The Legacy Of Babel

Most of us have heard of the story of the Tower of Babel. In it was the first recorded instance of a massive concerted effort at rebelling against the Lord God. The builders sought to rival the Most High by constructing a monument to their name, displaying their pride by desiring to give themselves a great place in history. In addition, the people refused to be scattered across the continents, despite the commandment to 'replenish the earth'.

As the construction of the tower proceeded, God saw that the people were not about to repent of their work, and judged them. God did not destroy the builders, but in his wisdom struck their unity, that their wicked ambitions may be disrupted. With new languages, people could no longer comprehend what a person from another community was speaking. As a result, not only was the tower abandoned, but the people of the earth finally moved off in groups to colonise new areas and develop civilisations. By this impact the nations were created, and God's sovereignty demonstrated.


Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth. (Genesis 9:1)

Such was the first line of command given to Noah and his children. This was indeed partly accomplished, for the generations of people recorded in the chapter 10 show the people had grown in number. However, simply producing much progeny serves little to fulfil this command if all the generations remained in one location (that is, a valley by the name of Shinar). Disobedience was then found in the hearts of men when they desired a unity that would prevent them from distributing themselves across the post-flood world.

This idea of unity was probably compounded by the actions of Nimrod, a mighty man who went forth and became the ruler of the first kingdom after the flood, either by politics or conquest. In order to maintain his seat of power, he would have gathered the peoples to his land of Shinar, while promising them safety from beasts. There, the Lord would gradually be forgotten while they sought to feed their pride, in councils devising a plan to prevent their scattering. Yet, despite that, the Lord confounded their tongues, forcing them to scatter in a harsher manner than Noah might have intended.

In our times, we as Christians have oft behaved like unto these people. Although we have no empty planet to repopulate, we are commissioned to go forth into all the earth, preaching Christ. Yet, enjoying the comforts of present fellowship, most of us feel little compulsion to spread the light to our non-christian friends. Now the history of the young church has seen it grow quickly as the early saints were persecuted and thus scattered - must God so send tribulation so that we may be kept from slumber? Indeed, it will happen before the last elect is gathered, but let us be ready and working in obedience.


Destroy, O Lord, and divide their tongues: for I have seen violence and strife in the city. (Psalm 55:9)

Alright, the above verse is somewhat taken out of context, but it was written by David in reference to what the Lord had once done at Babel. Doubtless the wicked pride of men in the city would lead them to work further wickedness, without the fear of the Lord. The increasing evil would then threaten to wipe the elect from off the earth, thereby breaking the Lord's promise of the Seed of the woman. To preserve his people, and yet quickly replenish the earth, the Lord chose not to destroy all the builders, but by confounding their speech forced them to stop work.

Thus when the people realized that they could no more work together as one, they gathered into their families and departed for the land which was allotted them. Most probably Noah had previously given his descendants the directions they should move towards, so that they may claim land for themselves. This was finally obeyed, as in a measure of mercy the Lord made the language of a man to be the same as his relations and generations, allowing them to maintain a patriarchal format of leadership instead of falling into anarchy. Thus were the origins of the nations, as each tribe moved to occupy their territory.

Now were the peoples not only separated physically one from another, but effective communication was sundered for a long time, and only in our years have been restored somewhat through globalisation. Language is indeed one of the greatest problems one faces when spreading the gospel: one of the gifts of the Holy Spirit was that of tongues, in order to overcome the language barriers. By this were many gentiles brought to Christ, as recorded in the New Testament. Although we are no longer given divine means of circumventing the confounding of languages at Babel, let those of us who are given the talent seek to learn other languages.


To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, now and forever. (Jude 1:25)

By the impact of the punishment wrought at Babel God shows he is lord over the nations, for by this act were the nations formed. All the children of man lost their former languages, and were given new ones. We can presume that the faithful line of Eber were not partakers of the iniquity that was at Babel, and therefore retained the original language (and hence the proper knowledge of God was lost to the other nations). Nonetheless, the point is that ungodly unity was confounded, and the Lord's will done.

It is also worth noting that Nimrod's attempt at world domination was cast down by the Lord. Instead of setting a name for himself through a tower, the site of the construct was named babel (confusion): a humiliating example to those who would rise in pride against the Lord. Since then, Jehovah was made known to the remnant, maintaining his covenant with Israel. Despite scattering the peoples, the Lord held sway over the nations, using them to punish the wicked, or allowing Israel to conquer them: many examples were recorded in the Old Testament.

Though the scattering at Babel has increased the difficulty of spreading the gospel unto all the elect, with Christ's resurrection and ascension he claimed the title of King of kings and Lord of lords; and all power was given him in heaven and in earth. Therefore we should not fear to serve such a King. When Christ returns to judge the world, elect from all nations will gathered together from the ends of the earth, fulfilling the legacy of Babel.