The Genesis Site - God's Descending

Genesis 11

Earth and mankind were shaking. Although mixed up with local colour the myths and legends about this particular age seem to fit in a biblical context.
You might wonder if Genesis 11 is really that violent as myths tell. You don't read about a disturbed solarsystem in Genesis. You don't read anything about Venus. Or about the beginning of war or religion. (Well, in fact the Bible does give some clues, but they are not specified in Genesis 11.)
Although not specific explained, the descending of God is not just a silent happening. The Old Testament makes no secret of this. I'll give you a few examples.

Exodus 19:16-20.
(The people of Israel have left Egypt and made their camp at the foot of Mount Sinai. Here they have a appointment with their liberator.)
On the morning of the third day there were thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud upon the mountain, and a very loud trumpet blast, so that all the people who where in the camp trembled. Then Moses brought the people out of the camp to meet God; and they took their stand at the foot of the mountain. And Mount Sinai was wrapped in smoke, because the Lord descended upon it in fire; and the smoke of it went up like the smoke of a kiln, and the whole mountain quaked greatly. And as the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder, Moses spoke, and God answered him in thunder. And the Lord came down upon Mount Sinai, to the top of the mountain;

Deuteronomy 5:23-27.
(We are still standing here at the foot of the Mount Sinai.)
And when you heard the voice out of the midst of the darkness, while the mountain was burning with fire, you came near to me, all the heads of your tribes, and your elders; and you said, "Behold, the Lord our God has shown us his glory and greatness, and we have heard his voice out of the midst of fire; we have this day seen God speak with man and man still live. Now therefore why should we die? For this great fire will consume us; if we hear the voice of the Lord our God any more, we shall die. For who is there of all flesh, that has heard the voice of the living God speaking out of the midst of fire, as we have, and has still lived?"

1 Kings 19:1-13.
(This is the well known story of Elijah on the run for queen Jezebel. You may say Elijah met God in a still small voice [verse 13]. But between his calling [verse 11] and the meeting there were quite a few frightening events.)
And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and broke in pieces the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake , but the Lord was not in the earthquake; and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice.

Psalm 18:6-15.
(A psalm of king David having hard times. You should read the whole psalm for yourself!)
In my distress I called upon the Lord; to my God I cried for help.From his temple he heard my voice, and my cry to him reached his ears. Then the earth realed an rocked; the foundations also of the mountains trembled and quaked, because he was angry. Smoke went up from his nostrils, and devouring fire from his mouth; glowing coals flamed forth from him.
He bowed the heavens, and came down; thick darkness was under his feet. He rode on a cherub, and flew; he came swiftly on the wings of the wind. He made darkness his covering around him, his canopy thick clouds dark with water. Out of the darkness before him there broke through his clouds hailstones and coals of fire.
The Lord also thundered in the heavens, and the Most High uttered his voice. hailstones and coals of fire. And he send out his arrows, and scattered them. Then the channels of the sea were seen, and the foundations of the world were laid bare, at thy rebuke, O Lord, at the blast of the breath of thy nostrils.

Isaiah 64:1-3.
(Words of the prophet Isaiah after he exclaimed [63:11, 15, 17]: Where is he? Where are thy zeal and thy might? Return for the sake of thy servants, the tribes of thy heritage!) O that thou wouldst rend the heavens and come down, that the mountains might quake at thy presence - as when fire kindles brushwood and the fire causes water to boil - to make thy name known to thy adversaries, and that the nations might tremble at thy presence! When thou didst terrible thingswhich we looked not for, thou camest down, the mountains quaked at thy presence.

Habakkuk 3:9-12.
(Visions of the prophet Habakkuk which made him tremble of fear [3:16].)
Thou didst cleave the earth with rivers. The mountains saw thee, and writhed; the raging waters swept on; the deep gave forth its voice, it lifted its hands on high. The sun and moon stood still in their habitation at the light of thine arrows as they sped, at the flash of thy glittering spear. Thou didst bestride the earth in fury, thou didst trample the nations in anger.

Genesis 10 & 11.
We are returning now to the old population of Babel. In Genesis 10:25 we find a hint about what happened in and around the town. Eber became father and he called his son Peleg. Peleg whas named this way because in his days the earth was divided. Peleg means: to divide. The New Strong's Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible makes clear it can be translated by: dividing the earth by water. The word is also used for cleaving or splitting. Even "earthquake" is a possible translation. So what ever may have happened, to Eber it was impressing enough to name his son after this event! And it was important enough to be written down in the Bible!!

Did you ever think about God as the old man with long white beard and sitting peacefully on his golden throne? You might have to change your mind now!
It's clear. The descending of God in Genesis 11 could have ment rough times for the inhabitants of Babel. Even the sound of a horn as ment in Exodus is not unknown in myths.
So the conclusion is that there is to much coincidence to think the fleeing of Babel happened in peace. Mankind was in fear. The earth was breaking. The solarsystem looked like exploding. Venus moved towards earth. Burning woods and vulcano ashes and gasses polluted the atmosphere. Earthquakes and floods terrorized our planet. Radiation from space hit mankind. And disturbed their way of thinking and altered their speech. These were the results of the descending of God, described in Genesis 11.

Let us not misunderstand the character of God. For our God is a God of love. I'm not dealing here now how this fits in the story of Babel. Do think about it yourself - or go to the next page. (Or take a look on The Battle behind... for some background information.) Try to figure out why mankind had to be dispersed around the world! Genesis 11 is giving a big clue!

---