Ten chapters into the book of Genesis, and humankind has still failed to find a lasting solution to the problem of sin. Adam and Eve made for themselves loincloths of fig leaves to cover their shame (Gen. 3:7). Cain eliminated the competition of his righteous brother, Abel, by murdering him (Gen. 4:1–8). Cain’s descendants innovated to create new wealth, new technology, and new culture, but continued in the bloodthirsty violence of their forefather, Cain (Gen. 4:17–24). The godly line of Seth corrupted themselves by intermarrying with the offspring of Cain (Gen. 6:1–4). Even after God gave a fresh start to humanity by wiping away the excesses of its corruption through the Flood (Gen. 6:5–9:17), Noah and his family quickly fall back into the sin patterns that had originally doomed the human race (Gen. 9:18–29).

In Genesis 11, we read about one final attempt at solving all of humanity’s problems in a single construction project. The people living at Babel, united as one race with one language (Gen. 11:1), attempt to build a tower that will reach up into the heavens, where God dwells (Gen. 11:4). While this project itself will fail miserably at its stated goals, God brings out of this failure something that will solve all of humanity’s problems. While the solution will not happen immediately, God raises up a man in Genesis 11 who will alter the course of humanity forever.