Friday 20 February 2009

Background

The story of the Tower of Babel is told simply and briefly inthe book of Genesis. It is placed in the midst of the bigger storyof Noah's descendents forming distinct families and tribes andsettling on lands across what is now known as the MiddleEast.

Babel is generally identified with Babylon, a city which becamevery important as the heart of the Babylonian Empire. In latergenerations in western thought and literature, Babylon became asymbol of all that was wicked and worthy of destruction. Theancient city of Babylon was situated south of Baghdad, in modernday Iraq.

The cameo story of people building a high tower as a symbol ofprestige and 'making a name for themselves' carries echoes of truthacross history and around the globe. It is one of those ancientstories that has a very modern feel - at least in part. Everymodern city skyline bears witness to the human urge to build towershigher and higher, very often with a 'name' emblazoned uponthem.

God's action in the story - in confusing the people and scatteringthem - perhaps sounds like a very unlikely thing for God to do. Itprompts us to ask questions about the story's purpose. It surelycontains a warning against humankind's obsession with status, powerand glory, but it also serves as a reminder that differences inlanguage can make building peaceful human relationships verydifficult. The story heightens awareness of the discord that cangrow when communication breaks down. It is not only differences oflanguage, but also of custom and belief that can cause disharmony,misunderstanding and ultimately violence and bloodshed.

It is particularly painful to read this story against the backdropof generations of fighting and violence and unrest in the very partof the world where Babel was situated. In the New Testament, theSpirit's gift of many tongues at Pentecost (Acts chapter 2)when all the different nationalities gathered could understand oneanother, in some way points to the reversal of the Babelstory.

At the heart of Christian faith is belief in God who is committedto welcoming all to the feast of life (eg Luke 15:15-24). Thecall to discipleship is a call to live out this reconciling,bridge-building faith amidst and across the 'fault lines' of humancommunity.

To Ponder

What present day images come to mind as you readverse 4?

In what ways might the 'credit crunch' beunderstood as a contemporary Tower of Babel story?

What are the practical ways in which you findyourself both respecting differences, whilst also building bridgesof reconciliation?