Gen. 11.  Babel was humanity’s chance to make something of themselves — outside of God’s plan.  The words we read here are seen by the humanist as those of a frightened god, afraid that his creatures will live up to their potential and replace him. The Christian understands that God was acting as a wise parent, seeking to keep his children from danger. His plan for humanity included scattering  us throughout the planet, so that we could rule it wisely as his representatives. When we decided to stay in one place and build a tower to heaven, God had to stop us for our own good. The linguistic and ethnic differences we have today are the result.

LORD, keep us out of harm’s way — even if that means not giving us what we want.