Gen 11:1
Now the whole world had one language and a common speech.

Gen 11:4
Then they said, "Come, let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we may make a name for ourselves and not be scattered over the face of the whole earth."

In Gen. 9:1 God tells Noah and his family to “fill the earth”. God didn’t say to go build cities for yourselves. Cities often require leaders who lead the people away from the authority of God.

The people wanted to “make a name for ourselves”. What “name”? And they didn't want to be scattered. Yet this is exactly what God wanted them to do. In fact, that is exactly what He DID do.

Gen 11:4
Then they said, "Come, let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we may make a name for ourselves and not be scattered over the face of the whole earth."

Is there anything significant that the people built the Tower of Babel out of brick instead of stone? Stone is something found in nature, something created by God. Brick is man-made. Seems as if the people wanted to do things on their own, and not do things God's way. Isn't that just like us? Do we often make our own plans and then ask God to bless them instead of asking God what His plans are for us?

People begin to live shorter lives after the flood. Why? The protection of the canopy was gone, and the people were subjected to solar and cosmic radiation of which they were not accustomed. Before the flood the canopy prevented radiation from striking harshly against the earth. The atmospheric gas was higher in oxygen than it is now and air pressure was approximately twice what it is now. After the flood when the canopy fell radiation damaged cell structure of the human body, oxygen ratio was lowered and pressure diminished.

The things that caused longer life is gone...all because of...sin!