As Pentecost Sunday 2007 approaches, the story of the ‘tower of Babel’ takes on a more urgent meaning. Through Genesis, from chapter 1, there has been a gradual disintegration of the harmony and order created by God out of disorder. In each chapter of humanity’s story the distance between Creator and creature has become wider, from the murderous Cain to the wicked people of Noah's time. But the building of the tower tests the patience of the Lord to the limit - and beyond. At this point all of humanity is still located in the one place. They all speak the same language (v. 6). As descendants of the faithful Noah, they have some cohesion as people of God, which is their identity. But as the generations pass, the people forget that they owe everything to their Creator. They begin to see their own power as sufficient. So they build a monument to themselves - to their own pride.

The biblical name ‘Babel’ is derived from the city name ‘Babylon’. In its Babylonian original form it was bab-ilu which meant ‘gate of god’. In Gen. 11:1-9 the name is connected to the Hebrew word balal ‘to confuse’ in a kind of pun. The biblical account depicts the Lord engaged in a heavenly council, considering the misdeeds of humanity. Just as the Lord says in Gen. 1:26 ‘Let us make humankind in our image’, here the Lord says, ‘Let us go down and confuse their language’. Through the connection with Babylon, one possible origin of the story relates to the Babylonian towers called ziggurats, constructed on the sites of temples. They often had 7 terraces that represented 7 planetary deities as mediators between heaven and earth. Ascending the tower was regarded as a proper approach to the gods, and the summit was regarded as the entrance to heaven. In other words, the tower in our story was a means whereby humanity could enter the realm of the gods.

In our modern view we see the differences of language throughout the world having developed over a very long period, as differing groups established themselves in different parts of the earth. Yet the story of Babel is ‘true’ in a different and profoundly insightful way. On one level this story is recognized as explanation for the many languages of humanity. On another, more profound level, the story recognizes that differences of language can accentuate division, strangeness, suspicion and hostility. Each group tries to reach the dominant (or higher) place, where it will reign supreme over other groups. As with the Babylonian ziggurats, when the original people of the Lord tried to use their tower to usurp even the sovereignty of the Lord, God condemned them to the diversity which breeds trouble and confusion. In total contrast to the harmony at the beginning of creation, human groups are scattered over the earth, each with their own language, and potential for disharmony.

It is not difficult to see how this story relates to the story of Pentecost, with the coming together in Jerusalem of many different people and languages. Luke means his readers to see how the original understanding between all people that was destroyed by the tower of Babel can be restored. When all hear the good news of the gospel, they understand it in their own language. The human propensity toward division, strangeness, suspicion and hostility is overcome. The potential for harmony among humanity is renewed as God gives humanity the means through Jesus Christ, and the ongoing gift of the Spirit.

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