God had told the people to spread over the face of the earth, yet they had gathered in a plain and decided to build a city & a tower up to the heavens to 'make a name' for themselves incase they were dispersed.
God confused the languages and the various language groups spread across the world
Off Topic
In case you're interested, with Jacob i linked this to Acts 17 where we read "And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, that they should seek God, and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him. Yet he is actually not far from each one of us" Acts 17:26-27 ESV. This takes us in an interesting direction in regards to God's purpose in dispersing the nations.
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I couldn't help but think of our own culture & making a name for ourselves, we are fixated with fame. But then another thought struck me:
Spread The Church
I wonder if God told the church to disperse through the world if we would obey or would we build . . .
. . . wait - he did tell us to spread across the earth - through our communities and cities and countries and nations. The reason for the dispersal of the nations was that they might seek God (Acts 17) and the reason for the Church's call to go forth is to spread His name among the nations so they may seek Him.
I wonder if our reluctance is tied in with Babel and because we want to make a name for ourselves rather than for Him.
