Nimrod was a mighty king and a powerful builder. He decreed the building of a great tower so high it would bring everyone closer to God. But God knew it was not so much Nimrod’s wish to be near God as it was Nimrod's desire to be God.
God, never a fan of hubris (save his own), knew measures had to be taken. Nimrod needed a lesson. In old testament days the meting out of Divine Wrath was a seriously creative business (think Adam and Eve, Sodom and Gomorrah). But God also had a well developed sense of irony (think God’s bet with Satan, Job with his boils, instant poverty, dead family members).
Instead of burning everything and everyone to glowing dust His Clever Wrath caused the people to speak many different languages. Communication was impossible and construction of the tower ground to a halt. The people scattered and the world languages are as we know them today. So was born The Tower Of Babel story.
Prideful towers, vanity walls, arrogant laws? Where is that clever Divine Wrath now? Some expertly applied boils, holy fire and brimstone, a garden expulsion or two might win the day.