Henry Law
Genesis 11:9. Therefore is the name of it called Babel.
Many millions throng the earth. But from one home they spread. The source is the same. The ark contained the parent stock. The first fathers of the human race all sat around Noah’s table. The family and the speech were one. Now the languages are many and unlike. The medium of speech varies more than the weather. A multitude may speak together, and all be strangers to each other’s minds.
Whence came this difference? It obviously exists. But the existence is not the fruit of given law. It is no natural result of time’s advance. The lapse of ages would not produce it. Ingenious guesses may attempt a solution, but flimsy guesses contradict themselves. Research may weary itself, and gain no safe conclusion. One book alone conducts to the reply. The Bible is that Book. Only one author fixes the date. Moses alone gives the explaining story. Come now, and in this sacred record learn the origin of diverse tongues. It will be no surprise to find that sin opens the sluice-gate. There is no jar, no discord, no confusion in this world but sin is its destructive root.
The scene commences as a tranquil morning. The first word of our chapter simply tells, “The whole earth was of one language and of one speech” (Gen 11:1). When common prayer sought common blessings, one sound approached the throne of grace. When common praise proclaimed the common gratitude, all joys, all sorrows were related in one note. No one spoke but every hearer understood. Through the whole human family, uniform utterance prevailed.
Thus the progeny of Noah reach Shinar. Here an extent of plain spreads widely. It invites them to construct a settled home, that weary wandering may cease. The tempter suggests the thought. They yield. The waters of the deluge had not extinguished evil passions. Outward judgements did not expel rebellious lusts. The heart is still strewn with the stubble of iniquity. A little spark will kindle quick combustion.
Thus at Shinar, impiety works impatiently. They murmur, Shall we thus roam, unsettled as a rolling stone, or chaff of summer threshing-floor, hurried from place to place, a homeless horde? Is it not wisdom to concentrate our numbers? Combination will secure our fame; oneness will consolidate our power and raise us high in firm magnificence – free, independent, feared.
They put together a godless plan. “Go to, let us build us a city and a tower whose top may reach unto heaven” (Gen 11:4). Let mighty walls extend
1Taken with editing from Law’s Beacons of the Bible.
around, and shield with defence our one vast dwelling. Let a gigantic tower arise, whose top may scale the skies. Let the whole earth admire our impregnable abode. The skill is ours. Materials abound. Arise then; let us build.
We have not far to search for the vile motives of this impious plot. The sacred narrative withdraws the veil. “Let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth” (Gen 11:4). Vain glory works: “Let us make us a name”. Believer, do not care to construct a name for yourself; there is a name provided for you. It is a refuge, high, glorious, sure. No enemy can level it. No skill can strengthen it. “The name of the Lord is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe” (Prov 18:10). Build not with rubbish of your own when such a fortress is prepared.
Vain glory! Where is the heart in which this monster has no nest? It is the common rudder of man’s life, the pole star of his course. Self-aggrandisement is the secret spring of exploits, labours, toils. It urges the warrior to the camp and battlefield; it nerves his arm and drives him undaunted through unnumbered perils. The student, intoxicated by vain glory, refuses rest and leaves no stores of literature unexplored. Behold the splendid palaces, the noble castles which adorn the land. View the monuments of ingenious art, the grand productions of elaborate skill. Read volumes in which rare genius sparkles on each page, the mighty exploits of a commanding mind. On these a true inscription would record the words: These works were designed to win a name among the sons of men.
If such is the prompting motive, the end is disappointment’s bitter cup. The world pays only misery to its poor slaves. A mocking shadow is pursued. No substance is ever grasped. Did Babel-builders gain renown? A name they have indeed obtained. But it is a name of ignominy. They raised a monument which tells their shame.
In after days, at this same spot, we find this passion ruling the Chaldean king. See him walking in the palace of his vast empire. His words proclaim the inner pride, “Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honour of my majesty?” (Dan 4:30). Did he long strut in this self-exaltation? While he yet spoke, divine displeasure frowned. Men cast him out, as lower than the human race. He fed, fit companion for the mindless beasts. Thus soaring pride earned low contempt. The haughty monarch grovelled with the brutes.
He best deserves His fame in whom all self is slain. Jesus in all things is our perfect model. In Him, self had no life. He “pleased not Himself”. He never sought His own renown. One zeal consumed Him: to glorify His heavenly Father’s name and to bring honour to His holy attributes. Paul ranks as the chief of heroes. How was his fame won? Mark the principle of his heart, the precept of his lips: “Let nothing be done through strife or vain-glory, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves” (Phil 2:3). He thus walks humbly in humility’s low vale: “according to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life or by death. For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain” (Phil 1:20,21).
How dismal is Babel’s contrast! Indeed the constant history of the unrenewed will is a mirror reflecting self. Here is the common impulse, “Let us make us a name”. Where self is thus the idol, God must be dethroned. These builders give proof. The wide city and the high tower are planned, “lest [we] be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth”. God’s will is here defied. That will had said, By them the earth should be replenished. So idle clustering in one spot was forbidden. It required constant march and wide diffusion. Ease must be denied. God called them to move. They willed to tarry. The command is, Let earth be visited in all its parts. The reply is, We will not thus be scattered.
How sweet again to turn to Jesus! How lovely are these earliest words, “Wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s business?” How refreshing is the continued echo, “I came down from heaven, not to do Mine own will, but the will of Him that sent Me” (Jn 6:38). How brightly consistent is the sequel, “Nevertheless, not as I will, but as Thou wilt” (Mt 26:39). In that prayer which soars on sublimity’s high wing, we are taught to eschew this Babel-building spirit. “Hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.”
At Shinar this vain glory and self-will resolves to have no Lord. Therefore the work advances. The scene is busy. What rapidity of motion! What energy of mind! What industry of hand! Each look betokens fervent interest. Strength is put forth. Sinews are strained. Deep are the foundations laid. Firmly the walls are cemented. What can withstand them? Success seems sure.
But is God regardless of the daring effort? Are His eyes closed? Is His mind indifferent? Are not His ears open to this din? Is His hand shortened? Have His resources failed? Has He no power to check? Shall worms of earth now triumph? Shall their name eclipse His? Shall their impiety prevail? How easy again to open the windows of heaven and pour down an overwhelming deluge! How easy to cause earth to gape and swallow in one grave the workmen and the work! How easy to bid lightnings from above and flames from beneath to make wide Shinar one smoking furnace! But no; judgement shall indeed go forth; but in a new form. The scheme shall be most marvellously blighted, and all succeeding ages shall bear a brand to tell the tale of this sin’s due reward. The Lord decrees, “Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another’s speech” (Gen 11:7). God speaks, and it is done.
Return to the scene. The morning dawns. Fair nature smiles in usual beauty. The heavens, the earth, foreshow no coming marvel. All things around are ready for advance. The men are conscious of no inner change. They speak as heretofore. They shout; they cry; they call; they chide. But now amazement fills them. All is confusion. Each marvels at his neighbour’s barbarous tongue. Each stares and questions, What means this dissonance? Is it insulting mockery? Has reason lost its seat? Doubtless they revile, reproach, expostulate and rage. Anger can only augment disorder. Discord is universal. Means of communication are utterly departed. There is no common tongue. There is no intelligible word.
Thus the work finds a pitiable end. Humbled, defeated, mortified, disgraced, they part, because all mutual intercourse is gone. “So the Lord scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth, and they left off to build the city. Therefore is the name of it called Babel; because the Lord did there confound the language of all the earth; and from thence did the Lord scatter them abroad upon the face of all the earth” (Gen 11:8,9).
From that day, earth has been Babel. Language continues diverse. But the difference warns solemnly. It tells the sure defeat of all vain glory. It derides pigmy creatures boasting to defeat Divine decrees.
Stay, proud man; stay! Let Babel check your childish dreams. You will awake to the inheritance of scorn. Stay, rebel; stay! You rush against the bosses of Omnipotence. If God has spoken, it will surely be. All His resolves stride gloriously onward to their glorious end.
But Babel is not all dark. A gospel ray here shines. Doubtless Babel’s main feature is requiting wrath. But look again; there is a smile of grace. Division of tongues proclaims God’s hatred of vain glory. But for all evil a remedy is ordained, and a gift of tongues shall spread the gospel tidings over earth’s surface.2 Behold the miracle of Pentecost: “They were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance” (Acts 2:4). Thus inspired heralds sounded salvation’s glories and the name of Jesus in every tongue – in every clime.
Think too of heaven’s one harmony. No dissonance shall vex those blessed abodes. One chorus shall swell from the countless multitude of all nations and kindreds and peoples and tongues. The one loud cry shall be, “Salvation to our God, which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb” (Rev 7:10).
2This is not intended to indicate that the gift of tongues was to be a permanent feature of the spread of the gospel.