Tower of Babel

 August 21, 2020 (Friday)

 

If every human came from the same Adam and Eve, it would be expected all human language would come from the same language. Indeed, “All people on the earth had one language and the same words.” [Genesis 11:1 CEB] However, the reality is they do not come from one language. So, what happened?

 

As humans spread across the earth they decide to build a city. Part of their plan included, “They said, “Come, let’s build for ourselves a city and a tower with its top in the sky, and let’s make a name for ourselves so that we won’t be dispersed over all the earth.” [Genesis 11:4 CEB] God had invited them to fill the face of the earth. However, they had other ideas.

 

The desire to build a name for ourselves has driven humanity. Sometimes the results have been positive. Sometimes the consequences have been devastating, resulting in war and other unspeakable things. Pride is a killer. It makes God our opponent. The story of Babel is an example of what can happen.

 

The second point in verse 4 is the resistance to God’s plan for humans to cover the earth. This resistance to God’s plan was an attempt to remove a safety net. Together they though they represented a threat to the “top if the sky” (generally translated “heaven”). Does this sound familiar? (Hint: Satan wanted to ascend to God’s throne.)

 

Scripture is filled with humor. Here we are, building an assault on heaven, and “Then the Lord came down to see the city and the tower that the humans built.” [Genesis 11:5 CEB] Get it? God must come down to SEE what was happening. From other places in scripture we know God did not have to move to see our efforts.

 

Here we are, grains of sand, raising our fist to rebel against God. Another point, beyond the humor, is God does not judge us based on perspective. Most people who judge another do so based on either their perspective or what they would do if in a similar situation. Psychologists call this “projection.” God judges us fairly, based on truth.

 

There is a bit of sarcasm in the next verse, “This is what they have begun to do, and now all that they plan to do will be possible for them.” [Genesis 11:6b CEB] Undoubtedly, humans have potential. The problem is we are limited by our stupidity, selfishness, and rebellion against God. Rather than reaching for their potential, they exert energy in disobedience.

 

The rest of the story unfolds, “Come, let’s go down and mix up their language there so they won’t understand each other’s language.” [Genesis 11:7 CEB] This is God showing up, personally, to thwart humanity’s stupidity. Verse 8 says, “Then the Lord dispersed them from there over all of the earth, and they stopped building the city.” [Genesis 11:8 CEB]

 

And we are still misunderstanding each other, even with the language barrier lessened. Of course, with people understanding each other in a common language, plus the internet, we are primed for infinite possibilities of bad, evil, and trouble.