Confusion and Fragmentation
Genesis 11: 5-9 (NIV)
But the Lord came down to see the city and the tower the people were building. The Lord said, “If as one people speaking the same language they have begun to do this, then nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them. Come, let us go down and confuse their language so they will not understand each other.”
So the Lord scattered them from there over all the earth, and they stopped building the city. That is why it was called Babel — because there the Lord confused the language of the whole world. From there the Lord scattered them over the face of the whole earth.
The well-known story of the Tower of Babel ends with people scattered about and unable to communicate with one another.
On one level, it appears to explain the origin of diverse human languages and cultures today. But a closer look at it shows us that there is much more here than we might get in a children’s Sunday school recounting.
The story is instructive about the consequences from human pride and arrogance that can lead to disobedience to God’s will. Furthermore, we can see the resulting destruction when we, the people, allow politics and corruption to dominate all institutions, including those of our faith. We can all fall victim to the pursuits that ignore our true purpose to love the one and righteous God.
The signs noted in this story are all too evident in our society today. We are disoriented, unable to speak the same language or recognize the same truth or facts. We’re cut off from one another and seek common understanding from secular authorities.
American social psychologist Jonathan Haidt has written that it has been clear for some time that America has evolved into two different countries, both claiming the same territory with two versions of our laws, economics and history.
Today, we can easily see ourselves and our society reflected in the story of Babel and its aftermath. But in the midst of our fragmentation of political institutions, religious orders, and even families, God is there to offer words of comfort and grace.
The Gospel of John 16:33 provides wise counsel: “These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage, I have overcome the world.”
Our prayer today:
Our Heavenly Father, help us to hear your comforting words despite the fragmentation and brokenness that surrounds us. Help us to be instruments of your love, peace, and grace. Amen.
Grace for All is a daily devotional podcast produced by the members of the congregation of First United Methodist Church in Maryville, Tennessee. With these devotionals, we want to remind listeners on a daily basis of the love and grace that God extends to all human beings, no matter their location, status, or condition in life.
If you would like to respond to these devotionals in any way, we would enjoy hearing from you. Our email address is: podcasts@1stchurch.org.
First United Methodist Church is a lively, spirit-filled congregation whose goal is to spread the message of love and grace into our community and throughout the world. We are located on the web at https://1stchurch.org/.
