In chapter 11 we have the reason that God chose to disperse the nations. Chapter 10 was a description of how the nations were divided. As noted in the previous chapter when the sons of Noah were divided they all spoke “every one after his tongue” but in 11:1 we see that “the whole earth was of one language” so the description of how the sons of Noah were dispersed of chapter 10 should follow the cause of chapter 11.
I. The Tower of Babel
A. Genesis 11:1 – And the whole earth was of one language, and one speech.
1. A unified form of communication, similar to the world today with translation software and English being considered the worldwide business language.
2. What are the advantages of having a common language? Notice how quickly technology advances as communication becomes more synchronized.
B. Genesis 11:2 – And it came to pass as they journeyed from the east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar
1. Shinar Tigris and Euphrates )
2. Were they all traveling together?
C. Genesis 11:3 – And they said one to another, “Go to, let us make brick, and burn them thoroughly.” And they had brick for stone, and slime had they for morter.
1. Here we see their “one language” at work the sin is conceived in the tongue.
a. James 3:6 – And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.
b. James 1:15 – Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.
c. If sin originates in the tongue it would seem logical that a world speaking one language would exacerbate sin as the tongue is centralized the sin becomes centralized like comparing a decentralized flashlight to a centralized laser beam.
· Centralization of power becomes possible under one language
· As world powers become more centralized, accountability deteriorates and corruption becomes prevalent.
2. So if their sin was centralized what were they trying to accomplish? A direct affront to God much like the world is becoming today
D. Genesis 11:4 – And they said, “Go to, let us build a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth.”
1. Notice they were to build both a city and a tower
2. These events appear to take place before Babel Babel 10:10 , so if Nimrod founded the city He likely was responsible for building it and the tower within it.
3. What purpose did building a tower that reached into heaven serve?
a. What did their great-grandfathers Shem, Ham and Japheth just live through?
b. The people didn’t believe God’s promise that He wouldn’t flood the earth again so they tried to save themselves.
· Antiquities of the Jews, Chapter 4, Josephus – “… He also said he would be revenged on God, if He should have a mind to drown the world again; for that he would build a tower too high for the waters to be able to reach! And that would avenge himself on God for destroying their forefathers.”
· Can you see why God might have been a little upset?
· God wants us to believe His promises
E. Genesis 11:5 – And the Lord came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of men builded.
1. God is interested in what we are doing
2. Did God physically come down? Why would He need to come down?
F. Genesis 11:6 – And the Lord said, “Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do.
G. Genesis 11:7 – Go to, let Us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another’s speech.
1. Note the similarity of man in v.4 essentially saying…Go to, let us go up (using the tower as a vehicle)
2. Confound - בלל balal, to mix, mingle, confuse, confound very similar to בבל Babel
3. Note here that God not only has the power to confound languages, but during Pentecost we see that God has the power to reconcile
a. Acts 2:1 – 5 – And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven. Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language.
b. We see from Acts that the Spirit unified the speech so that everyone understood it, even to their own dialect.
c. Interesting that the translators chose to use the word “confounded” to describe the reaction of the multitude. The word is συγχέω sygcheō, and means both 1) to pour together, commingle and 2) to confound or bewilder. So we have an instance here where both meanings can apply at the same time.
H. Genesis 11:8 – So the Lord scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth: and they left off to build the city.
1. Here is the “dividing of the nations” according to Deuteronomy 32:8
2. They left of building the city, but we know that Babylon
I. Genesis 11:9 – Therefore is the name of it called Babel
1. Babel Babel
2. What was the purpose of this dispersion and confusion? Decentralization of world power thus decentralizing the sin. Effectively served as a delay and a preservation tactic
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