This part of Genesis tells us how humans are scattered over the earth (which fulfills the command from the Lord, multiply and fill the earth) after the flood. Noah had 3 sons, Shem, Ham and Japheth. His three sons then multiplied (its not cloning k!) and had their own clans. This is how civilisations started. The names of the Noah's grandsons were listed and these form the three basic people groups known as the Israelites. This is followed by the account of how God confused their language and further scattered the people.
==Thoughts .. Understanding==
I do not really understand the reason why the long list of names were recorded in the Bible neither do I understand the significance of the three clans. I guess I would learn more about this when Israel is declared as nation, God's chosen and how each clans are given specific responsibilities.
Moving on to the tower of Babel, I saw the arrogance of humans. How they thought they were great because they can bake bricks and build, they spoke the same language, I suppose there were unity. Yet no matter how great man think they were, God is still sovereign and powerful over all things. His command and plan will still prevail.
The people came together to build a tower with its top in the heavens, thinking they are all that high and mighty, they wanted to make a name for themselves. There's similarities in the world that we live in today, isn't it? Everyone wants to make a name for themselves, because we think we are great, that would most likely be the motivation that drives people to build their 'empire', status, whatever you name it. Well, I do not think that being successful is a sin, in fact, I think it's a blessing that God has generously and graciously given. But when we pursue success for the sake of it, wanting people's recognition or wealth, status, basically not for the glory of God would be wrong. Should God give us good gifts, we should be thankful and put them to good use in order to honour God and witness to others. I'll always remember what I learn from Camp Orion, saying how christians should live their lives, its summarised into 8 simple words :
To know God & to make God known
This is in my opinion how God would show the future generations that there's an existence of God. People all around the world are so similar, yet different at the same time. Its interesting how all humans have 2 eyes, 2 eyes, 1 nose and 1 mouth. We speak to communicate, show body language, eat to stay alive, self-centered..etc. However, we speak different languages, coming from different cultures and backgrounds...
Why do I say the confusion of our language is a proof to God's existence? I believe if we look at the origin of language, many would have mentioned that all languages have originated from one. If christians, jews and the muslims who have read the Bible, Jewish laws and the Koran respectively and the tribal people who have very slight contacts with the world can agree in one way or another that human language has originated from a source plus give similar account to the tower of Babel, this should tell us something!
God created the world, whether is it the Aucas who stays in the forest of Eucador all their lives or the city dwellers, our ancestors witnessed to this confusion and hence passed down this 'legend'/'myth' about tower of Babel. What's more, evolutionists can never explain the origin of language or the diversity of it! They can argue till the cows come home but they will not derive at a common answer, so who's right.. I wonder. hee That's why the tower of Babel is so amazing..
Some interesting links :
Tower of Babel-->
http://www.christiananswers.net/q-abr/abr-a021.html
Wiki's view on it-->
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tower_of_Babel
Wiki's view on origin of language-->
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Origin_of_language
Lingistics 201:The origin of language-->
http://pandora.cii.wwu.edu/vajda/ling201/test1materials/origin_of_language.htm
This website, I thought, no references cited, no sources, but should be quite interesting to read.. :)
Comments on tower of Babel by Dr. Harold L. Willmington-->
http://www.tribulation.com/towerbab.htm
Should be quite reliable, since he cited so many sources.. still read it and be discerning! ( I haven finish reading it.. :P)
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