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Air Date: September 25, 2013
Host: Jim Schneider
Guest: Bodie Hodge
As Jim noted in his opening comments, how many times have you skipped over the biblical genealogies when studying God’s Word? These links do more than just record ancient family chronicles. They reveal the founders for some of the earliest civilizations in history. In fact, there’s a direct connection to the Tower of Babel.
Discussing this with Jim was Bodie Hodge, a speaker, writer and researcher with the Answers in Genesis Outreach Department. He’s also a regular speaker with the Creation Museum Speaker Series. He has a Masters Degree in Mechanical Engineering and is the author of numerous books, one of which was discussed on this edition of Crosstalk titled–Tower of Babel: The Cultural History of our Ancestors.
The Tower of Babel is said to have been built after the Flood but before the calling of Abraham. It was constructed in the Plain of Shinar between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers in what is modern day Iraq. Herodotus commented on it saying it may have had 7 to 8 levels. In fact, archaeologists think they know where the foundation of the tower was.
While others have commented that the Tower of Babel may have been built for sacrifice, others believe it may have been built for worship of the heavens. Bodie admitted that we don’t know the distinct purpose of the tower, but he believes that the builders were engaging in willful disobedience as they opposed God’s plan to scatter across the earth.
What’s interesting about the Tower of Babel account is the tie-in with biblical genealogies. Bodie noted how the chronological data that accompanies the genealogies helps us tally the age of the earth. From Adam to Abraham we have about 2,000 years. He acknowledged that while there are differences of opinion when you try to figure the span from Abraham to Christ; most scholars, Christian and secular, agree that Abraham lived about 4,000 years ago, about 2,000 years before Christ.
Bodie presented other fascinating facts dealing with this topic as he answered various questions including:
–Is there a connection to race as well as language with the Tower of Babel?
–Was the confusing of the languages by God an instantaneous act or did it
occur over time?
–Were Shem, Ham and Japheth triplets?
–How did the early people groups get to the various continents?
–How do we account for the vast drop-off in lifespan when we compare modern man
to those in the era of Genesis?
–Is the vapor canopy idea that some regard as the source for the Flood rains
biblically and scientifically plausible?
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To obtain a copy of Tower of Babel: The Cultural History of our Ancestors, for a donation of $17, call 1-800-729-9829 or write to:
Crosstalk
3434 W. Kilbourn Ave.
Milwaukee, WI. 53208
