Genesis 11:1
I have read the Genesis account of the Tower of Babel following the account of Noah and the Great flood, and have always viewed God's confounding the language of the people and scattering them across the globe as pure wrath of God judgment and discipline being exacted upon the people for their arrogance in building a tower that would "reach unto heaven." But in reading this account again, I gained a new perspective.
After the flood, God made a covenant with Noah and every living creature that would follow. In communicating that covenant, He instructed the survivors to repopulate the earth. There is certainly the intention that the people (and animal life) were to spread out over the four corners of the earth.
Yet the descendants of Noah gathered together in one place, failing to compeletely obey the direction of God. Yes, there is certainly an element of judgment of God in this passage, but also it is a hand of direction in accomplishing his purposes.
I was reminded of the early church in the book of acts which were all gathered in Jerusalem following the ascension of Jesus, and the day of Pentecost. They were growing and thriving, with new converts being added daily. Yet they were not fully obeying the direction that was given by Jesus before he ascended into heaven!
Jesus had told them to go into all the world and spread the gospel, yet they were still staying in one place. God then allowed persecution to come from the Romans, the Jews and Specifically Saul (who later became Paul) that caused them to be scattered and spread throughout the earth. Every person today who has heard the gospel, has heard it because those early Christians were forced to spread out.
While Persectution and chastening of God is never easy, it is not always rooted in God's wrath, judgment and punishement. It is often God lovingly prodding us and guiding us to where we need to be.
The next time you face a trial, a storm, a hardship that causes you to change direction in life, consider that God is simply working in your life to lead you and guide you to where he wants you, and be thankful for a God who does not leave you the wrong place.
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