Genesis 11:1-9
[1] Now the whole earth had one language and the same words. [2] And as people migrated from the east, they found a plain in the land of Shinar and settled there. [3] And they said to one another, “Come, let us make bricks, and burn them thoroughly.” And they had brick for stone, and bitumen for mortar. [4] Then they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city and a tower with its top in the heavens, and let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be dispersed over the face of the whole earth.” [5] And the Lord came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of man had built. [6] And the Lord said, “Behold, they are one people, and they have all one language, and this is only the beginning of what they will do. And nothing that they propose to do will now be impossible for them. [7] Come, let us go down and there confuse their language, so that they may not understand one another’s speech.” [8] So the Lord dispersed them from there over the face of all the earth, and they left off building the city. [9] Therefore its name was called Babel, because there the Lord confused the language of all the earth. And from there the Lord dispersed them over the face of all the earth.
When it comes to Pentecost, we usually just associate it with Acts 2, but there’s so much more to Pentecost than just Acts 2. Pentecost was the founding and establishing of the Church. The body of Christ. It was the bringing together of many nations to create one people, unified together with one mind and goal, to build the Kingdom of God. As God poured out His Spirit and gave birth to His Church, He undid the division at Babel.
At Babel, humanity unified together to try to ascend to heaven in their own power and strength. They built a tower, not to reach God in worship, but to make a name for themselves. They tried to invade heaven out of pride, as if to make themselves like gods. Around 2000 years later, God unified mankind and elevated them spiritually to sit with Him in Heaven. What mankind tried to achieve at Babel, God gave to those willing to follow Him.
God doesn’t reward the prideful nor does He punish the humble. When the 120 got together in the Upper Room unified in obedience to Christ Jesus, God descended from on high and dwelt with them and in them. He sealed them with His Holy Spirit together as one people and spiritually elevated them, undoing the punishment of Babel.
God doesn’t forget our previous mistakes or punishments. He remembers them and always gives us a way to undo them. As long as there is breath in our lungs, there is hope for restoration. There is hope for reconciliation to God.
Peace. Love. Go Forth and Be Reconciled.