Origins: The Beginning (Genesis 1–11)Sample

By Danny Saavedra

“At one time all the people of the world spoke the same language and used the same words. As the people migrated to the east, they found a plain in the land of Babylonia and settled there.” Genesis 11:1–2 (NLT)

As we saw yesterday, in approximately 100 years the earth’s population went from eight people to somewhere around 1,200. And this group lived together and traveled together. It was one big, crazy Noahic family adventure. At this time, they all still spoke the same language. 

You may be wondering what that one language was. Some believe it was the pure Semitic language from which all the other languages of Shem’s children sprang forth. Others believe it was Hebrew, while others believe it was a language that ceased to exist at the Tower of Babel. We don’t know for sure, but what we do know is that there was only one language. 

And beyond that, everyone spoke the same way. The reason I bring this up is because as an English-speaking person I know not everyone speaks English the same as I do. People in different regions of the United States have different vocabulary and sound. People in England sound different and use vastly different terms. The same goes for Australia and any other English-speaking country. There are similarities but also vast differences. Even in my region of South Florida, people speak different English based on their age. Middle and high schoolers use terms that their parents and grandparents don’t understand. But not here; in Genesis 11:1, everyone understood everyone else. 

Imagine what that world must have been like. Everyone on the same page. One big, unified family. Guess what? That’s what it will be like in heaven. Cultural divides, language barriers, ethnic prejudices; these are all byproducts of the curse. These are all things that will not exist in God’s kingdom! 

There we will have no division. Every family, every tribe, every tongue, every skin color of the earth, from the furthest corners to the deepest valleys will all be represented; and we’ll all be ONE. We’ll be of one accord, one heart, and one love. We’ll speak the same language, a heavenly language. We’ll all truly understand each other and experience a fullness, joy, and peace unlike anything we could ever ask, think, or imagine.

Imagine it with me, imagine the temporal things that divide us: things we consider so important today, things we are willing to fight with others about, things that lead to prejudice, discrimination, stereotyping, and oppression, things that cause irreconcilable differences and irreparable barriers; all fading from existence. Imagine when the only thing left will be love and glory in the presence of Almighty God as one heavenly family united by Christ. I don’t know about you, but I can’t wait for that day to come!

DIG: What does today’s passage tell us about society at this time? 

DISCOVER: Like language, what are some other things that cause division amongst humanity? How do you experience these things on a daily basis?

DO: Spend time in thanksgiving about what awaits you. Thank the Lord that He sent Jesus to reverse the curse so you can be in His beautiful, united family forever. Thank Him that He has prepared a place for you in heaven.