More than Black and White
We're used to young people banding together for victory in sports; but what about victory in Jesus? Do young people know repentance and faith the way Jesus meant? Do they know Heaven doesn't see sins based on race, but based on how Jesus' church lives, overcoming sins? Do they group together by His example, walking together without sinning or even wanting to sin?
This post may explore questions like these, one day.
This post may explore questions like these, one day.
But, Meanwhile, Here's the Beginning of the Rest of the Story ...
I think this image, in bronze, hung on a dining room wall for a long while. In hindsight, maybe that image (a relief image someone created to illustrate The Last Supper) was better than drawings from that time in life, because drawings, at that time, usually depicted the disciples as like European.
And there's nothing upsetting about that.
The paintings were an understandable product of the church that spread through Europe. But the relief illustration, in bronze, is maybe better than the paintings, because it's likely that not everyone at the table was Caucasian or even Arab. After all, Jesus didn't walk in earth to reach only one ethnicity; Israel was a somewhat mixed population even as far back as Solomon's time (2 Chronicles 8:7-8, 9:26); and — just think! — Jesus called 12 different men out of Israel's many.
So, while it may be tempting for someone of a mostly Arab lineage to think of all at that table as Arab (because of Arabic language similarities in the Hebrew texts), and while it may be tempting for someone of mostly African or African-American lineage to think of all at that table as people of deeply colored skin, the more likely truth is that the skin tones at the table were varied, with maybe at least one called directly out of a lineage from well within Africa.
The paintings were an understandable product of the church that spread through Europe. But the relief illustration, in bronze, is maybe better than the paintings, because it's likely that not everyone at the table was Caucasian or even Arab. After all, Jesus didn't walk in earth to reach only one ethnicity; Israel was a somewhat mixed population even as far back as Solomon's time (2 Chronicles 8:7-8, 9:26); and — just think! — Jesus called 12 different men out of Israel's many.
So, while it may be tempting for someone of a mostly Arab lineage to think of all at that table as Arab (because of Arabic language similarities in the Hebrew texts), and while it may be tempting for someone of mostly African or African-American lineage to think of all at that table as people of deeply colored skin, the more likely truth is that the skin tones at the table were varied, with maybe at least one called directly out of a lineage from well within Africa.
The disciples were people primarily of Hebrew descent: people whose ancestors had been a long time in slavery at the Horn of Africa, in a place where people of different ethnicities had a long history of being enslaved.
Even Jesus spent time in Egypt as a baby.
But the reason for this post is more than about art or illustrations. It's the beginnings of what I hope will be an article that explores Israel's history from the viewpoint of people of mostly African lineage who have wondered why God would make His first flock a people of slavery but also a people who have become fairly "white."
This article should work together with at least one other post on the Our Lighted Path blog.
It should dovetail with the posts "Bible Translation Is Devotion" and "Heaven Hears the Heart."
***
More to come!
Background Check:
It's widely agreed that Egypt was a fierce force for slavery.
For "lack of evidence," some archaeologists, today, doubt that slave labor was used to build Egypt's pyramid tombs (built more than 2,000 years before Jesus was born). But Egypt did capture multitudes of slaves over the centuries, and those slaves were not only from the land of Israel.
For "lack of evidence," some archaeologists, today, doubt that slave labor was used to build Egypt's pyramid tombs (built more than 2,000 years before Jesus was born). But Egypt did capture multitudes of slaves over the centuries, and those slaves were not only from the land of Israel.
Most folk familiar with the Bible know how Israel fell into slavery in Egypt during Moses' time.
But many of us haven't known how Egypt also had a part in forces of bondage against Israel approximately 400 years after Israel had Solomon as king.
When we read 2 Chronicles in the Bible, we find that Egypt harassed Israel through warfare and other forceful means for a long while. And Egypt wasn't Israel's only foe.
Many Israelites were carried into Assyrian bondage at one point. And there were times of servitude to Egypt.
The Bible says that, although Egypt didn't occupy Israel, Israel did have to serve Egypt. (2 Chronicles 12:2-8) It's unclear for how long.
Then, Josiah, one of Israel's only "good" kings brought Israel back to faithfulness. But Josiah was killed in a battle that involved the Egyptians, Assyrians, and Babylonians.
Josiah may have been fighting on moral grounds, knowing that Assyria or Egypt were both terrible foes and that, if either kingdom would be victors in battle, Israel could fall to their immorality and bondage, as in years past.
If Josiah had that level of awareness in battle, his faith somehow failed. Because, after his fall in battle, Israel did begin a decline into deep moral and physical bondage.
The Bible record says that after "Josiah had [finally] prepared the temple, Necho king of Egypt came up to fight against Charchemish by Euphrates: and Josiah went out against him." (2 Chronicles 35:20)
"Then the people of the land took Jehoahaz the son of Josiah, and made him king in his father's stead in Jerusalem. Jehoahaz was twenty and three years old when he began to reign, and he reigned three months in Jerusalem. And the king of Egypt put him down at Jerusalem, and condemned the land in an hundred talents of silver and a talent of gold. And the king of Egypt made Eliakim his brother king over Judah and Jerusalem, and turned his name to Jehoiakim. And Necho took Jehoahaz his brother, and carried him to Egypt." (2 Chronicles 36:1-4)
Israel lived in a weakened state for actually hundreds of years. And, indirectly, Egypt's opposition to Israel cost Israel all independence.
It was the Babylonians who invaded Israel and ultimately destroyed the temple that Solomon had built at Jerusalem. (The temple that Jesus prophesied also would fall was Jerusalem's second temple, not the first temple which Solomon had built.) But it can be said that Israel's fall at the hands of Babylonians, who carried many Israelites east to Babylon, was owing to the fact that Egypt wore Israel down, robbing Israel of godly leadership.
Even after Persians went to occupy Israel, releasing some Israelites from Babylon, Persians reigned.
But God always uses an enemy's evil to affect good. (Contrary to how this may sound, conquest is not good; and rape does not seem to be a hallmark of the ancient Persians; instead, the Persian empire only seemed to be about governing whatever lands it could, giving Israel a reprieve from being persecuted by Egypt).
But many of us haven't known how Egypt also had a part in forces of bondage against Israel approximately 400 years after Israel had Solomon as king.
When we read 2 Chronicles in the Bible, we find that Egypt harassed Israel through warfare and other forceful means for a long while. And Egypt wasn't Israel's only foe.
Many Israelites were carried into Assyrian bondage at one point. And there were times of servitude to Egypt.
The Bible says that, although Egypt didn't occupy Israel, Israel did have to serve Egypt. (2 Chronicles 12:2-8) It's unclear for how long.
Then, Josiah, one of Israel's only "good" kings brought Israel back to faithfulness. But Josiah was killed in a battle that involved the Egyptians, Assyrians, and Babylonians.
Josiah may have been fighting on moral grounds, knowing that Assyria or Egypt were both terrible foes and that, if either kingdom would be victors in battle, Israel could fall to their immorality and bondage, as in years past.
If Josiah had that level of awareness in battle, his faith somehow failed. Because, after his fall in battle, Israel did begin a decline into deep moral and physical bondage.
The Bible record says that after "Josiah had [finally] prepared the temple, Necho king of Egypt came up to fight against Charchemish by Euphrates: and Josiah went out against him." (2 Chronicles 35:20)
"Then the people of the land took Jehoahaz the son of Josiah, and made him king in his father's stead in Jerusalem. Jehoahaz was twenty and three years old when he began to reign, and he reigned three months in Jerusalem. And the king of Egypt put him down at Jerusalem, and condemned the land in an hundred talents of silver and a talent of gold. And the king of Egypt made Eliakim his brother king over Judah and Jerusalem, and turned his name to Jehoiakim. And Necho took Jehoahaz his brother, and carried him to Egypt." (2 Chronicles 36:1-4)
Israel lived in a weakened state for actually hundreds of years. And, indirectly, Egypt's opposition to Israel cost Israel all independence.
It was the Babylonians who invaded Israel and ultimately destroyed the temple that Solomon had built at Jerusalem. (The temple that Jesus prophesied also would fall was Jerusalem's second temple, not the first temple which Solomon had built.) But it can be said that Israel's fall at the hands of Babylonians, who carried many Israelites east to Babylon, was owing to the fact that Egypt wore Israel down, robbing Israel of godly leadership.
Even after Persians went to occupy Israel, releasing some Israelites from Babylon, Persians reigned.
But God always uses an enemy's evil to affect good. (Contrary to how this may sound, conquest is not good; and rape does not seem to be a hallmark of the ancient Persians; instead, the Persian empire only seemed to be about governing whatever lands it could, giving Israel a reprieve from being persecuted by Egypt).
By the time Heaven made the way back home for some of Israel, allowing enough time for Israel to get reestablished before Jesus was born, Israel probably had become even more ethnically mixed than at first ...
only to be scattered again after Jesus went back to Heaven.
But why did Israel suffer so much oppression?
only to be scattered again after Jesus went back to Heaven.
But why did Israel suffer so much oppression?
There aren't easy answers to Israel's long road to redemption. But the Bible speaks a lot about refining God's people, and the Bible identifies Israel as a first flock under Heaven's close guidance.
After so much error among mankind (especially the error of conquest and slavery) it seems Heaven reached right into the center of creation, into the ancient Middle East, and guided a man named Abram away from the coast of a land that would eventually become Babylon (near the Horn of Africa), leading him to the relatively safe coast that became Israel's own.
That was the beginning of a very long story.
Think about how creation itself began — how long, long before Israel, the world's continents were grouped all together as a land mass that we call Pangea; and how Heaven later seemed to answer a need to reach right into the center of global conflict: conflict that didn't end through creation's drift to all parts of the globe; conflict still in need of healing today; and conflict that's maybe more related to all of us than anyone make think.
By faith, we can kind of take it as truth that the people of Israel initially wound up in Egyptian bondage, indirectly, through wrong-heartedness on part of Joseph's brothers. (Joseph was Abraham's great-grandson.)
But God used that evil-heartedness among the flock of Israel in order to demonstrate, to Egypt, how Heaven forgives and redeems.
Joseph's brothers thought they were selling Joseph into slavery, but Joseph wound up becoming an adviser in Egypt, and he eventually was able to reunite with his brothers in a pre-Christian way: forgiving them and helping them and all of Israel to survive a major famine.
Unfortunately, after a while, leadership in Egypt took a turn for evil again, with Egypt turning back to its slaving ways. And the people of Israel found themselves ensnared in that turn of history. ...
But, surely, by faith, we can believe Heaven used Israel's presence to begin easing the yoke of slavery in Egypt, for all people. Surely, Egypt's slaves from south-central parts of the African continent found relief and even release because of Israel's presence and eventual exodus.
And, maybe, some of those from deep within Africa had become part of Israel by the time of Exodus.
Just think about it.
It only takes one generation for us, as a family's offspring, to have a little bit different appearance than our foreparents. Right?
After almost 430 years, Heaven made the way for Israel to return to the home that Heaven had given Abram. But, almost immediately after escaping those years in the land of Egypt, the "children" of Israel complained that they would rather be in Egypt. And they began to act out, making an idol to worship, and doing even worse than that.
So long years of correction (refinement) began, on the journey home.
After many years in the wilderness, Israel did become more faithful again, possibly through young people finally beginning to listen to elders, some of whom were prophets; and Heaven began to give that flock, led by young people like Joshua, real and lasting victories in battles that had to be won against the many peoples who had begun living in Israel's homeland during their time in Egypt.
But why couldn't Israel just move in and live among the people who were in their homeland then?
... Israel had to begin fighting, the closer to home they got, because the people in their homeland were intent on killing them. Are you kidding? Occupants of the land weren't interested in cohabitating with them! Furthermore, Heaven knew Israel's weaknesses; so prophets among the people warned that Israel had to remain faithful and not do the things that the land's new inhabitants were doing.
And, for a long while after Israel finally made it home, there was real faithfulness. But, then, Israel did something that was displeasing to Heaven. The people begged to have a king like other people had. But, in a spiritual sense, that was like saying the God is Heaven isn't our king!
So, they learned the hard way that having a man for a king, instead of just trusting in men of God and in Heaven itself, is a flawed way to live.
Israel's first king, Saul, wasn't altogether good. And that opened the people of Israel to all kinds of unfaithfulness.
And, by the time of Solomon, the people had begun to suffer morally. That's pretty evident in Solomon's hearing of a complaint that one woman had taken another woman's baby!
But Solomon was the beginning of a renewed faith, despite his not being wholly aware of Heaven's ultimate way of being faithful.
And, whenever kings like Solomon died, Israel would go through moral declines, bondage, and suffering.
The Bible's book of 2 Chronicles is kind of a cheat-sheet or a Cliff's Notes about which kings were immoral, what they did wrong (mostly adopting cult beliefs of people from other lands), and how the people responded.
For a long while, many of the people of Israel were worshiping a god of fertility and having sexual relations as cult rituals. And it wasn't only the people's fault. Leaders also became unfaithful (Jeremiah 2:7-8). Even child sacrifice became acceptable.
And thank God for mercy, because there was no grace.
At one point, Israel's leadership was so wicked that family was killing family in leadership, and a priest hid one child when the child was a baby. The priest did that, believing that this child, a descendant of Abram, would help fulfill Heaven's promise to Abram, that the people would be redeemed through Abram's actual seed.
Of course, things were so bad at that time, that no Savior was born of the priest's effort to raise that child up in a moral way. That child did become king through the priest's effort, but that child went right on the way that Israel had been going, believing on cult-like gods instead of the God of Heaven.
But the Bible implies that the priest kind of had a kernel of wisdom in his doing. The Bible tells us Heaven allowed things to continue on an evil path for a while, because Heaven really had promised a Savior would be born of Abram's actual seed.
Each flawed king was chosen from Abram's direct descendants for that reason; and each king, no matter how flawed, did have children, so that the people really could see redemption one day through actual seed, the priests thought.
The faithful priests, at that time, didn't realize Heaven didn't need actual kings in order to preserve Abram's seed! God would give Himself, in the person of Jesus, to a simple carpenter as both Son of Man and Son of God!
... But what happened when Israel scattered again, in the many centuries after Jesus went back to Heaven?
After so much error among mankind (especially the error of conquest and slavery) it seems Heaven reached right into the center of creation, into the ancient Middle East, and guided a man named Abram away from the coast of a land that would eventually become Babylon (near the Horn of Africa), leading him to the relatively safe coast that became Israel's own.
That was the beginning of a very long story.
Think about how creation itself began — how long, long before Israel, the world's continents were grouped all together as a land mass that we call Pangea; and how Heaven later seemed to answer a need to reach right into the center of global conflict: conflict that didn't end through creation's drift to all parts of the globe; conflict still in need of healing today; and conflict that's maybe more related to all of us than anyone make think.
By faith, we can kind of take it as truth that the people of Israel initially wound up in Egyptian bondage, indirectly, through wrong-heartedness on part of Joseph's brothers. (Joseph was Abraham's great-grandson.)
But God used that evil-heartedness among the flock of Israel in order to demonstrate, to Egypt, how Heaven forgives and redeems.
Joseph's brothers thought they were selling Joseph into slavery, but Joseph wound up becoming an adviser in Egypt, and he eventually was able to reunite with his brothers in a pre-Christian way: forgiving them and helping them and all of Israel to survive a major famine.
Unfortunately, after a while, leadership in Egypt took a turn for evil again, with Egypt turning back to its slaving ways. And the people of Israel found themselves ensnared in that turn of history. ...
But, surely, by faith, we can believe Heaven used Israel's presence to begin easing the yoke of slavery in Egypt, for all people. Surely, Egypt's slaves from south-central parts of the African continent found relief and even release because of Israel's presence and eventual exodus.
And, maybe, some of those from deep within Africa had become part of Israel by the time of Exodus.
Just think about it.
It only takes one generation for us, as a family's offspring, to have a little bit different appearance than our foreparents. Right?
After almost 430 years, Heaven made the way for Israel to return to the home that Heaven had given Abram. But, almost immediately after escaping those years in the land of Egypt, the "children" of Israel complained that they would rather be in Egypt. And they began to act out, making an idol to worship, and doing even worse than that.
So long years of correction (refinement) began, on the journey home.
After many years in the wilderness, Israel did become more faithful again, possibly through young people finally beginning to listen to elders, some of whom were prophets; and Heaven began to give that flock, led by young people like Joshua, real and lasting victories in battles that had to be won against the many peoples who had begun living in Israel's homeland during their time in Egypt.
But why couldn't Israel just move in and live among the people who were in their homeland then?
... Israel had to begin fighting, the closer to home they got, because the people in their homeland were intent on killing them. Are you kidding? Occupants of the land weren't interested in cohabitating with them! Furthermore, Heaven knew Israel's weaknesses; so prophets among the people warned that Israel had to remain faithful and not do the things that the land's new inhabitants were doing.
And, for a long while after Israel finally made it home, there was real faithfulness. But, then, Israel did something that was displeasing to Heaven. The people begged to have a king like other people had. But, in a spiritual sense, that was like saying the God is Heaven isn't our king!
So, they learned the hard way that having a man for a king, instead of just trusting in men of God and in Heaven itself, is a flawed way to live.
Israel's first king, Saul, wasn't altogether good. And that opened the people of Israel to all kinds of unfaithfulness.
And, by the time of Solomon, the people had begun to suffer morally. That's pretty evident in Solomon's hearing of a complaint that one woman had taken another woman's baby!
But Solomon was the beginning of a renewed faith, despite his not being wholly aware of Heaven's ultimate way of being faithful.
And, whenever kings like Solomon died, Israel would go through moral declines, bondage, and suffering.
The Bible's book of 2 Chronicles is kind of a cheat-sheet or a Cliff's Notes about which kings were immoral, what they did wrong (mostly adopting cult beliefs of people from other lands), and how the people responded.
For a long while, many of the people of Israel were worshiping a god of fertility and having sexual relations as cult rituals. And it wasn't only the people's fault. Leaders also became unfaithful (Jeremiah 2:7-8). Even child sacrifice became acceptable.
And thank God for mercy, because there was no grace.
At one point, Israel's leadership was so wicked that family was killing family in leadership, and a priest hid one child when the child was a baby. The priest did that, believing that this child, a descendant of Abram, would help fulfill Heaven's promise to Abram, that the people would be redeemed through Abram's actual seed.
Of course, things were so bad at that time, that no Savior was born of the priest's effort to raise that child up in a moral way. That child did become king through the priest's effort, but that child went right on the way that Israel had been going, believing on cult-like gods instead of the God of Heaven.
But the Bible implies that the priest kind of had a kernel of wisdom in his doing. The Bible tells us Heaven allowed things to continue on an evil path for a while, because Heaven really had promised a Savior would be born of Abram's actual seed.
Each flawed king was chosen from Abram's direct descendants for that reason; and each king, no matter how flawed, did have children, so that the people really could see redemption one day through actual seed, the priests thought.
The faithful priests, at that time, didn't realize Heaven didn't need actual kings in order to preserve Abram's seed! God would give Himself, in the person of Jesus, to a simple carpenter as both Son of Man and Son of God!
... But what happened when Israel scattered again, in the many centuries after Jesus went back to Heaven?
***
More to come!
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