Scripture describes two ways to live. One way is to submit to the ruler of the world, to rely upon his truth, his redemption. This alone brings forgiveness and eternal life. The other way is to reject the ruler of the world and try to run life our own way. This is condemned by God and results in death and judgment. The story of Babel illustrates the second way to live. The inhabitants of Babel set out to construct both a city and a name “for themselves.” This titanic effort was designed not to bring God glory or to submit to his rule on earth, but rather to not “be scattered over the face of the whole earth.”

More recently there was another tower built in a global city that resonates with the story of Babel. This tower is called Bayterek Tower, literally “tall poplar tree.” It is 105 meters tall and was constructed in 1997 as the centerpiece of the new national capital city of the Republic of Kazakhstan. The tower represents a Central Asian folktale about the tree of life and mythic bird who laid an egg between two branches in the tree. The egg turned into the sun and symbolized the power of new life. On the tower’s observation deck, visitors can place their palm on a gilded handprint impression of the country’s president, Nursultan Nazarbayev, and make a wish. They can also see a wooden sculpture of the globe with sixteen radiating segments representing world religions.

It is difficult to visit the Bayterek Tower and not think about the story of Babel. God judged Babel. In the Kazakhstan narrative, we see a nation’s president immortalize his imprint as the Father of the Nation. A couple years ago he renamed the capital city after himself: Nursultan.  We do not know what the outcome will be for the Bayterek Tower or for the city of Nursultan; but we do know that God is quite able to humble the proud and to exalt the humble. He is quite able to put a stop to egoistic efforts of self-promotion whether by political, business or church leaders.