“At one time all the people of the world spoke the same language and used the same words. As the people migrated to the east, they found a plain in the land of Babylonia and settled there. They began saying to each other, “Let’s make bricks and harden them with fire.” (In this region bricks were used instead of stone, and tar was used for mortar.) Then they said, “Come, let’s build a great city for ourselves with a tower that reaches into the sky. This will make us famous and keep us from being scattered all over the world.” But the Lord came down to look at the city and the tower the people were building. “Look!” he said. “The people are united, and they all speak the same language. After this, nothing they set out to do will be impossible for them! Come, let’s go down and confuse the people with different languages. Then they won’t be able to understand each other.” In that way, the Lord scattered them all over the world, and they stopped building the city. That is why the city was called Babel, because that is where the Lord confused the people with different languages. In this way he scattered them all over the world.”
Genesis 11:1-9 NLT
It is noteworthy that communication is of utmost importance in this passage. There are two main things which are of prominence. The first is that creation itself, which is not far from this passage, was a performance of speech. The second is that the prophetic word of the Godhead, specifically that man could do anything with it, has been seen to be true. Obviously this ability is confined to the capacity of the creature, but the adage has proven true. Whether it be unlocking the genetic code and learning the language of man’s biology that exists across borders and divides, or it be the information highway that is the internet. We live in a world that confirms that if man comes together successfully communicates, he can do anything. As God set out to stop the damage done by Eden, which culminated in the flood, it didn’t take long for man to seek to continue the rebellion. This time, it was in a more subtle effort of defiance. It wasn’t the use of language, but the effort toward which it was used. Rather than fulfill the cultural mandate to be fruitful and multiply, they chose to congregate and build a monument to their own fame. They sought to attain eternal life on their own terms. This is what led to our language being confused. Jesus notes that the end will come in a time similar to the days of Noah. Perhaps our progress cannot be afforded any more grace. One thing is for certain. As we get closer to a one world language, we draw nearer to the end.
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