The Author of Peace

Today a new insight came to mind:  without Babel there would not have been Pentecost as we know it.  When everyone spoke the same language, there was no need for translation or interpretation.  After the LORD came down and confounded the builders in Shinar they scattered according to their families, languages and nations.  It was a common language that united people after the flood rather than borders controlled by rulers or government.  Babel was the antithesis of peace, for people proudly stood in opposition to God.  According to His grace and mercy God intervened so people could have peace with God by faith in the Saviour He would send.

After Jesus ascended to the Father in the sight of hundreds of people after He rose from the dead, followers of Jesus gathered in one accord to pray on the Day of Pentecost.  Suddenly the Holy Spirit came upon the 120 people who assembled and praised the LORD in a variety of languages.  This grabbed the attention of the amazed devout Jews who had assembled in Jerusalem to observe the feast.  Acts 2:6-11:  "And when this sound occurred, the multitude came together, and were confused, because everyone heard them speak in his own language. ⁷ Then they were all amazed and marveled, saying to one another, "Look, are not all these who speak Galileans? ⁸ And how is it that we hear, each in our own language in which we were born? ⁹ Parthians and Medes and Elamites, those dwelling in Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, ¹⁰ Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya adjoining Cyrene, visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, ¹¹ Cretans and Arabs--we hear them speaking in our own tongues the wonderful works of God."

In light of Babel, this is an amazing contrast.  God confused the languages from one to many so the people could not understand each other, but when the Holy Spirit came upon the believers their fellow Jews were confused how Galilean Jews spoke their own languages fluently with praises to God!  The builders in Shinar were confused and departed, and the Jews in Jerusalem were confused and gathered together for an explanation.  Through the teaching of Peter who was filled with the Holy Spirit 3,000 believers were added to the kingdom of God, born again by faith in Jesus Christ.

Paul later revealed guidance concerning the appropriate use of tongues and prophecy in an assembly, and urged them to do all to edify one another.  1 Corinthians 14:27-33 says, "If anyone speaks in a tongue, let there be two or at the most three, each in turn, and let one interpret. ²⁸ But if there is no interpreter, let him keep silent in church, and let him speak to himself and to God. ²⁹ Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others judge. ³⁰ But if anything is revealed to another who sits by, let the first keep silent. ³¹ For you can all prophesy one by one, that all may learn and all may be encouraged. ³² And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets. ³³ For God is not the author of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints."  Though God confused the builders at Babel, He is not the author of confusion:  there was a perfectly clear and rational reason He does all that He does in mercy, grace and love.  He knows all languages having birthed them at Babel, and He knew all the people who were in Jerusalem to hear of the wonderful works of God in their own language.  He who gifts with tongues also can enable them to be interpreted for the benefit of all so those in the church will be edified.

Isn't God amazing how He works His wonders in wisdom?  Praise the LORD He has given us tongues we can use to praise and glorify Him, putting our thoughts into words for His honour and exaltation.  Envy and strife lead to confusion, and God is not the author of these.  One of God's wonderful works is clearing up our confusion and bringing clarity and understanding by faith in Him.  Jesus is the author of peace in all the churches and may we be filled with His Spirit to speak forth His praise.