Genesis 11:1-26
We see here the foundation of Babel (or Babylon) which, all through Scripture, represents the world with all its lust and pride. Also we can already discern the pretensions to unity which will be those of religious Babylon, the false Church of Revelation 17:1-18; ; Revelation 18:1-24. Man wants to stand up to God by joining forces and working for his own glory. "Let us make us a name . . ." But look on another occasion at God’s response to the ludicrous defiance of men assembled against Him: "He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh; the LORD shall have them in derision" (Psalms 2:4; see also Isaiah 8:9). The LORD confounds the language of the men of Babel and scatters them (verses 7, 8).
In contrast, the New Testament shows us "the church of the living God" founded by Christ and formed by the Holy Spirit (1 Timothy 3:15; Matthew 16:18). At Pentecost languages were given to the apostles to make the nations previously dispersed hear by grace "the wonderful works of God" (Acts 2:11). And in Revelation 5:1-14 the crowd of the redeemed ones which surrounds the throne of the Lamb is composed "of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation".
Vv. 10 to 26 establish the line of Shem which we find again in the genealogy of the Lord Jesus (Luke 3:36).