The Nations &
The Divine Council

The Nations and the Unseen Realm

After the Flood, humanity begins again. But this new beginning holds a dark mystery.

Noah's descendants spread across the earth, and Genesis 10 presents the nations that arise from them.

But in Genesis 11, humanity gathers together at Babel.

They say:

"Come, let us build ourselves a city and a tower... and let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be dispersed over the face of the whole earth."
— Genesis 11:4

God confuses their language.

Humanity is scattered.

The nations are divided.

But another passage may reveal that something more profound stands behind this division.

The Division of the Nations

Deuteronomy looks back upon an ancient division of humanity:

"When the Most High gave to the nations their inheritance,
when he divided mankind,
he fixed the borders of the peoples..."
— Deuteronomy 32:8

Here we encounter an important ancient textual difference.

The traditional Hebrew Masoretic Text reads:

"according to the number of the sons of Israel."

But ancient witnesses, including a reading preserved among the Dead Sea Scrolls, support:

"according to the number of the sons of God."

The following verse then says:

"But the LORD's portion is his people,
Jacob his allotted heritage."
— Deuteronomy 32:9

Read together, these verses have led many scholars to see something remarkable:

The nations are divided.

Yet Israel belongs particularly to YHWH.

Is Scripture giving us a glimpse of a heavenly order behind the earthly nations?

The Divine Council

This would not be the Bible's only glimpse of a heavenly assembly.

Psalm 82 begins:

"God has taken his place in the divine council;
in the midst of the gods he holds judgment."
— Psalm 82:1

God then rebukes these beings for injustice:

"How long will you judge unjustly
and show partiality to the wicked?"
— Psalm 82:2

Later comes the judgment:

"I said, 'You are gods,
sons of the Most High, all of you;
nevertheless, like men you shall die.'"
— Psalm 82:6–7

The Psalm ends with something significant:

"Arise, O God, judge the earth;
for you shall inherit all the nations!"
— Psalm 82:8

Again we encounter the same themes:

God. Heavenly beings. Judgment. And the nations.

Earthly Kingdoms — Heavenly Princes?

Centuries later, the book of Daniel gives another extraordinary glimpse into the unseen realm.

An angelic messenger tells Daniel that he was opposed by:

"the prince of the kingdom of Persia."

Michael comes to assist him. The messenger then says:

"The prince of Greece will come."
— Daniel 10:13, 20

These figures appear to be more than ordinary human rulers.

Daniel seems to portray earthly kingdoms as having corresponding powers within the unseen realm.

Persia has a prince. Greece has a prince.

And Michael is described in a special relationship to Daniel's people.

"Michael, your prince."
— Daniel 10:21

The earthly and heavenly stories appear to overlap.

The Nations Belong to God

Yet Scripture never presents these powers as equal to YHWH.

The biblical message remains uncompromising:

"The earth is the LORD's and the fullness thereof,
the world and those who dwell therein."
— Psalm 24:1

Whatever authority exists in heaven or on earth exists beneath the sovereignty of God.

The nations may rebel. Kings may rise. Spiritual powers may oppose Him.

But none stands beside Him as His equal.

Babel Was Not God's Final Word

Immediately after Babel, Genesis makes a remarkable transition.

From all the scattered nations, God calls one man: Abram.

And God promises him:

"In you all the families of the earth shall be blessed."
— Genesis 12:3

Notice the movement.

Babel: the nations are scattered.

Abraham: God begins a plan through which the nations will be blessed.

The story narrows from the nations to one man... but only so that it may eventually expand to the nations again.

The Messiah and the Nations

The prophets anticipate a coming King whose rule will extend far beyond Israel.

Isaiah writes:

"The root of Jesse...
of him shall the nations inquire."
— Isaiah 11:10

And Psalm 2 records God's words concerning His Anointed:

"Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage,
and the ends of the earth your possession."
— Psalm 2:8

The nations scattered at Babel have not been forgotten.

God's plan is moving toward their restoration.

Christ Above Every Power

The New Testament takes the story even further.

Paul describes Christ as exalted:

"far above all rule and authority and power and dominion..."
— Ephesians 1:21

And through the cross, Christ:

"disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame."
— Colossians 2:15

Whatever lies behind the biblical language of rulers, authorities, powers and dominions, the conclusion is clear:

Jesus Christ stands above them all.

No earthly kingdom. No heavenly ruler. No power. No authority. Nothing rivals the Son of God.

From Babel to Pentecost

Then comes one of Scripture's most beautiful connections.

At Babel, humanity shares one language and gathers in rebellion.

God confuses the languages. The nations scatter.

But at Pentecost, people from many nations gather again.

This time something remarkable happens. Through the Holy Spirit, they hear:

"the mighty works of God" in their own languages.
— Acts 2:5–11

Babel scattered. Pentecost begins gathering.

At Babel humanity said: "Let us make a name for ourselves."

The Gospel proclaims another Name: Jesus Christ.