Niels Prip – Blog

It is no wonder that man, in these last 50 years, has excelled in measures beyond any other time in history. Man is after all, made in the image of God and that ability does have its roots in God and in His creation of man. But why such an exponential acceleration of knowledge and the ability to implement it these last 50 years? The acceleration seems to have really started with Industrial Revolution.

In Genesis 11 we may have some answers. Gen 11:6 “And the LORD said, Behold, they are one people, and they have all one language, and this is only the beginning of what they will do. And nothing that they propose to do will now be impossible for them” ESV. The Berean Bible and others use the word ‘restrain”, “And YHWH said, Behold, the people are one, and one language is to them all, and this they have begun to do. And now nothing will be restrained from them of all that they devise to do”.

It is interesting that we are told that since they were of one language and that their unity was set on one purpose, to build a tower that would reach Heaven. For some thoughts on man’s inherent ability apart from God, you can read Watchman Nee’s book, The Latent Power of the Soul (https://nielsprip.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/latent-power-of-the-soul.pdf)

The main point of this writing is to point out that God knew that man had the ability to do anything if they put their mind to it. If they were not restrained, their progress would have no limit. God then does restrain them by confusing their languages.

We are now at a point in world history where it seems that God is removing His restraining hand, He is allowing man to obtain knowledge and ability for good and for bad. The explosion of knowledge and capability is something that is now being allowed by God. Our world is being controlled by God and always has been. He allows and He restrains, all for His own purposes. How little do we understand of His sovereignty and providence. If we could get a better glimpse of this, it would increase our faith and our peace in this troubled world. Hi-Tech pales in comparison to the depths of the Lord. “Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell Me, if you have understanding”. It would do us all good to read Job 38 and realize how awesome and powerful God is.

The times and seasons have been hidden from us. “It is not for you to know times or epochs which the Father has fixed by His own authority” (Acts 1:7). It is better that we don’t know, but it is apparent that there are huge changes in our lifetimes. Let us trust Him and His hand as the days unfold. “… as we look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat” (2Peter 3:12).