Valley of Shinar

The Bible is full of types and shadows that are like gems waiting to be excavated.  For the next few weeks I thought I’d look at one of them, namely “valleys” and see where it leads. I think it will prove interesting since our life’s journey seems to be a cycle of going from mountain tops to valleys in often seemingly random fashion.  Since I’ve never looked at Biblical “valleys” before I’ll be discovering these gems along with you.

The first valley mentioned in the Bible is the Valley of Shinar (Genesis 11:2) which in some translations is listed as a plain but whose original Hebrew, biqah, means a “wide level valley between mountains”.  We visit this valley right after the story of Noah and the flood.  It is where the existing inhabitants of the world have chosen to dwell, and not surprisingly, where they have chosen to rebel against God by building the Tower of Babel, to “reach unto heaven” and “make a name” for themselves.  Just what were they trying to do? On a corporate level they were setting up a one-world government to replace God.  On an individual level they were magnifying “self”. 

Rejecting God or rebelling against Him will always bring us to a valley, the kind of valley that will “rend, rip, or make a breach” (which is the root meaning of that word, biqah) in our relationship with God, and, as we will see later, in our relationship with each other. I can’t think of a sadder place to be.

And the immediate result? God confounded their language, then scattered them. On one level it was an act of mercy.  His concern was clear when He said, “now nothing will be restrained from them which they have imagined to do” (Genesis 11:6b). He is obviously referring to unrestrained actions that would necessitate judgment on His part.  But on another level it was deeply tragic since people were now confused, isolated, aimless, and limited in their ability to communicate; all mirroring the isolation, confusion and aimlessness of life without God. And what a hopeless life that is, when self occupies the position that belongs to God! Oh, may we never find ourselves in the Valley of Shinar!

The next valley mentioned is the Valley of Siddim, the scene of the very first war described in the Bible.  I suppose that’s to be expected. If we don’t have peace with God, can we have peace with our fellowman? But more on that . . . .

Until next week,

Sylvia