Christian Living

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Good from Evil

Most people who have read the Bible will remember the story of that most disastrous development project, the Tower of Babble. Men wished to build a tower that would reach to heaven. God could not let this happen. Men would think themselves great and all powerful. So, He made men speak in different languages, for they had previously shared a common tongue. Well, most people could not understand most other people and this resulted in a major diaspora.

What is the point of my retelling this story? The point is that I think it important to note this most poignant example of how God can take evil and bring out of it a thing of beauty. One might wonder what could be beautiful about the division of the human race, but there is indeed something beautiful in the midst of the strife that occurred following the diaspora of the world's population.

Language is that beautiful thing. There are so many languages in this world: African languages, European languages, north American languages, and many more besides. Each one in itself has its own qualities. Many share sounds in common, but each has a certain peculiarity that makes it different from all others. One might even go so far as to describe each language as having its own music. There are sing-song languages, like Mandarin, which are tonal. There are guttural and somewhat harsh languages, like German, which are at the same time smooth and flowing like waves on a beach. There are languages that simply flow, like Russian. I could go on and on, but I wish people to discover for themselves the true beauty that is found in a language.

I would like to present a test to those who wish to take it. Next time you are near a group of people speaking in another language, close your eyes if it is possible. Listen closely to the flow of words that are coming out of the people's mouths. Perhaps you will hear how the language moves through the air. Some of the sounds may be strange, even a little funny, but are not some instrumental sounds or paintings this way? A language can be used for good or evil, but a language in itself, is wonderful evidence of God's ability to make a thing of beauty and goodness from a thing that has caused pain and much evil.

Authors Note: Biblical reference taken from Genesis Chapter 11, verses 1-9.

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