This commentary is only about Genesis
chapter 11:1-9. I won't cover verses 10-32 in this commentary because it
is pretty much a list of names of Shem descendants.
The whole earth spoke the same language and used the same (words) dialect, speech or vocabulary. In my imagination, all those individuals spoke Hebrew. The reason why I believe all those individuals spoke Hebrew is because the Old Testament was originally written in Hebrew. So it makes sense to me that they all spoke Hebrew. Together, on one accord they traveled to the eat and stayed in Babylonia and stayed there. I can imagine them having an meeting and discussing their plans for a project (a building to each the sky, making a great city for themselves). They wanted to famous for their work and they did not want to be separated from each other. What do you know? We have the first construction workers in the Bible. Who were these people? God already destroyed all world with a flood. It seems to me like there would only be Noah and his descendants left. It's possible that some of Noah's descendants could have been the ones to build the city. Even though the Bible is not clear on who or how many individuals came together and decided they wanted to build an city. After the people had a thought they put those thoughts into action and started to build the tower of Babel and build a city. They were on one accord and communicated the same language. They had the same goal, no hidden agendas, and that got God's attention. God came down from Heaven and saw what the people did and he said in verse 6 And Behold, the people is one, and they all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do. I like the way the New Living Translation says it, 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!" Even though those people were doing things that was against God's will at the time they were all on one accord. If a group of disobedient people can do something that is not in the will of God and prosper, how much more can the believer who has God's stamp of approval can do? All things are possible with God! These people had a plan, discussed their plan and put their plans into actions. They didn't want to be scattered. However, God wanted them to be scattered. In the beginning God told man to be fruitful, multiply, replenish the earth and subdue it. How are the people going to be fruitful, multiply and replenish the earth when they will not even separate from each other? I can imagine that those people were comfortable with each other and were probably born together and wanted to die in the same place. I imagine that those people wanted to stick together and didn't want to be separate from each other around the earth because they knew deep down inside that they would have no way to communicate with each other. They didn't have the telephone, Facebook, Skype, Twitter, Yahoo Messenger, or any other way to communicate with each other through Internet like we do today. They were most likely fearful of separating from each other because of their close relationship and they didn't want to be lonely. I'm sure that they had a love for each other and a strong bond. When you have a strong bond with someone it makes it even more difficult to separate from that person. However, in spite of their anxiety to separate and their fear God still wanted them to be separated from each other to go and replenish the earth. So God gave them different languages and they could not understand each other. They scattered all over the earth and wasn't able to build the city. I personally believe that this event of God confusing the languages is the thing that not only created the different languages but also created different cultures as well.
One thing that I learned from this portion of the scriptures is that sometimes God will allow certain things to happen to get you to move out of your comfort zone. Sometimes God will destroy that project, relationship, etc. just so that He can take you to a place for you to prosper. Sometimes you have to move out of that city away from your family members. Sometimes you have to leave that job that you have worked at for years. Sometimes you have to leave that relationship. God always has something better for you.
The whole earth spoke the same language and used the same (words) dialect, speech or vocabulary. In my imagination, all those individuals spoke Hebrew. The reason why I believe all those individuals spoke Hebrew is because the Old Testament was originally written in Hebrew. So it makes sense to me that they all spoke Hebrew. Together, on one accord they traveled to the eat and stayed in Babylonia and stayed there. I can imagine them having an meeting and discussing their plans for a project (a building to each the sky, making a great city for themselves). They wanted to famous for their work and they did not want to be separated from each other. What do you know? We have the first construction workers in the Bible. Who were these people? God already destroyed all world with a flood. It seems to me like there would only be Noah and his descendants left. It's possible that some of Noah's descendants could have been the ones to build the city. Even though the Bible is not clear on who or how many individuals came together and decided they wanted to build an city. After the people had a thought they put those thoughts into action and started to build the tower of Babel and build a city. They were on one accord and communicated the same language. They had the same goal, no hidden agendas, and that got God's attention. God came down from Heaven and saw what the people did and he said in verse 6 And Behold, the people is one, and they all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do. I like the way the New Living Translation says it, 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!" Even though those people were doing things that was against God's will at the time they were all on one accord. If a group of disobedient people can do something that is not in the will of God and prosper, how much more can the believer who has God's stamp of approval can do? All things are possible with God! These people had a plan, discussed their plan and put their plans into actions. They didn't want to be scattered. However, God wanted them to be scattered. In the beginning God told man to be fruitful, multiply, replenish the earth and subdue it. How are the people going to be fruitful, multiply and replenish the earth when they will not even separate from each other? I can imagine that those people were comfortable with each other and were probably born together and wanted to die in the same place. I imagine that those people wanted to stick together and didn't want to be separate from each other around the earth because they knew deep down inside that they would have no way to communicate with each other. They didn't have the telephone, Facebook, Skype, Twitter, Yahoo Messenger, or any other way to communicate with each other through Internet like we do today. They were most likely fearful of separating from each other because of their close relationship and they didn't want to be lonely. I'm sure that they had a love for each other and a strong bond. When you have a strong bond with someone it makes it even more difficult to separate from that person. However, in spite of their anxiety to separate and their fear God still wanted them to be separated from each other to go and replenish the earth. So God gave them different languages and they could not understand each other. They scattered all over the earth and wasn't able to build the city. I personally believe that this event of God confusing the languages is the thing that not only created the different languages but also created different cultures as well.
One thing that I learned from this portion of the scriptures is that sometimes God will allow certain things to happen to get you to move out of your comfort zone. Sometimes God will destroy that project, relationship, etc. just so that He can take you to a place for you to prosper. Sometimes you have to move out of that city away from your family members. Sometimes you have to leave that job that you have worked at for years. Sometimes you have to leave that relationship. God always has something better for you.
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