But the LORD came down to look at the city and the tower the people were building. “Look!” he said. “The people are united, and they all speak the same language. After this, nothing they set out to do will be impossible for them! Come, let’s go down and confuse the people with different languages. Then they won’t be able to understand each other.” In that way, the LORD scattered them all over the world, and they stopped building the city. That is why the city was called Babel, because that is where the LORD confused the people with different languages. In this way he scattered them all over the world. [Genesis 11.5-9]
When I first read this, I wondered why it bothered God that the people were united. I mean, after all, God's wants unity, right? So why the fuss about the people coming together and setting out to build a great tower and city?
It all sounds so unfair until one considers that God specifically instructed His created man to populate and subdue the world. Everyone gathering in one place is hardly subduing the world!
Then God blessed them and said, “Be fruitful and multiply. Fill the earth and govern it. Reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, and all the animals that scurry along the ground.” [Genesis 1.28]
Then God blessed Noah and his sons and told them, “Be fruitful and multiply. Fill the earth. [Genesis 9.1]
It is clear that God intended then for the whole earth to be populated - not just an isolated region.
It is also worth considering here that at the time of Peleg is when the "earth was divided." While this certainly means the people became divided in their language, I believe this was concurrent with a significant world event - perhaps even the division of the earth's landmass into what we now know as the seven continents.
Obviously, such a physical event as the landmass of the earth being divided into continents would be a major change. I believe that change is seen in the significant drop in lifespan seen at the same time as Peleg's lifetime.
No doubt, the earth changed at the time of the great flood. And, lifespans slowly began to decrease during that time (as God has said He would, in fact, eventually decrease the lifespan of man to 120 years or less). So, it is no surprise that as the "earth was divided" in Peleg's time, that lifespans take yet another 'hit' and decrease another 200 years or so.
That said, the fact that God's intention for the entire world to be populated and subdued remained. This makes sense because God is God. He is not about loss, but gain. He is not about decrease, but increase. And, even though He had to decrease the lifespan of man, it was ultimately to achieve His goal of mankind populating and subduing the earth.
The takeaway from this is that God may not necessarily want His people to congregate in large groups as much as He would like them to beat the "highways and hedges" to establish His Kingdom! Oh it will be necessary for groups to form for strength, training and encouragement, but not for the sake of being a large group! But just to have a bigger church is not better!
Is it any wonder then that the strength and integrity of the United States of America is found in its rural settings more so than in its cities? I think not.
Father, I know my response here today could be completely wrong. But I also know that I am learning about You - and - as I consider these thoughts recorded here, I find myself considering Your character - Your intentions - Your goals for Your creation. Help me to keep my thoughts and conclusions in the light of Who You Are!
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