The good news of salvation by Jesus Christ is to be spread to all corners of the world. Africa is included in the corners. However, it would be a mistake to think that Africa was not a contributor in the story of salvation. There is indisputable evidence of African presence in the bible. Here is a look at some of the glaring incidences.
The Garden of Eden in the New Testament is the genesis of humanity. This is where man was placed upon creation. Genesis places the location of this garden as somewhere in the middle of a system of four rivers. The rivers mentioned are Asshur, Havilah and Cush. These rivers are found in present day Ethiopia. Considering that remains of the earliest man have been found in Ethiopia, there is likelihood that this was the Garden of Eden.
Biblical patriarchs are shown to have married or sired children with women of African descent. This afforded credence to the central place of Africans in biblical history. Sarah allowed Abraham to have a child with Hagar when her womb was barren. It signifies an element of rescue. Hagar was a Hermitic slave. This leaves Africans occupying a special place in the history of salvation.
The book of Psalms chapter 68 also features a prophecy about where a king shall arise from. The chapter says that he shall rise from Egypt. The chapter further states that Ethiopia shall stretch out her hand to the Lord. This could be in reference to the role played by Egypt in saving Jesus when Herod wanted to execute him. Ethiopia stretching her hand signifies the arrival of the wise men, one of who was from Ethiopia.
Egypt is mentioned extensively in both the old and new testaments, albeit as an oppressor. This is where Joseph ended up after being sold by his brothers. His brothers find him there while searching for food during a major drought. It took Moses and the 7 calamities to rescue Israelis. In fact, an oppressive state is still referred to as being in Egyptian bondage.
The story of Jesus opens with the flight of Mary and Joseph to Egypt to escape the wrath of Herod. They were told to run to Egypt by an angel of God. If it had not been for Egypt, Jesus would have met his death as an infant. This gives Africa a very special place in this biblical story of salvation.
On the journey to Calvary, a passerby by the name Simon of Cyrene is forced to carry the cross of Jesus. History has it that Cyrene was a colony of Rome in Africa, alongside Alexandria. It was a source of high quality oil, corn and wool. Its people were also renowned long distance traders and runners. This makes Simon of Cyrene an African who does the last act of mercy on Jesus before his death. This is a significant lesson to learn.
There are disciples who went all the way to Africa to preach the gospel. Stephen is one of these apostles. As captured in Acts chapter 13 verses 1 and 2, the good news got to Africa as soon as Jesus resurrected. These vivid connections and many more reveal the central place that Africa holds in biblical story of salvation.
The Garden of Eden in the New Testament is the genesis of humanity. This is where man was placed upon creation. Genesis places the location of this garden as somewhere in the middle of a system of four rivers. The rivers mentioned are Asshur, Havilah and Cush. These rivers are found in present day Ethiopia. Considering that remains of the earliest man have been found in Ethiopia, there is likelihood that this was the Garden of Eden.
Biblical patriarchs are shown to have married or sired children with women of African descent. This afforded credence to the central place of Africans in biblical history. Sarah allowed Abraham to have a child with Hagar when her womb was barren. It signifies an element of rescue. Hagar was a Hermitic slave. This leaves Africans occupying a special place in the history of salvation.
The book of Psalms chapter 68 also features a prophecy about where a king shall arise from. The chapter says that he shall rise from Egypt. The chapter further states that Ethiopia shall stretch out her hand to the Lord. This could be in reference to the role played by Egypt in saving Jesus when Herod wanted to execute him. Ethiopia stretching her hand signifies the arrival of the wise men, one of who was from Ethiopia.
Egypt is mentioned extensively in both the old and new testaments, albeit as an oppressor. This is where Joseph ended up after being sold by his brothers. His brothers find him there while searching for food during a major drought. It took Moses and the 7 calamities to rescue Israelis. In fact, an oppressive state is still referred to as being in Egyptian bondage.
The story of Jesus opens with the flight of Mary and Joseph to Egypt to escape the wrath of Herod. They were told to run to Egypt by an angel of God. If it had not been for Egypt, Jesus would have met his death as an infant. This gives Africa a very special place in this biblical story of salvation.
On the journey to Calvary, a passerby by the name Simon of Cyrene is forced to carry the cross of Jesus. History has it that Cyrene was a colony of Rome in Africa, alongside Alexandria. It was a source of high quality oil, corn and wool. Its people were also renowned long distance traders and runners. This makes Simon of Cyrene an African who does the last act of mercy on Jesus before his death. This is a significant lesson to learn.
There are disciples who went all the way to Africa to preach the gospel. Stephen is one of these apostles. As captured in Acts chapter 13 verses 1 and 2, the good news got to Africa as soon as Jesus resurrected. These vivid connections and many more reveal the central place that Africa holds in biblical story of salvation.
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