Genesis 11:1

2006.Dec.02 14:36

At First

Read Genesis 11 | Full Chapter

At first everyone spoke the same language
(Genesis 11:1, CEV)

Now the whole earth used the same language and the same words.
(Genesis 11:1, NASB)

AND THE whole earth was of one language and of one accent and mode of expression.
(Genesis 11:1, AMP)

Imagine this sort of world. Every human (once old enough to learn language) can communicate effectively with every other human on the planet. To put it in perspective, try a google search on english official language. Without entering into any debate on that subject, the number of organizations whose raison d’etre is the multitude of languages within a given society demonstrates that a humanity with a single, universal language is rather different from the world culture that we now know–or, at least, that many people have the perspective that is very different.

This unity of language is one of the last vestiges of the unity that Eve and Adam knew. It’s almost as though God is saying, “Yeah, you claim you wouldn’t have sinned if you’d had what they did…let’s see…” Humanity sins and destroys it’s unity. Watch how a couple of folks walking in pride split churches. Indeed, consider any human organization; the human organism is universally self-destructive. And to what end? Because we loathe unity? No, because we as individuals desire our own godhood, which leads us to sin against each other and against Jehovah.

The next consideration, which I’ll explore more next week, is that any unity between humans tends to result first in greater sin against God, then in division with each other. It is that we humans, in our quest for godhood, will ally ourselves with those we deem less powerful (up to all other humans) in order to prove our godhood against Him who most certainly is greater.

But then, the crux: is unity to be disdained? After all, it is so far not working out well. It should not be disdained at all, but rather desired, the Bible tells us:

Dear friends, let us love one another, because love is from God, and everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. The one who does not love does not know God, because God is love.
(1 John 4:7-8, holman)

That implies to me that unity with other humans is to be desired, and that unity with others leads to unity with God. Assumedly, this happens because if we will be humble before our fellow humans, we will have learned to be humble before God. Jesus indeed speaks of a coming unity:

I have other sheep that are not in this sheep pen. I must bring them together too, when they hear my voice. Then there will be one flock of sheep and one shepherd.
(John 10:16, CEV)

Jesus gets even more direct about wanting intra-humanity unity in a plea to Jehovah:

I want all of them to be one with each other, just as I am one with you and you are one with me. I also want them to be one with us.
(John 17:21a, CEV)

His follow-up to this can floor you if you’ll think about it long enough:

Then the people of this world will believe that you sent me.
(John 17:21b, CEV)

That’s right, it turns out that unity of believers in Christ is the prerequisite to sharing his gospel. One can be sceptical, saying that unity of believers is no replacement for purposeful missions. I am increasingly of the opinion that purposeful missions naturally flows from unity and indeed can only be effective as a spring from unity. One can be practical: unity between believers is essential, but other things must be given attention. After all, we don’t share one language anymore. Training is required more than unity, then…is such logic to be accepted?

Let us examine how some folks who walked daily with Jesus lived out this little issue:

The apostles often met together and prayed with a single purpose in mind. The women and Mary the mother of Jesus would meet with them, and so would his brothers.
(Acts 1:14, CEV)

Ah, unity. Let’s see what happens:

The Holy Spirit took control of everyone, and they began speaking whatever languages the Spirit let them speak. Many religious Jews from every country in the world were living in Jerusalem. And when they heard this noise, a crowd gathered. But they were surprised, because they were hearing everything in their own languages. They were excited and amazed, and said:
(Acts 2:1-7, CEV)

Don’t all these who are speaking come from Galilee? Then why do we hear them speaking our very own languages? Some of us are from Parthia, Media, and Elam. Others are from Mesopotamia, Judea, Cappadocia, Pontus, Asia, Phrygia, Pamphylia, Egypt, parts of Libya near Cyrene, Rome, Crete, and Arabia. Some of us were born Jews, and others of us have chosen to be Jews. Yet we all hear them using our own languages to tell the wonderful things God has done.
(Acts 2:8-11, CEV)

On that day about three thousand believed his message and were baptized. They spent their time learning from the apostles, and they were like family to each other. They also broke bread and prayed together.
(Acts 2:41-42, CEV)