Today we hear the last of the stories in the first eleven chapters of the Book of Genesis. With its completion, we will reach the point at which the downward trend in humanity’s relationship with God is reversed in the person of Abram. (We will pick up the story of Abram/Abraham on June 26.)
The story of the Tower of Babel can be confusing because it seems to be both a story of humanity’s arrogance while at the same time providing an explanation for the many different languages spoken throughout the world. Both are important in coming to an understanding of the story.
First, a few facts are necessary. While the word “Babel” may seem to be a primitive form of the English word “babble,” it is actually another term for Babylon. The people of the valley of Shinar who lived in this city worshipped pagan gods and goddesses. The city is characterized by towers or ziggurats. These ziggurats were built of brick and mortar (bitumen) because the valley did not any stone quarries. The Tower of Babel story could refer to the chief and tallest ziggurat of Babylon.
We must remember that these ancient peoples believed that God lived “in the heights.” The Hebrew Scriptures have several references to meetings between God and humans that involve climbing mountains. Jacob dreamed of a ladder that reached to heaven. The attempt to build this tower, therefore, can be read as an attempt to pierce the heavens and to take on the role of the Creator, the same sin that trapped Adam and Eve in the garden.
Because of the arrogance of these people who attempted to be like God, the story tells us that God confused their language, making it impossible for them to work together to complete this project. The punishment for the sin of arrogance was, therefore, division among the people. The same can be said of our own society. When we become arrogant and start making ourselves something we are not, divisions inevitably creep into the fabric of our culture. Only when we realize that we are the creatures and God is the creator is it possible for us to live in harmony.
Let us fast forward to the episode of the Acts of the Apostles which tells us that after the Holy Spirit had descended upon the apostles, they were able to preach the Gospel so that all people could understand their preaching. The Scripture does not tell us if this was a miracle of speaking or a miracle of hearing. However, it is clear that the sin of arrogance which had destroyed humanity’s unity was forgiven by the introduction of the Holy Spirit sent by the resurrected Jesus. “God the Father of mercies, through the death and resurrection of his Son, has reconciled the world and sent the Holy Spirit for the forgiveness of sins.”
While the stories in the first eleven chapters of Genesis tell us of the sins of murder and depravity, they are bookended by two stories that teach us about the root of sin; namely, an arrogance or pride which makes us forget that God’s will is the only will that matters. We don’t make the rules. We follow and obey them.
Fr. Lawrence Jagdfeld, O.F.M., Administrator