The Tower of Babel

The descendants of Noah obeyed and multiplied, but disobeyed the command to spread out to fill the earth [Genesis 9:1]. They came together to build a great city and tower. In addition, their ambition was to reach God in heaven.

Now the whole earth had one language and one speech. 2 And it came to pass, as they journeyed from the east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar, and they dwelt there. 3 Then they said to one another, “Come, let us make bricks and bake them thoroughly.” They had brick for stone, and they had asphalt for mortar. 4 And they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city, and a tower whose top is in the heavens; let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be scattered abroad over the face of the whole earth (Genesis 11:1-4).

After the Flood, God commanded humanity to be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth. Instead of scattering, Noah’s descendants settled together in Shinar, a fertile and central plain (Babylonia/Mesopotamia). This was disobedience and a challenge to God’s will, for they were to spread across the earth. Initially, humanity had one language and one speech, united in communication and culture.

 

Technology and Innovation

People started making bricks in place of stone, asphalt for mortar. This was the initial recorded technological advancement, use of man-made materials rather than using the naturally available materials.

Then they said to one another, “Come, let us make bricks and bake them thoroughly.” They had brick for stone, and they had asphalt for mortar (Genesis 11:3).

With the innovation, they stated building a city and a tower, not just an architectural but a religious-political project. Technological and political “towers” (nuclear power, AI, global empires) may echo Babel when built on human pride rather than God’s wisdom.

 

God scatters them over the whole earth

The city was intended for security, identity, and centralized power. Additionally, a tower with its top in the heavens, a ziggurat (pyramid temple) common in Mesopotamia, attempting to connect with or rival divine authority. The ambitious project centered on pride, aiming to make a name for themselves, driven by ambition for glory and self-exaltation rather than God’s glory.

Come, let Us go down and there confuse their language, that they may not understand one another’s speech(Genesis 11:7).

In addition, they did want to scatter and fill the earth, a direct rejection of God’s command to spread and fill the earth.

 

Theological Implications of the Tower of Babel

Human pride: The tower is a symbol of arrogance, self-sufficiency, and rebellion against God. Pride leads to downfall, as seen in the fall of the Tower of Babel.

Idolatry of human achievement: Trust in technology and collective effort over obedience to God.

Centralization vs. God’s plan: While unity itself is not condemned, unity in rebellion leads to corruption. Human civilizations that exalt themselves over God face limits, an example of the good ideas we execute to replace God's ideas. Unity in diversity is God’s design; different nations, languages, and cultures reflect God’s will, not human accident. However, unity must serve God’s purposes; true unity is not in defiance of God but in worship and obedience.

Judgment and mercy: God scatters humanity by confusing languages, which simultaneously prevents greater rebellion and ensures His command to fill the earth is fulfilled [Acts 8:4; Genesis 11:8].

 Therefore, those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the word (Acts 8:4).

Shem’s Descendants

The genealogy of Shem is the Messianic line as recorded in [Luke 3].

 

Terah’s Descendants

This is the genealogy of Terah: Terah begot Abram, Nahor, and Haran. Haran begot Lot (Genesis 11:7).

Terah begot Abram the friend of God [James 2:23], [2 Chronicles 20:7], [Isaiah 41:8].

 

The family of Terah travels from Ur to Haran

The name Abram means exalted father, which was later to change to Abraham father of multitude. Abram’s story begins in Ur of the Chaldeans (Babylon). In Ur the family of Terah served idols [Joshua 24:2].This is where the call of Abram (exalted father) started [Acts 7:2-4]. This was Abram's partial disobedience [(Genesis 12:1-3)] as God called him out alone but, he carried with himself, his father and nephew Lot.

And Terah took his son Abram and his grandson Lot, the son of Haran, and his daughter-in-law Sarai, his son Abram’s wife, and they went out with them from Ur of the Chaldeans to go to the land of Canaan; and they came to Haran and dwelt there (Genesis 11:31-32).


George Ruheni

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