A SIGN OF WEAKNESS

In Genesis 11, God, being displeased with man's failure to obey His command to spread out and repopulate the entire planet, caused the people to begin speaking in different languages (v. 7-9).  Not understanding one another, and therefore, not being able to trust those of other languages, the drifted apart.  For all practical purposes, they became nations.  According to my trusty Webster's Dictionary, nations consist of groups have a specified territory, a common culture, and a common language.  The estimated date for this event was c. 2200 B.C. 

Approximately two hundred years later, the Lord called Abram, to leave the city of Ur, and to go to the Land of Promise.  Abram, became Abraham,  and he and his descendants, the twelve tribes, had a land, a unique culture which included circumcision, and they also had a unique language:  Hebrew.  Because of their language, they were known as Hebrews, but because the Tribe of Judah became the dominant tribe, the people soon became known as Jews.

Approximately two thousand years later, the long-awaited Messiah, their King, came as was prophesied of Him, and the Jews rejected Him.  He was crucified and buried, but miraculously, after  three days, He was resurrected.  Because His chosen people had rejected Him, God temporarily set them aside for a period of time known as "the times of the Gentiles."  It is during this time, the age in which we now live, that the Lord formed the Church.  It began on the Day of Pentecost, ten days after Jesus ascended into Heaven.

On that day, there were local Jews, strangers (Jews from other nations), and proselytes gathered together for the feast in Jerusalem (Acts 2:10).  Perhaps they all spoke Hebrew, the language of worship at the Temple, but those in the crowd also spoke the native languages of their homelands.  At least fifteen different native languages were represented, and yet, the disciples spoke in such a way that each heard the Gospel in their own language.  Why do you suppose that happened?

The Word says that the Jews require a sign in order to believe (1 Cor. 1:22), and according to the same epistle, tongues are specifically said to be just such a sign (1 Cor. 14:22)!  God has scattered the peoples of the earth, and thank God, He has gathered a people out of every nation, to be His Church! 

He has scattered "the herd," so that He can gather the weak unto Himself!