Genesis 11

“Behold, they are one people, and they have all one language, and this is only the beginning of what they will do.” (v6).  God gave humans amazing creativity and intelligence.  However, God saw that sinful people would use these gifts to control and destroy and grasp for power, instead of glorifying Him.  So He “confused the language” of the ancient people, and they spread out over the earth (v8). 

Our different languages symbolize human conflict and misunderstanding.  But God’s desire is reconciliation through the blood of His Son (Eph 2:13).  In Christ, our sinful pride is conquered, and people from “every tribe and nation” become sisters and brothers.