Therefore its name is called Babylon, for there the Lord confused the language of the whole earth, and from there the Lord scattered them over the face of the whole earth. Genesis 11:9 HCSB
Have you ever heard a group of people speaking a different language and wish you could understand what they were saying? Recently at the grocery store there were three people speaking Spanish. I overheard their conversation, but I could not understand anything they were saying. They were laughing and enjoying being together, but I could not join in their laughter because I did not understand what they were laughing about.
God confused the language of the whole earth. One person could not understand another. It was only natural for all of those speaking the same language to band together because they could communicate with each other. Babylon was originally called Babel, which is the Hebrew word for “confuse”.
Pentecost as recorded in Acts 2 is the reversal of the “Tower of Babel”. The people from many different nations and languages were in Jerusalem for the Passover meal when they suddenly were able to understand the message and Good News of Jesus Christ because it was being spoken in his or her own tongue. Each one miraculously heard and understood the truth of Jesus Christ.
Challenge: Sometimes people hear the message of Christ and they do not understand or accept it. It is not because it is in a different language, but it is because they have hardened their hearts and minds and refuse to accept the free gift of God – forgiveness of sin – through His Son, Jesus Christ. Do you have ears to hear the Good News?