disperse across the earth and not dwell in cities. In complete disregard of God’s command, they gathered together and started to build a city. “Then they said, “Come, let’s build a great city for ourselves with a tower that reaches into the sky. This will make us famous and keep us from being scattered all over the world” (Genesis 11:4, NLT). This was in complete defiance of God’s command. The start of urbanisation brought with it a multiplicity of spiritual, social, and political problems.
1) Rebellion and apostasy (Babel) – This city became a symbol of rebellion against God. People in large numbers feel a sense of false safety and security. They felt they could do without God. When mankind feels a sense of achievement, a sense of human greatness and pride takes over. Spiritual decay is more rampant in urban centers than in rural communities.
2) Consolidation of political and religious power (Nimrod) – Large numbers of people desired a central power of authority to govern them, and this resulted in power being given to certain individuals. This brought oppression, self-glory, and independence from divine authority (Genesis 10:8-12).
Bible prophecy vividly describes the ancient cities (Babylon, Nineveh, and Tyre) as the epicenter for idolatry, pride, materialism, oppression, and rebellion. Cities more often represent human systems that always make attempts to represent the systems of God.
Something to think about:
“Get out of the cities as soon as possible and purchase a little piece of land where you can have a garden, where your children can watch the flowers growing and learn from them lessons of simplicity and purity.” - Country Living, p. 17 (Ellen G. White)
To some, Nimrod is seen as a great warrior but to the discerning He is nothing more than a rebellious tyrant.
Many of us today are acting in rebellion against God without even realizing it. The posture of our hearts should be as is found in Psalm 139:23-24:
"Search me, O God, and know my heart;
Try me, and know my anxieties;
And see if there is any wicked way in me,
And lead me in the way everlasting"
The question at the close of the lesson is not easily answered. Yet, if we humble ourselves and return to the Beginning — to Eden, the dwelling place of man’s innocence — our heart might reveal the moment where separation from the Spirit of God began, and from thenceforth confusion came, sorrow, and the shedding of blood - Gen. 3:6-8; Gen. 4:8–10.
For the root of all rebellion is this: that man chose his own will above the will of God - “Each of us has turned to his own way” - Isaiah 53:6. In that single act of raising one's own 'self' above the 'self' of God, all that would follow was sown - Rom.5:12.
A life lived apart from the presence of God cannot but lead to ruin - "There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death" Prov.14:12 - save for the Grace and tender Mercy of our longsuffering and compassionate Father in Heaven.
There is but one remedy: that man humble himself and remember from whence he is fallen, consider the breach between himself and the Spirit of the Lord that he may again be led by the perfect will of God - Rom.12:2; Psalm 143:10.
Rebellion against parents, society, and systems may be natural to youth. But the most tragic rebellion is against God; it can never be won. Don't last too long in this phase because "the beginning of wisdom is the fear of the Lord."
Again, the lesson seems to be suggesting that cities are bad. But it's worth remembering that the centre of the New Earth will be a city. That fact should suggest some balance in the way we relate to cities.
In my opinion, cities are neither good or bad, but of course fallen humanity will corrupt everything. Ninevah and Babylon ultimately became enemies of God's people. But God reached out to Ninevah and it was saved for a time. Babylon was not, but one of its great kings was.
It just dawned on me that if a small seed of faith can move mountains for God, a small seed of rebellion will likewise move mountains against God. The lesson asks us to identify subtle seeds of rebellion. So I've been thinking....
Competition. I think a spirit of competing in order to dominate can lead to a haughty, self-exalting attitude. I'm picturing Nimrod's life. Maybe as a boy he was the one who always wanted to wrestle with his brothers or challenge them to running races. What was play became more and more serious for him as he wanted a name for himself from winning. He had to be the best. It became imperative that he win for his own self-worth. Top dog was his identity. He wanted to be the hero of every story. Most cunning, most tricky, most feared and admired. Over time it turned sinister and increasingly violent. He no longer trusted in God, but rather in his own prowess and ability. That attitude spread to convert the whole world around him.
Sounds like Lucifer, right? This spirit of competition growing as a cancer until he wants to choke out and kill anyone who opposes him. The thrill of ruling and winning turns him into a ruthless hunter. A prowling lion seeking whom he may devour. In Isaiah 14:13-14, Lucifer is recorded as saying,
Which brings me to another subtle seed of rebellion. Wanting to be LIKE Jesus, LIKE God. There's even a hymn "I would be like Jesus". Now, I understand that we can sing this with a sincere heart for wanting to grow in Christlike character. I'm guessing most of us sing it that way, wanting to walk with Jesus and let Him grow our character. But...and remember I'm looking for subtle seeds of rebellion....this idea of wanting to be perfect can be a cancerous goal if I'm working to be a "better person" without desiring that beauty of perfection within an intimate relationship with Jesus where I put loving Him first. If a person is working to ascend a mountain of character perfection for the wrong reason...just for self-growth or for feeling good about one's self or for praise from others...and not because of a love for Jesus and a desire to bring God honor and joy, than good works can just become another form of competition against God (Matt. 7:21-23). We can try to outperform God if we are not yoked with Him in our mission outreach. Look at the Pentecost evangelistic event in the first couple chapters of Acts and compare with how we prepare for an evangelistic "campaign" now. Wow, sobering.
**(It's interesting that in Is. 14:12 it connects for us that self-exaltation "laid low..." or "weakened the nations".)
In prophetic context, Nimrod's rebellion stands for a rejection of God's authority while pursuing earthly power and fame. Nimrod was a blessed man with great skill and a huge ambition. He is compared to the Nephilim in Genesis 6:4, meaning he was a huge and tall guy, besides being exceedingly evil. It is thought that he was the architecture and builder of the ancient city of Babylon and the tower of Babel in Genesis 11. The one million-dollar question is, why did he build the tower? of course, to make a great name for himself, but not for God.
By extension, since he was doing this for himself, he helped in building a religious system against God, which became the seedbed for Nebuchadnezzar and the Babylonian pagan system which eventually will become “Babylon the Great,” the godless system of thought found in Revelation 17 and 18, one that God will ultimately destroy. So it is important to question and examine our motives in all we do lest we do it for ourselves and not for God like Nimrod did.
The lesson sub topic is Nimrod and Nineveh yet the author doesn't mention about Nineveh, why? What was the relationship between the two? Help me understand
The lesson briefly mentions Nimrod and Nineveh at the bottom of the lesson. They both are symbols of rebellion against God.
In both Jewish and Christian tradition, Nimrod is also often referenced as the founder of Nineveh. The biblical text is unclear on whether or not Nimrod founded Nineveh. (Gen 10:8-11) Some manuscripts suggest that Nimrod founded Nineveh, others indicate that Asshur founded Nineveh.)
Nimrod whose name means "we shall rebel" is represented as the creator of Babel, Just as God is the creator of the heavens and Earth
Let's look at Eden the original life that God intended human beings to live,
As we prepare for his soon second coming let every action reflect his will