Genesis 11:9 That is why it was called Babel —because there the Lord confused the language of the whole world. From there the Lord scattered them over the face of the whole earth.
I find it interesting (ironic, sad, poignant) that God scattered the Babylonians because they were communicating so well, so efficiently, speaking the same language. Today, even we speak the same language, we often misunderstand each other with every other word.
Genesis 11:10 This is the account of Shem’s family line. Two years after the flood, when Shem was 100 years old, he became the father of Arphaxad.
Humans are pretty fickle creatures. If I am in a bad mood, I’m much more prone to willfully misinterpret someone. (You might call that “spoiling for a fight.”) When I’m concerned about someone, I might hesitate to put words in their mouth, causing me to take longer than I ought to understand what they are feeling. And lets not forget that all too human tendency of snapping at someone you aren’t mad at just because you are mad at the world.
Genesis 11:11 And after he became the father of Arphaxad, Shem lived 500 years and had other sons and daughters.
Precious Savior, Help us to listen when others speak, to hear what they are saying, what they are feeling. Help us try diligently to understand each other, to listen and to hear each other, to uplift each other. Help us. Amen.
Genesis 11:12-13 When Arphaxad had lived 35 years, he became the father of Shelah. And after he became the father of Shelah, Arphaxad lived 403 years and had other sons and daughters.
Have a blessed day.