How Jesus Reverses Babel

The beginning of Genesis 11 unfolds an unusual situation. After God told Adam and Eve (Genesis 1.28) and then Noah to “fill the earth” with people (Genesis 9.1), we see their descendants rebelliously banding together in one place to build a city and tower in the land of Shinar. Their goal was self-glory: “let us make a name for ourselves.” Ironically, as they built up towards the sky, the text says that “the Lord came down” to view this new construction project with displeasure. He saw that the people were one, used only one language, and possessed an arrogant spirit that would not stop with the completion of the city. He therefore confused their languages, causing them to scatter from each other. The unfinished city was called Babel, which means confused. Even today in English, someone who speaks nonsense is known as a “babbler.”

Did God orchestrate that division because he dislikes unity? On the contrary, God’s entire plan for the world revolves around His desire to “unite all things in him [Jesus Christ], things in heaven and things on earth” (Ephesians 1.10). Through the sacrifice of Jesus, God is reversing the breakdown of unity at Babel and bringing all things together again – in the right way and for the right purpose. Instead of aimlessness and confusion and discord which comes from exalting self, there is purpose and understanding and harmony in a collective focus on Jesus. Through Jesus, human beings can all speak the same language again.

These are not mere lofty words that have no real effect on our personal lives. Instead, understanding Jesus’ reversal of Babel changes everything for us. In the church, God’s family, how are people of vast differences going to effectively work together? It is only possible when Christians speak the same language of Jesus. As Christians grasp how Jesus has reconciled every kind of person to God through the cross, hostility between people is put to death (Ephesians 2.16). Despite the many differences that exist between people, every one of us is guilty of rebelling against God (Romans 3.23) and can only be rescued by the saving work of God, not ourselves (Ephesians 2.8-9). Therefore, all cause for arrogance, bitterness, resentment, jealousy, selfish anger, or any other source of division, completely melts away in the face of Jesus’ sacrifice.

Likewise, in a marriage, how are two people of different genders, family cultures, expectations, etc., going to effectively function as a unified team? It will only happen through speaking the same language of Jesus. Husbands and wives are told to think of their relationship as a living, breathing picture of Jesus’ relationship to His saved group of people. As in God’s family, a home of love, respect, submission, and leadership is only possible when people are communicating the words and thoughts of Jesus to each other. All other unity is built on a cracked foundation that cannot endure.

Nathan