The Genesis of Ambition

Read Genesis 10 and 11

Many things changed after the great floods. The human race was restarted, we changed from being herbivores to carnivores, lifespans became shorter, and people dispersed all over. Along with all this, surfaced ambition, the inherent traits in all humans.

Today, let us reflect together on the threads that weave through Genesis chapters 10, 11 and 12. These chapters, seemingly disparate, actually paint a powerful picture of human ambition, divine intervention, and the dawn of a new beginning.

Let's delve into the Genesis of ambition as portrayed in the early chapters of the Bible. It's a fascinating and complex topic, revealing both the potential and the peril inherent in our desires.

We see the very first stirrings of ambition not in humanity, but in the serpent in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3). The serpent's ambition is clear: to usurp God's authority and elevate humanity to divine status. He whispers the seductive lie, "For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil." This is the genesis of a corrupted ambition – a desire for power and knowledge sought through disobedience and in opposition to God's design.

The consequence of this ambition is profound. It leads to the Fall of humanity, bringing sin, shame, and separation from God. This initial act reveals a crucial truth about ambition: when it is rooted in pride and a desire to be independent of God, it leads to destruction. It blinds us to the good we already possess and entices us with a false promise of something greater through rebellion.

Moving forward, we see another significant manifestation of ambition in the story of the Tower of Babel (Genesis 11). Here, humanity, united by a single language, sets out to build a tower that reaches the heavens, "that we may make a name for ourselves." Their ambition isn't necessarily for personal gain in the immediate sense, but for collective glory and a desire to avoid being scattered. However, their ambition is still centered on human achievement and self-exaltation, seemingly without regard for God's will or purpose.

God's response to the Tower of Babel is not to condemn their ingenuity or unity, but to address the underlying pride and misplaced focus. He confounds their language and scatters them, effectively halting their ambitious project. This story highlights another key aspect of the genesis of ambition: ambition driven by a desire for human glory, rather than God's glory, will ultimately be frustrated and lead to division.

However, the Genesis narrative also hints at a different kind of ambition, one that aligns with God's purposes. In Genesis 12, God calls Abram, promising to make his name great and to make him a blessing. Abram's initial response is one of obedience. While the text doesn't explicitly detail Abram's personal ambitions, his willingness to follow God's call suggests a desire to be part of God's plan. This marks a potential turning point – an ambition directed by and for God.

So, what can we learn about the genesis of ambition from these foundational stories?

The genesis of ambition, therefore, is not inherently good or evil. It is the source and the direction of our desires that determine their impact. Are we driven by a desire for self-glory and independence from God, like the serpent and the builders of Babel? Or are we motivated by a desire to know God, to serve His purposes, and to be a blessing to others, as hinted at in God's call to Abram?

We are all ambitious in varying degrees. God looks into the root reason of our ambition. Why do we desire what we do? Is it to glorify Him or compete with Him? Is it to help our fellow beings or to brag and position ourselves as superiors? Are we trying to overcome a sense of inferiority and equate ourselves to a perceived class of people?

The reasons can be numerous.

As we navigate our own ambitions, let us constantly examine their origin and their aim. May our deepest desire be to glorify God and to participate in His redemptive work in the world. For it is in aligning our ambitions with His will that we find true purpose and lasting fulfillment.