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When Languages Were Changed
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often the opposite of those that had been given. All work came
to a standstill. The builders were completely unable to account
for the strange misunderstandings among them. In their rage and
disappointment they blamed one another. As an evidence of God’s
displeasure, lightnings from heaven broke off the upper portion of
the tower and threw it to the ground.
God’s Purpose in Changing Their Language
Up to this time, everyone had been speaking the same language.
Now those who could understand one another’s speech united in
groups. Some went one way and some another. “The Lord scattered
them abroad from there over the face of all the earth.” This spread
people all over the earth; and so the Lord’s plan was accomplished
through the very means by which some had tried to prevent its
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fulfillment.
But at what a loss! It was God’s plan that as people would
go out to different parts of the earth they would carry with them
the light of truth. Noah, the faithful preacher of righteousness,
lived for three hundred fifty years after the Flood, and Shem for
five hundred years; as a result, their descendants had opportunities
to learn the requirements of God and the history of His dealings
with the human race. But they had no desire to keep God in their
knowledge; and by the confusion of languages they were largely
shut out from communicating with those who might have given them
light.
Satan was trying to bring contempt on the sacrificial offerings
that pointed to the death of Christ. As the minds of the people were
darkened by idolatry, he led them to counterfeit these offerings by
sacrificing their own children on the altars of their gods. As people
turned away from God, the divine traits of character—justice, purity,
and love—were replaced by oppression, violence, and brutality.
The residents of Babel had determined to establish a government
independent of God. Some among them, however, feared the Lord.
For the sake of these faithful ones, the Lord delayed His judgments
and gave the people time to reveal their true character. The followers
of God tried to turn them from their plan, but the people were
fully united in their Heaven-daring project. If they had gone on