Since Adam and Eve ate from the tree of knowledge and were given the sense of right and wrong, did we get the potential of becoming as smart as God or was the statement made by the serpent (Satan) that they would become Gods themselves another lie? If it is a lie, than why did God split man during the build of Babel tower. During this time all men had the same language, same religion, and same morals in which case there was nothing for them to fight over, argue over, or not do. Did God scatter them because they could build their way to heaven because they were smart enough collectively? Did God fear immortal man in heaven? Or did god stop man for another reason. Please answer because this question has been bobbing in my mind for a while.
Responses (4)
God separated man with language because he wanted to show that they were wasting their time trying to get to heaven. Back then, they believed heaven was above the clouds. Which now with more understanding, we know it exists on a higher conscious level.
The serpent did not lie when he said man will become smarter. This modern age is the proof. Look how far our society has advanced with technology and science.
The serpent may have exaggerated his statement about being smarter than God.
33xforever is right. It was called as tree of knowledge but spefically, it is a tree of the knowledge of good and bad (Genesis 2:9). With this, the people gain the knowledge to know what is good and what is bad BUT NOT the knowledge of all things which God is having (so we can't be smarter as God). The serpent tricked them saying that they will become LIKE gods knowing good and bad but not AS a god. (Genesis 3:4,5)
During the built of Babel tower, it was being led by Nimrod, a mighty hunter that in opposition to Jehovah God. Nimrod made himself a king to rule over other people. God did not like Nim′rod.
All the people at that time spoke one language. Nim′rod wanted to keep them all together so that he could rule them. So what he did is to build a city and a tower so high that its top will reach into the heavens. Then they will be famous!’ The people wanted honor for themselves, not for God.
So God made the people stop building the tower. By suddenly causing people to speak different languages, instead of just one. No longer did the builders understand one another. This is why their city came to be called Ba′bel, or Babylon, meaning “Confusion.” The people now began to move away from Ba′bel. Groups of persons who spoke the same language went to live together in other parts of the earth.
(Genesis 10:1, 8-10; 11:1-9.)
The tree of knowledge of good and bad stood for God's right to determine ultimately what is good and what is bad. Adam, already had a sense of good and bad; he was created in God's image and had a conscience. The tree would indicate to Adam and Eve that they would always need Jehovah's direction. For them to eat from the tree would be to claim moral independence, which would cause enormous damage to them and their offspring to come. God's command with it's consequences showed the gravity of such course.