The Lesson of the Tower of Babel

Text: Genesis 11:1-9

Reflection and Question: The lesson in the story of the tower of Babel seems to be God’s preference for diversity. At the beginning the whole earth has one language and the people start to cooperate to build cities and towers. God concludes, “Nothing that they do will be impossible for them,” and proceeds to destroy their towers, to confuse their language and to scatter peoples apart from one another. God’s will here seems to be that there must be difference so that we are forced to find our unity in the midst of our diversity. What difference does it make to you that God values diversity in this story?

Prayer: God of all places, reveal to us Your holy will through this story. May we remember that many languages and peoples, creating the sounds of babel, is pleasing to You. Out of the diversity You desire, bring Your blessed unity. Amen.

This meditation is based on the Daily Lectionary Year 2 from the Book of Common Worship for the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) (1993).