A Journey Through The Old Testament - Elmer Towns

at this time that the Americas and the Australian landmasses were separated from Eurasia and
Africa, perhaps the historical event on which the later legends of Atlantis were based. When God
created the world, the waters were gathered “together into one place” (1:19). Now a physical
separation of the land mass resulted in continents and oceans isolating groups of people to
develop their own unique cultures.
The second Hebrew verb used to describe this division is parad (10:5, 32) meaning to
divide in judgment. The separation of the peoples at Babel was an act of judgment on the part of
God. It was His “disruption” of man’s rebellion. The languages and dialects spoken around the
world today are a constant reminder that God has discerned and judged the sin nature of Adam in
all of us. “Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and
thus death spread to all men, because all have sinned” (Rom. 5:12).
The third Hebrew verb used by Moses to describe the division of Babel is nachal (Deut.
32:8) meaning to divide for an inheritance. This is reflective of the character of God who even in
judgment is gracious. Even when dealing with the rebellion of Nimrod at Babel, He offered the
rebels an inheritance which was theirs for the taking. Similarly today, the God who judged sin on
the cross offers the life and home of His Son as an inheritance for all who come to Him by faith.
PERSPECTIVE: SEEDS OF REBELLION CONTINUE TO GROW
How then did the descendants of a common parentage come to have the varied racial
features so evident in the world today? The solution to this nagging question is probably found in
the environmental influences on relatively isolated societies throughout history. Most creationists
today would argue that the genetic pool was complete in Adam including all of the potential
characteristics of each race. But there’s more to it than that. When the peoples of the earth finally
were divided after the Flood on linguistic grounds, it was most natural for them to build societies
among themselves. They traveled to different regions in their family groups and began new
societies. Because of the genetic inbreeding which naturally resulted, certain physical features
naturally became increasingly dominant in the group. Further, the conditions of their new
homeland would, over generations, also have an effect on the descendants of those pioneers of
the race. These environmental influences would include such things as harsh winters, tropical
sun, and to some extent, even the characteristic diet of the region. In some cases, these racial
features were further developed by cultural practices such as the binding of feet or the stretching
of the neck.
In the midst of a degenerate world, “Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord” (Gen.
6:8). His faith in the revealed Word of God was the motivating force of his life resulting in the
building of “an ark for the saving of his household” (Heb. 11:7). When confronted with the
major crisis of his life, the Flood, Noah believed God and was saved. But like so many today,
when the crisis was over, his faith began to waver. Before his days were over, Noah was found
drunk, the same sort of activities that characterized those who were destroyed by the great Flood.
Even under the new covenant, man was destined to fail God. It was more than obvious
that man was “evil from his youth.” The seeds of rebellion had been planted in the heart of man
as Adam had bitten into the forbidden fruit in the Garden. Now it would always be a part of
fallen human nature. In fact, Noah’s great grandson became a leader of the people best known
for their rebellious attitude against God. His actions led to the dispersion of the people at the
tower of Babel. This event marked the end of the age of human government as God prepared to
deal with man under the terms of yet another covenant.