by Patrice Tsague, Nehemiah Project International Ministries
And God sent me before you to preserve a posterity for you in the earth, and to save our lives by a great deliverance. So now it was not you who sent me here but God.
Genesis 45:7, 8a
Black History Month is a time set aside in America every year, since 1976, to celebrate and remember the important people and events that occurred in the history of African Americans. For me, it is also a time to reflect on how our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ has impacted this history. I am a redeemed African, residing in America, whose ancestors sold their fellow brothers and sisters into slavery. As I reflect on the history of African Americans within the context of a biblical worldview, I see the hand of God in this great sin that was motivated by greed and a refusal to be one's brother's keeper.
No matter your political orientation, the present political campaign in which an African American may be nominated to represent a major political party, is evidence that Martin Luther King Jr.'s dream is coming to pass. No one can deny that the statement "we hold these truths to be self evident that all men are created equal" is being embraced in America. This is a testament of America's greatness and uniqueness among all nations of the world.
As we celebrate Black History Month, let us reflect on the journey of African-Americans from Africa to America through the eyes of Joseph. Like the story of Joseph, Blacks in America were not the victims of an evil act that was too powerful for God's might nor were they victims of the strength of men's will, rather, they were part of God's eternal plan to fulfill His will in the earth. In other words, what the devil meant for evil God used for good.
I refuse to believe that during the time of slavery God was not on the throne or did not have complete command over the affairs of men. God's purpose will be accomplished in spite of the will of men. God's eternal will was unfolding in spite of the sin of slavery and the evil of segregation. If African-Americans are to tap into that eternal will, they must be able to see the redemptive aspect of their experience and have the courage to learn from their history, confront their hurts, forgive those who offended them (Africans and Whites) and move on to fulfill the destiny the Lord has for them. Like Joseph, God sent them ahead to preserve a posterity in the earth, and to save lives by a great deliverance (Genesis 45:7, 8a). So, it was not man who sent them but God.
Today, Africa is one of the most impoverished nations in the world. Disease, corruption, and immorality are instilled in the fibers of its societies. America, on the other hand, is the most powerful nation in the world. It has some of the most educated, influential, and prosperous Blacks in the world. If Africa is to be healed from its economic, spiritual and social ills it will take the intervention of Blacks in America. Those Blacks need to have been healed by the blood of Jesus and recognize the ultimate purpose that God had in mind when He allowed a group of Africans to be brought to America, early in its history, through slavery.
To help us understand the journey of African Americans from Africa to America, and to move beyond its pains to its redemptive purpose, I have developed a lecture series titled, "The Journey". This series is based on seven themes that parallel the life of Joseph to the journey of African Americans. They include:
1. The Dream - A time of innocence, opportunity, hope, and pride. Genesis 37:5
2. The Betrayal - A period where the desires and weakness of the flesh cause us to deceive our own. Genesis37:19-20
3. The Struggle - A period of trials, tests, and challenges as a result of The Betrayal. Genesis 38:24
4. The Rise to Greatness - A period of elevation out of a state of despair. Genesis 41:40
5. Forgiveness - A period of repentance and reconciliation. Genesis 45:5a
6. Destiny - A revelation of the ultimate purpose that the Lord has for Blacks. Genesis 45:5b
7. Legacy - The passing of the baton to the next generation. Genesis 50:25
These seven themes are essential to bringing healing to those who are still bound by the sin of the past and reconciliation to those who have allowed the past to create a wall of division. That division is hindering the Church from living up to the prayer Jesus prayed: that we may be one even as Jesus and His father are one so that the world may know that He was sent from God (John 17:21). Why is this unity among the sons and daughters of slave masters, ex-slaves, and slave traders so important? It is important because through our unity the world will know that our God is God. It is important because it is the only way to ensure that the maximum number of lives is brought into the Kingdom of God. Each time a person believes that Jesus was sent, he or she is a step closer to accepting Him as Lord and Savior. This is the Great Commission. Finally, it is important because Jesus Christ came that we may have life and have it more abundantly. We cannot have abundant life in a state of division; true abundant life is found in the unity of God's people.
visit www.nehemiahproject.org for more information on Patrice Tsague and the Biblical Entrepreneurship program
No comments:
Post a Comment