It took me about 7 minutes to read this passage. In the middle of the lineages of Noah, Shem, and Terah is the 9 verse story of Babel. It is almost a side note, and a brief explanation to answer the question; if all people originated from Noah then why don’t all people speak the same language? My question is; what was the offense at Babel that led God to such a divisive solution? I think the answer is in 11:4. The people arrogantly sought fame, something of their own making, to be the source of their unity. The people sought to put themselves in place of God by becoming the most famous people on earth. They also challenged God to stop them; notice the attitude God commented about in verse 6. God could have wiped them out again; he’d already proven his power, but his word prevented such action. God could have raised up an army or a plague. Instead he exercised his power without compromising his covenant of promise to Noah. He changed the words they spoke; creating languages. Without the ability to easily understand each other the people’s arrogance transformed into frustration and mistrust. The breakdown in communication was followed by a breakdown in common will. The collective arrogance was broken and the dream of replacing God was smashed. Without the cost of one life, God had humbled humanity. Just as we still deal with the effects of Adam and Eve’s initial rebellion against God, modern man has also been impacted by God’s humbling of the people at Babel.
Stuart
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