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. (Genesis 11:9 ESV)
Rebellion and Faith
We walked through Firenze, Italy early New Years Day. Mobs had celebrated exuberantly the night before. The trash, knee deep, seemed evenly spread. This normally peaceful community erupts with celebratory violence every year at this time. Even its aftermath was unnerving.
When I was very young, race riots erupted a couple of miles from my home. I barely remember it. But I recall huddling in the basement. Afraid of something.
In London, my family accidentally walked through a protest. A crowd was angry at the British government for a recent judicial ruling. We were surrounded by yelling, fist-waving, angry people. Until the Bobbies showed up we were very alone.
Individual rebellion and violence can be frightening. Mass rebellion and violence is beyond terrifying. In some ways, it is the most deadly thing on earth.
God had observed, some years after the flood, that earthlings had begun to rebel, not merely as individuals, but in one large group. God noted that when they banded together, no violent act was beyond them. Their rebellion against Him would be humanly unstoppable. (Genesis 11:6 ESV) So God dealt with them.
He made it difficult for them to plot, plan, organize, and unite. That restriction continues even today. (And also gives rise to the academic department of Language Studies…)
God’s people can take comfort in God’s past Babel-making. God dealt often with crowds. Not only at Babel, but at the flood(Genesis 6:11;) in Egypt (Exodus 12:30;) in Assyria(Joel 1:4;) in Jerusalem (Mark 5:21; ) on Jesus’ way to the cross (Matthew 27:23; ) threatening Paul (Acts 21:28-31;) and in the book of John’s Revelation (Revelation 12:15; ) describes crowd after crowd.
But crowds can not stand before God. Multiplied evil is still just evil. And God dealt with evil repeatedly, and ultimately with His Son’s death.
When our community, society, and civilization seem on the verge of upheaval, remember that they are mere crowds. God has dealt with them before.
Remember the past and take comfort.
Remember the past and grasp faith.