Let us begin by asking, does Genesis 10 and 11 contradict each
other? In Genesis 10 we learned that there were different languages and the
children of Noah had actually spread out all over the earth geographically. But
in Genesis 11 the whole earth is said to be speaking one language. The answer
is simple. It is because the content of Genesis are mostly not chronological
but thematic. The intention to build the tower of Babel at the plain in Shinar must
have taken place before Genesis 10. The intention of Genesis 11 is to show the
downward spiral of man.
Worth mentioning is the use of the word “east” in verse 2. In the
book of Genesis, to move east is an indication of moving away from God. For example,
when God expelled Adam and Eve from the Garden, Genesis 3:24 tells us that the cherubim
guarded the entrance at the “east of the garden of Eden.” Similarly when Lot left
Abraham, he traveled “eastward.” The people traveling east, described in verse
2, is an indication of their moving away from God in rebelliousness. They went in
the opposite direction away from God and dispersed from His presence. Let us
never move east in our spiritual journey with God. To move away from God is
being suicidal. We must always stay connected to Him.
These verses also teach us something about communication.
Be sure that God is not against good, clear, comprehensive and concise communication. We all appreciate
good and effective communication, because it helps in clear understanding, and unites
people purposefully in a common goal. However, it’s the misuse of it that is
troublesome. The issue in the incidence of the tower of Babel was not so much
in the language, than it was in the evil intention of the people. Good or bad, intention and desire are drivers in people’s life. This
is shown clearly in the account of people’s intention to build the tower of
Babel. God knew that what man purposed to do would be within their reach. When
we have a desire to do something and set our heart to do it, we do have the
capacity to achieve it. So it was not so much the language but the intention.
So we see God dealing with their intention. In verse 4 the word “let”
indicates their will and intention. If they had wanted to design a monument to
honour God it would be quite different. What they wanted was to build a tower
that would reach the dwelling place of God, to join Him and probably to usurp
His position. Just imagine puny men trying to use their human capacity to
replace God. It is not only ridiculous but also laughable. It is sheer foolishness
even to think that one could build a tower, brick by brick using ladder, to
reach heaven. How foolish their intention must have looked to God! No wonder
Psalm 2:4 depicts God as laughing from heaven when He saw how foolish and depraved
man could be.
God can see the intention of man. He had to do something before
mankind would bring harm to themselves. Here in this account we again see the
display of self-centredness and self-delusion, leading them to do things for self-aggrandizement.
God confused their language so that they could not understand and hence cannot
be united in purpose. This was an act of God’s grace. We cannot imagine how
many would have died in the process of building that tower. God, being all knowing, knew fully
the devastating possibility of man’s self-destruct. In His immense wisdom, He acted
before man could make the situation worse. He acted by rendering
them incapable to communicate understandably so that their evil purpose was
thwarted.
The attempt to build the tower of Babel is an affront to the Lord.
The issue here was about using the God given power to resist His plan. He would
not allow us to exploit our wilful ignorance to propagate evil and disrupt His
plan. God loves us far too much to allow us to remain in our destructive mode. For
us believers, the best course we must take is to consult God before we embark
on a direction. God knows best so we need to wisely choose what’s in God’s best
interest for us. Know that God will act in our best interest.
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