Investigator of Babel (Genesis 11)

 Investigator of Babel

When humanity was trying to build the city of Babel with its tower in a prideful spirit, God put an end to it.

But language is being used that gives the impression of a judgment.

Earlier in Genesis Adam and Cain had both received an investigative judgment. An investigation was done by God, sometimes the accused was able to answer, a judgment was pronounced and then it was executed.

Here we see a similar pattern.


[Gen 11:5-9 NKJV] 5 But the LORD came down to see the city and the tower which the sons of men had built. 6 And the LORD said, "Indeed the people [are] one and they all have one language, and this is what they begin to do; now nothing that they propose to do will be withheld from them. 7 "Come, let Us go down and there confuse their language, that they may not understand one another's speech." 8 So the LORD scattered them abroad from there over the face of all the earth, and they ceased building the city. 9 Therefore its name is called Babel, because there the LORD confused the language of all the earth; and from there the LORD scattered them abroad over the face of all the earth.


First God comes down to see, the issue is then expressed in words.
Then a judgment is pronounced after which it is executed.

No answer from the accused is expected this time.

Now we know that God already knows everything. He does not need an investigation.

Therefore this investigation must be for someone else to give transparency of the way He judges. Think of the angels for example who had their own controversy around God’s character and justice because of Satan.

What does this tell us about the character of God?
That He is a careful Judge who is transparent and cares about showing His justice. 

He is also not hesitant to actually execute judgment if needed. In this way He fulfilled His will by scattering the people over the entire earth and breaking their pride. He did this by confusing their language, something that had permanent negative effects for humanity.

The thing that deserved judgment is also revealing. God did not like the utopian prideful spirit of the people.


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