The survivors of the flood and their descendants all spoke the same language and shared a common speech. They travelled together as one large family, staying close to one another as they journeyed eastward. In the Bible, moving eastward often symbolizes a departure from God’s presence.
When Adam and Eve were exiled from the Garden of Eden, they moved eastward. After Cain murdered his brother, he also went east away from the presence of the LORD. Similarly, when Lot separated from his uncle Abraham, he headed eastward and ended up in the corrupt cities of Sodom and Gomorrah.
As people moved eastward, they found a plain in Shinar and settled there. – Genesis 11:2 (NIV)
In the same manner, these descendants journeyed east and eventually settled in the plains of Shinar, where they sought to build a tower reaching the heavens—a defiant act against God that further distanced them from His presence.
The New Eden
Shinar was the kingdom of Nimrod (Genesis 10:8), the mighty warrior and king whose capital was likely Babylon, also referred to as Babel, or “Balal” in Hebrew. In this new land, the people decided to construct a city with a massive tower that reached up to the heavens. They made bricks and baked them thoroughly and using these bricks instead of stone and tar for mortar they began building the tower. They wanted to make a name for themselves and ensure they wouldn’t be scattered across the earth.
While the tower’s construction may appear impossible, the people’s limited understanding of the heavens led them to believe they could reach it. Some have suggested that the lingering fear of the flood and the stories circulating around it in ancient Near Eastern societies made them think a tower tall enough could protect them from future calamities. Rather than trusting in God and the covenant He made with Noah, symbolized by the rainbow of His love, they relied on their own strength, believing they could build a structure capable of shielding them from any future judgment.
Every society experiences a sense of pride and progress when they make remarkable discoveries or inventions. Just like the Neanderthals might have felt a sense of achievement upon discovering fire and the pride modern tech giants feel with their advancements in AI—the citizens of Shinar were emboldened by their new technological breakthrough in brickmaking. Fueled by this innovation, they quite literally aimed to reach for cloud nine.
Their desire to be equal to God reflected the same attitude mankind demonstrated when they sought equality with God by taking the forbidden fruit or when Eve named her son Cain, declaring that, like God, she too had brought forth a man. Similarly, the people of Shinar aimed to reach the heavens to put themselves on equal footing as their Creator.
United We Stand
Then they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we may make a name for ourselves; otherwise we will be scattered over the face of the whole earth.” – Genesis 11:4 (NIV)
Their fear of being scattered revealed their lack of trust in God’s plan. They clung to the prosperity of the land they had found and the security of remaining united, believing their unity made them stronger—even strong enough to resist God’s judgement. Rooted in pride and fear of losing their accomplishments, they sought to build something with their own hands—a monument to their greatness that would preserve their legacy and ensure they wouldn’t be forgotten.
But the LORD came down to see the city and the tower the people were building. The LORD said, “If as one people speaking the same language they have begun to do this, then nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them. – Genesis 11:5-6 (NIV)
It’s easy to interpret these verses as God wanting to disrupt the unity of mankind, but the issue wasn’t their togetherness—it was their intentions. Unity in itself isn’t inherently good if it’s rooted in pride, self-interest, or rebellion against God. The people of Shinar were united, but their goal was self-glorification, not glorifying God.
God disrupted their unity not because He opposes togetherness, but because their unity was taking them down the same path of corruption and arrogance that led to the flood. They were wasting their lives, pouring all their energy into building a monument to their own greatness rather than living according to God’s purpose.
True unity is only beneficial when it’s grounded in a relationship with God. Without this foundation, human relationships often devolve into gossip, plotting, and striving for selfish gain. Unity with mankind only bears good fruit when it aligns with God’s will and purpose for us.
Come, let us go down and confuse their language so they will not understand each other.” – Genesis 11:7 (NIV)
The phrase “Come, let us go down” (in Genesis 11:7) has been interpreted in several ways. One possibility is that the word for God, Elohim, is plural, and the use of plural language here may follow that pattern. Another interpretation is that God is addressing His heavenly court, informing the divine assembly of His intentions. Lastly, the phrase might also refer to God and His Spirit acting together to create chaos within the settlement at Babel.
Regardless of the interpretation, it’s clear that God’s grief over the people’s rejection of His covenant led to His decision to halt their project. God confused their language, making it impossible for them to understand one another. As a result, they scattered across the earth, and their efforts to build the city came to an end. The city was called Babel because it was there that God confused the language of the entire world and scattered the people over the face of the earth.
The Project Abandoned
The remains of the tower, like many abandoned projects, stand as symbols of human failure. History is full of such examples, from stalled skyscrapers to abandoned infrastructure projects. These unfinished ventures, once filled with grand ambition, now stand as reminders of the limits of human planning and resources. The Alai Minar in New Delhi serves as one such example of ambitious construction projects left unfinished.
Designed to be twice the height of the Qutub Minar (the tallest tower in the Indian subcontinent), the Alai Minar was conceived by Sultan Alauddin Khilji in the 14th century as a symbol of his power and dominance. However, he was only able to complete the first level of the tower and never had the chance to adorn it with cut stone or marble before his untimely death. After his passing, the project was abandoned, and only the first level was finished. Today, the incomplete base remains as a reminder of the limitations of human ambition. Even centuries later, people continue to criticize and ridicule Khilji’s decision to undertake such a grand project.
Generations later, the builders of the failed Tower of Babel would still have been ridiculed by onlookers who mocked their unsuccessful attempt at reaching the heavens. After the flood, God made a covenant with Noah, and mankind was given the rainbow as a sign of God’s love and their dependence on Him. In return the people attempted to build a tower reaching the heavens—a symbol of their independence and a quiet defiance of God’s authority.
The Scattered Church
God created the entire world for mankind, but people were content to remain in one place, unwilling to spread and fill the earth. This reluctance to move reflects a deeper issue that continues today—our resistance to following God’s plan. While we have free will, the consequences of our actions are unavoidable. Just as the people of Babel faced the consequences of their decision to stay and build a tower to reach God, we too must face the consequences of our reluctance to follow God’s calling.
In the church, scattering holds significant importance. The early church, in its infancy, gathered in one place, but they were reluctant to spread the message of the Gospel. It was only after hearing about the execution of Stephen did the people finally scattered. It was when God scattered them that the disciples went out to different cities and proclaimed the good news.
On that day a great persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria. – Acts 8:1 (NIV)
Similarly, we too, may feel comfortable staying in our homes or churches, refusing to step out into the world and fulfil God’s call. We often want to remain in one place, avoiding the discomfort of change or the challenge of reaching others. Yet, God’s plan involves us moving beyond our comfort zones to share His love and message with the world.
The people of Babel wanted to build a tower to reach God, to make themselves equal with Him. But God, in His wisdom, sent His Son because He knew we could never reach Him on our own—neither physically nor spiritually. Are we still rejecting His hand of help, or are we embracing His plan and moving on this earth according to His will?
Discussion Questions
- Why did mankind want to build this tower that reached up the heavens?
- Why did the LORD confuse them by giving them different tongues?
- Does God want us to scatter or unite?
The Jordan Valley 
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