Globalization

“The world is so empty if one thinks only of mountains, rivers and cities; but to know someone here and there who thinks and feels with us, and though distant, is close to us in spirit - this makes the earth for us an inhabited garden”

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe⁹³

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“Settling in the plush and beautiful plains of Shinar⁹⁴ seems to be our destiny” argued Joktan. “Why follow the ramblings of an old man? Why endure the hardship of traveling enormous distances only to work the rest of our days trying to subdue some harsh environment, or worse, see our children starve to death because the barren earth won’t give us fruit?”

“God decreed to our great father and his sons that we are to fill the earth,” debated his brother Peleg.⁹⁵

“Perhaps our great father is too stubborn because of his old age,” immediately replied Joktan.

Peleg’s response was just as quick “Or perhaps he still fears the God who chose him to survive the great washing away.”

“And didn’t God also spare our great grandfather, Shem? He didn’t argue with the plan, he thinks we should be part of the grand coming together?” responded Joktan.

In fact Shem⁹⁶ did not oppose the “coming together.” He would listen to his father’s objections but wasn’t convinced that his was the voice to follow. They had forged out into the new earth almost one hundred years⁹⁷ ago just after the great flood but had found nothing but bleak devastation. Hardship awaited them in every region where they had wandered. Shem was right to allow his son, Japheth to take the lead of the clan and bring them to Shinar. He would not let the debate go any further. It was Japheth’s decision and Peleg would have to follow his leadership.

The clan of Japheth was the last clan in the entire world to make this trek eastward. When the caravan came to the top of the last hill, the multitude of men, wives and children stopped and gazed in amazement. Only Shem had seen a city made of brick before but nothing that even closely resembled what they were beholding.

The buildings stretched dozens of square miles before them. On the south side of the city rose a great plume of smoke where many brick smelters cooked the blocks into stones. All of the known ways to build did not include what they saw. The slime and pitch from the swamps to the south mixed with mortar from the mountains to the north created a rock-hard substance that rose before them as the new city.⁹⁸

Japheth’s clan was the last to do what all the clans of the earth had being doing for the last decade, committing their effort and family to the vision of the new leader of the earth. They had come to Babel .⁹⁹

The evening after they arrived, a great feast was called in their honor at the center of the city. Babel was built in a ring around a small but gradual rise. This center region was left void of buildings and at the top of the hill that evening, all the peoples of the world finally met together as one great family. It had been over one hundred years of nomadic wandering since they had been together. And now, with all three of the sons of Noah present, the vision had come to pass.

The tall, muscular Nimrod ¹⁰⁰ was the last to stride up the gradual slope with his entourage of armed men. His reputation had traveled far and wide for decades among the earth. Whenever news came to the nomads from their distant cousins, it always included tales of the mighty Nimrod. Many late nights were spent around the fires telling the adventures of “the greatest of all hunters before the eyes of God.” The messengers would tell how before Nimrod had reached manhood, he saved the clan of Cush from starvation. Cush’s clan had wandered too far into the eastern mountains and was trapped by the winter snows only to run out of food. Nimrod had single-handedly hunted and killed a wild and monstrous, hairy beast, bringing it down with both his bow and spear. It had provided food for the entire winter to the tables of the starving families.

His reputation distinguished him as more than just the greatest hunter of the earth. In the years to follow, all the clans had selected and sent at least one of their strongest young men to train under Nimrod . They would return to their families with more than new skills to hunt. They would return as disciples of this charismatic leader. They would bring Nimrod’s new vision for humanity. His plan was to end the wanderings of the scattered people to work together as one family and build a people, a culture and a city that even God would not be able to stop.

Even Peleg seemed to be swept away with Nimrod ’s compelling vision delivered in his speech that night. The great leader called for all the peoples of the earth to lay aside their claims to various regions. He called for all differences to be settled. His words were full of passion, desire and direction. They were sure words, full of command and vision, something which all the clans seemed to lack. Peleg remembered feeling this way once before when he had heard the great patriarch, Noah speak to his clan, though the message had been very different. Noah had commanded them to go into all the earth, to rebuild and replenish the wastelands.¹⁰¹ Noah had spoken with as much passion that a man of his ancient years could muster. If only he were here now, perhaps Peleg would not be as swept away with this new vision for mankind.

Nimrod ’s preaching to this global gathering was full of fire and great oratory. Truly he had become so much more than a “great hunter.” He had become mankind’s great leader. His speech ended with a stunning call to action.

“The great sons of Noah , our fathers,” he exclaimed, “have brought us all together to this great vision. Years ago in our wanderings we came upon the clan of Sidon, son of Canaan. They had discovered one of the old world arts of making brick and begun to build homes. Using this new method had caused others to fear the wrath of God and so they had been banished from the other clans. They had separated from their cousins out of fear for their lives. Nevertheless, this new technology created a safe place from the elements. Their way of life changed and their families prospered. We have improved upon their technology by adding special ingredients from this region.” Nimrod ’s voice began to rise. “Now we can build a great city in this place of prosperity. We can create a place for all of mankind to dwell together under one vision and one voice.” His face flushed red with passion. “What of the God of Noah? What of His call to scatter? What of the danger of judgment? We will make a place for ourselves in His Temple in Heaven. We will build a tower that will reach into His Heaven; a tower so strong, made with our new technology, which He cannot tear down with wind or storm; a tower so tall that He cannot cover it with the waters as in the time of old.¹⁰² And then He will love us and He will give us a name – we will be the children of God – we will be his people again.”¹⁰² Everyone was standing now, even the elders, waiting for the next words of Nimrod, all waiting for this new vision that would transform their existence. “We will build it here on this very spot!”

The multitude exploded in exultant cheers. In unison the whole earth chanted, “He will give us a name! He will give us a name! He will give us a name...”

As those around him were caught up in the frenzy, Peleg knew what he had to do. The next day he gathered his wife and small children and left the plush plains of Shinar. He refused to blaspheme the God of Noah . He would not be a part of this abomination. No one else joined him.

Decades of collaboration, communication and work transforming this new technology yielded the most astonishing structure. The city and tower continued to be the unifying force for humanity. Joktan’s sons had been small children when they first arrived; now they were the new generation of foremen shaping new methods and techniques that enabled them to build a stronger city and a higher tower. They grew up as city dwellers and city builders. Thanks to the mighty Nimrod , their families had a much safer, easier life. This new generation of youth developed many new technologies for efficient communication, transportation and growth as the city and the people of the earth stretched out. At the center of it was the great tower. It spiraled high into the skies of Shinar, competing with the distant mountains for the skyline view. Surely God and his messengers would take note. . . . . .

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