Now the whole earth used the same language and the same words.
It came about as they journeyed east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar and settled there.
They said to one another, "Come, let us make bricks and burn them thoroughly." And they used brick for stone, and they used tar for mortar.They said, "Come, let us build for ourselves a city, and a tower whose top will reach into heaven, and let us make for ourselves a name, otherwise we will be scattered abroad over the face of the whole earth."
The LORD came down to see the city and the tower which the sons of men had built.
The LORD said, "Behold, they are one people, and they all have the same language. And this is what they began to do, and now nothing which they purpose to do will be impossible for them."Come, let Us go down and there confuse their language, so that they will not understand one another's speech."
So the LORD scattered them abroad from there over the face of the whole earth; and they stopped building the city.
Therefore its name was called Babel, because there the LORD confused the language of the whole earth; and from there the LORD scattered them abroad over the face of the whole earth.
I've been thinking about this passage for some time. In my last post about Living Water, I was honestly just throwing out all the scripture I could find referencing such, and a little commentary. The fella I was discussing this with at another blog had been tossing the term around for a long time. He seems to claim that he completely disagrees with my conclusion on the symbolic (allegorical?) meaning of the phrase - and yet, he then says it is the knowledge of Christ. I thought that was what I said?
I spend a bit more time these days "listening" to the blog conversations and less time entering them. I've noticed that people keep talking around each other. If the conversations continue long enough, the speakers finally realize that they are basically saying the same thing - although it's been rather apparent to those simply listening in.
We may speak the same language - but not the same words.
3 comments:
Yep, and too often even when we use the same words its for different reasons; some to communicate the Truth to others and some in an attempt to control others. God knows the heart. We’re stuck wondering if they really don’t understand us or simply won’t allow anything we’re saying to ring true to anyone.
I think that communication is more of an art than a science.. "hearing" someone is so much more than one of the senses.. and our inability to "hear" is often a reflection of something greater. Small wonder Jesus spoke of having ears to "hear".
Great post Missy
"I've noticed that people keep talking around each other. If the conversations continue long enough, the speakers finally realize that they are basically saying the same thing - although it's been rather apparent to those simply listening in."
I've noticed the same. At very close quarters! sigh
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