The people at Babel committed three evils that are sure to undo any person. First was their devotion to self. “Let’s build a great city for ourselves”, they said. Those who are self-centered are a dangerous lot. They would do everything to maximize themselves while minimizing others in the crudest way. Secondly, they made fame their prime target. They wanted a project not because of its intrinsic value, but to satisfy their inflated ego. Finally, they set out on the project so they would not be “scattered all over the world”. That negated the very will of God as announced in the beginning. God wanted man to be fruitful, multiply, and replenish the earth. Their decision to stay in one place was therefore an act of rebellion. God had no other choice but to confuse their language.
“self, pride, and rebellion that ruined ancient Babel will still cause incalculable damage to those who engage in them today.”
There seems to be a reincarnation of the spirit of Babel in our days. Never has a generation been so preoccupied with self as ours. Paul Vitz introduced the word “selfism” into our lexicon when he published a book in 1977 -. “Psychology as Religion: The Cult of Self-Worship”. There is also an unprecedented craving for fame like at no other time. Many people are ready to do outrageous things if only that would make them trend. Finally, our world has become horribly rebellious. The way people dress, their songs, and the ever-shifting definition of family, are all pointing to a world that is an affront to God. Let us be clear about this: self, pride, and rebellion that ruined ancient Babel will still cause incalculable damage to those who engage in them today.