Languages and the Tower of Babel

As I wrote last month while preparing for a camp about post-flood events, the Lord has brought me many new materials to study. The Tower of Babel (Gen. 11) ushered in a time period of great change because of the curse of confused languages. I believe most of us know the account where it’s recorded that all people were making a name for themselves and accomplishing anything they set their minds to. The Lord confused their single language into many languages with no details as to how many there were from that point forward in history. Yet when one takes this simple account of history and makes predictions for a language study, we would assume that all languages today should be traced back to a few. This is exactly what a linguistic study in 2012 revealed, as well as identifying a profound insight we see in the animal kingdom. “You could take a gorilla or chimpanzee from its troop and plop it down anywhere these species are found, and it would know how to communicate. You could repeat this with donkeys, crickets or goldfish and get the same outcome,” Mark Pagel says in a New Scientist[1] evolutionarily-driven article. So, the animal kingdom’s communication reveals what we would expect to find if they were all created by their kind as the Bible specifically states. This shows a distinct difference in us, and leads to another question the author struggles with: if language is for communication and survival in an evolutionary sense, then why do we have so many languages? Pagel then offers up the Tower of Babel as one famous Old Testament story that addresses the question of many human languages, complete with his worldview bias. “The myth leads to the amusing irony that our separate languages exist to prevent us from communicating. The surprise is that this might not be far from the truth…” It is so shocking to those that choose not to take the Bible as a legitimate historical document when it explains the very data of that study. Thank the Lord for His Word that explains why it is so hard to communicate today. According to Acts 17:27, He cursed our languages and made nations so we would seek Him. In today’s seemingly daily information/communication confusion this still rings true. Seek Him.

[1] Pagel, Mark. “War of Words: The Language Paradox Explained.” New Scientist, Web. 5 Dec 2012

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March 2026 Printed Newsletter

March 19, 2026

Signing the Mayflower Compact by Jean Leon Gerome Ferris, 1899

A Miraculous Storm-part 2

By Ryan Cox • March 19, 2026

EACH OF THESE ARTICLES ARE EXCERPTS FROM AMERICA’S EPIC ADVENTURE TM - CTF'S NEWEST VBS CURRICULUM From Lesson 1: The Pilgrims, Walking by Faith in the Lord – Proverbs 3:5-6

Looking Back

By Matt Miles • March 19, 2026

There are moments in life that we experience the Lord’s Providence, which is the continual guiding and caring of us for His purposes. We may go though trials and suffering now to refine our faith in preparation for eternity. Other times we may see it for the here and now, with the aligning of plans for His purpose in our life, maybe with the opening or closing of a door. Many times we see Providence only in hindsight, looking back on life and seeing His hand working, molding and inspiring us for His plans and to His glory. I can see the Lord’s Providence at many times over the course of my life. Early in my grade school years I developed a love for building models I was recently reminded, along with my father, that we built a train set together in our basement. Following that, I began to build model cars and airplanes. I now know that love of building, tinkering and problem solving was Providence preparing me for this ministry. The Lord taught me early on how to stay focused and pay attention to detail. What I thought was only a hobby at the time is now something I must use on a regular basis in things such as fossil restoration, building crates, trailer and vehicle maintenance for our mobile museum. Later in high school, while active in church, the Lord called me to serve our children’s church ministry. I began to help teach others about Jesus. It seemed insignificant at the time. I remember helping in lesson times and the puppet ministry. I even was cast as “Pastor Rufus” in one of our ongoing puppet skits. My opportunities to share Christ and be an example to those younger than I was tremendous. Again through His Providence, the Lord was guiding me and calling me to ministry. He developed in me the love of teaching His Word to others, priceless to me today. Then in college Providence brought Theresa and I together. The Lord knew exactly who I needed to be my bride for life. She is strong in my weakness and more Christ-like than anyone I know. She is the perfect helpmate and partner for me in ministry as well, which has so far been 34 years, to be exact. Many times the Lord has used her discernment to direct me through a situation that I did not see correctly. I am thankful every day for Providence that brought us together in life and eternal work. As I look back on my life, there are more Providential moments than I have space to write. Most of those times have directly guided me to this specific ministry and my call to preach and teach His Word. Looking back on life and identifying those moments of Providence from the Lord is humbling and awe-inspiring. Please take a moment to remember your own moments when Providence has been evident in your life. This ministry is about identifying Providence from the beginning. His plan from the start is us spending eternity in His presence. Our sin messed some things up, but not His plan. He always has and always will know exactly how to guide and care for us so that we bring Him the glory, now and eternally. There is not a month that goes by that we here at CTF don’t praise the Lord for His Providence through you, our supporters and sustainers. Join with me in thanks for His Providence each day, guiding as only our Creator and Savior could do. Psalms 31:3-5 Blessings.