Freedom of Speech and 'Babeling'

In Genesis 10:8-10, there is a record about Nimrod, a great grandson of Noah born after the flood.

And (Noah -> Ham -> Cush -> Nimrod) begat Nimrod: he began to be a mighty one in the earth. He was a mighty hunter before (in the face of) the Lord: wherefore it is said, Even as Nimrod the mighty hunter before (in the face) the Lord. And the beginning of his kingdom was Babel, and Erech, and Accad, and Calneh, in the land of Shinar."

Nimrod was a 'mighty man' and loved it. He became quite powerful and settled in the land of Shinar.  E.W. Bullinger, in Apendix 28 of the Companion Bible, Josephus (Ant. Jud. i. c. 4. 2) says of Nimrod :"Nimrod persuaded mankind not to ascribe their happiness to God, but to think that his own excellency was the source of it. And he soon changed things into a tyranny, thinking there was no other way to wean men from the fear of God, than by making them rely upon his own power."

Nimrod was a very powerful man. Cities are convenient for totalitarian-like governments desiring  control over and dependency of the people. it was a perfect set-up for Nimrod.

Genesis 11:1-4 And the whole earth was of one language, and of one speech. And it came to pass, as they journeyed from the east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar (Babylonia); and they dwelt there. And they said one to another, Go to, let us make brick, and burn them thoroughly. And they had brick for stone, and slime had they for morter. And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth.

The Tower of Babel construction project was based on human pride as was Cain's offering. God was not blessed by it. The unity that developed was not good. When we think of the word 'unity' we usually see it as a positive force. However, unity for the wrong reasons and out of alignment with God's heart towards man, can be very evil and not easily restrained. Here in Genesis we see the first record of big government.

Genesis 11:5-9And the Lord came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of men builded. And the Lord said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do. Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another's speech.
So the Lord scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth: and they left off to build the city. Therefore is the name of it called Babel; because the Lord did there confound the language of all the earth: and from thence did the Lord scatter them abroad upon the face of all the earth.

God's instruction to Noah was to replenish the earth (Genesis 9:7), not hunker down. Control, fear and the building of religious edifices was not what He had in mind. Their actions resulted in a scattering abroad and a confounding of their language. Uh oh! What about freedom of speech? People have their own free will choice to say whatever they want, but  it is wise to remember that words can be used to promote good or evil.

We live entwined in systems of the world that can trace its footprints of pride and power in the records of the cities of Cain and Nimrod. There is nothing new under the sun today.

Psalm 63:11But the king shall rejoice in God; every one that sweareth by him shall glory: but the mouth of them that speak lies shall be stopped.