First, they wanted to build an incredibly high tower, most likely reaching above the water line of the flood to ensure that in the event of another catastrophe of similar proportions, they would have a fallback plan. They completely disregarded God’s assurance that he would never again destroy the earth with a flood (Genesis 9:11-17). 

Second, they wanted to make a name for themselves. Once more Satan’s ideological framework of self-exaltation was at war against God’s framework of love. If these tower builders had loved and trusted God, they would have been willing to submit to his word. Instead, they wanted to break away and forge their own path, a path that would lead to self-deification. 

Thirdly they wanted to stick together by creating a single unifying socio-political system that would hold the reins of power over the whole earth. 

For various reasons, God chose to thwart their plans. Babel birthed multilingualism with all its attendant complexity and strife. Out of the ashes of Babel rose Babylon, one of the most powerful empires of the ancient world which espoused many of Babel’s values; accumulation of power, pride, a single socio-political system, defiance of God, and self-idolatry. Babylon features largely throughout the Bible, as an enemy and oppressor of God’s people but also as a system of false religion that diluted God’s truth, mixing it with error. In Revelation, Babylon is the union of the Universal Roman Church and the State focused on propagating and establishing Satan’s ideological framework. The early reformers, beginning with Martin Luther, identified the Roman Church as Babylon. (Luther even wrote a book entitled The Babylonian Captivity of the Church in 1520 just before he was excommunicated by the Pope.) 

If you find yourself entwined in Babylonian thinking, ensnared by a false understanding of God and salvation perhaps it is time to reevaluate your beliefs. Ask questions. Dig deep for the truth. Jesus promised, “When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.” (John 16:13). You owe it to yourself to search for more because knowing the truth can set you free. (See John 8:32)