And the LORD said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do. (Gen 11:6)
The matter before us this week is a crucial one that arrested God’s attention and made the Father to act fast. Bible says “And the LORD said, Behold, the people is one…” God saw something that made him call for the meeting of the Godhead. God beheld that the ‘People is one’. In what sense is the people one? On what basis were they one? What kind of oneness was God beholding? Oneness of nature, vision, motives, drive or language?
… and they have all one language… Do you notice that not one of them had a different language? They all had and spoke the same language? What language could that have been? Could it have been one of the very ancient languages? Is God referring to a human language like Hausa, Ibo or Yoruba? What language did God see?
God has a very important lesson for us in that precious chapter of the book of Genesis. I believe that the language God saw was not just a human language, but a people all concerned and given to promoting themselves. Self was the common language to them all. Their nature and drive was the common thing to them. It was to please and promote themselves. They were agreed on all things that would promote their self.
I know that two or more persons may have the same language and still not be one. I think a closer example is the Ife-Modakeke war. If you read Genesis 11:4 you would come to see what truly united the people: And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth. (Gen 11:4). They were all committed to promoting self. Let me ask you what you think the problem of the Church is today. People are not committed to Christ; rather self has taken over from the pulpit to the pew. This is the concern of God, and the way forward is for every man to die to the self and embrace Christ.
