In our journey from Darkness to Light, we leave behind nothing but our confusion. The previous lesson reminds us afresh of the Two Realms, and the necessity of human government in the lower realm. That necessity itself is obliged to follow certain requirements which make up the shape and content of the Covenant of Noah. At this point, that shape and content assumes much, but has seen little enforcement, so confusion over God's demands is expected.
Remember, we are dealing with God as Eastern Potentate, the image He casts of Himself. Such a ruler would promulgate His laws as statements of desired results. He leaves it up to His servants to find appropriate ways to carry out His wishes. If they demonstrate a lack of ability or understanding, He gladly steps in to provide more detailed guidance, particularly upon request. He fully expects opportunities to clarify His will as time goes on, and has prepared for every eventuality. Surely He will not ignore flouting His wishes, though He will be patient until the moment is right for a lesson. Precedent is a critical element, and the first violation generally reaps the harshest punishment. Western notions of fairness and equality are frankly despicable, sinful whining before such a God.
Clearly we, as His servants, are expected to entertain a great mass of mystery, operating under God's inexplicable motives at which He only hints from time to time. Holiness is not defined as performance of a standard, for only He can grant the power to succeed. Holiness is defined as a desire to please God, regardless of our ability to perform. From His spiritual children, He wants loving loyalty. From the fallen world at large, He demands they observe certain limits which will permit His glory to manifest in His spiritual children as they walk among the dead. The Flood wiped away the first massive failure, and established the principle of civilization and human government. As time progresses, that principle is refined, because it cannot possibly be revealed all at once.
So the story of the Tower on the plains of Shinar establishes a refinement on the Covenant of Noah. There was nothing inherently wrong with all humanity at that point speaking a single language; it was the natural result of descending from a single man, Noah. Once organized under a human government, they moved to a place where primitive civilization could thrive. What is required? A place well watered, fertile and capable of growing crops. In this case, the alluvial plains of Mesopotamia were and are so temperate as to grow more than one crop per year. This allows the economic efficiency so men can begin to specialize at various tasks for making life more comfortable, and threats reduced. This is all part of the definition of civilization, but it was one other element which transgressed God's intentions.
The fatal flaw was amassing greater power in a centralized government, which would directly defy God's command to spread out in small tribal communities. While the tower did have an ostensible religious significance, probably primitive astrology, the underlying motive of choosing contrary to God's clearly revealed will is the central issue. The arrogance of great power under a single authority figure was just too much temptation for this primitive chief. He wanted it all for himself, and possessed the wherewithal to make it happen. The single point of failure was the unified language.
This is what God chose to change, to force mankind to carry out His command. We are provided precious little detail, and to assume every living being suddenly spoke incomprehensibly to each other is pushing things too far, a typical modern Western mistake. A difference in language assumes a difference in cultural orientation, a difference in what is important, of how things should be done. The sudden drift into cultural variation was sufficient for tribes and clans to separate over political procedure, and in the context of Hebrew literature, this is probably the best way to understand the narrative.
The most obvious lesson is a screaming objection to what men naturally do in politics, which is amass more power and authority over increasing numbers of people. Human logic cries out for efficiency of resources, chiefly human resources. This in itself dehumanizes them, a major sin against God. A small tribal government forces leadership to deal with individuals as people, not machinery or scenery. Everyone is blood kin and you can take away the protective affinity only when someone demonstrates a dangerous disregard of it themselves. To despise your own flesh and blood is so fundamentally evil, it hardly requires enunciation. Centralization of political power not only enables dehumanizing those governed, but requires it. God does not tolerate tyranny, and political conglomeration is impossible any other way.
Modern notions of participatory democracy is the Satanic lie, for the language of the claims of Babel was everyone wanted it that way. By whatever means, allowing masses of humans to freely choose things contrary to their own best interest is fundamentally wrong, as was demonstrated by what Noah's world was like before the Flood. The one and only proper form of government is within the limits of your own family. While some may complain that means they are forced to accept the rule of those randomly chosen by right of birth, regardless of ability, we note God implies here such is what He requires. It is later proven in Scripture not to be so iron-clad, but remains the place to start. Whatever sorrow which might arise from purely hereditary tribal rule, there is absolutely nothing else possible in this world which works out better in the long run.
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By Ed Hurst
06 April 2009
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