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Jesus said that his good news should spread to all parts of the world. This definitely includes Africa. However, it must not be mistaken that Africa is just a recipient of the news. There is a dominant and pivotal African presence in the bible, both the new and old testament. Here are some of the incidences worth noting.
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.
There are stories of African women who were married to biblical patriarchs. Others bore children with these men. They include Abraham who had children with Hagar, a woman of Hermitic origin. If these men held such important positions in the narrative of Israelis, this indicates the central place that Africa was given in Christian living. In fact, it is Sarah who recommended to Abraham. It gives the children of Hagar a very special place.
Psalms also mentions two African nations of Egypt and Ethiopia. Egypt is said to be the bearer of a prince while Ethiopia will turn to the Lord. The book of Psalms was written way before Jesus was born. This is a prediction of Jesus running to Egypt to escape the wrath of Herod. As for Ethiopia, it is the recognition that the wise men gave to Jesus that signifies the turning to God. One of these men is said to have come 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 New Testament introduces Africa through the flight of Mary and Joseph when Herod wanted to kill them. It is the angel of God who instructed them to run. The death of Jesus would have spelt doom to salvation. It is Africa that gave refuge to the Son of God.
Simon of Cyrene is the stranger forced to assist Jesus with the cross on the way to Calvary. Interestingly, Cyrene was a Roman colony in Africa. It was an important source of corn, oil and wool. Further, her people were marathoners or long distant traders. This means that Simon was most likely an African on his errands when he was forced to act merciful, another insurmountable contribution of Africans to the story of salvation.
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.
There are stories of African women who were married to biblical patriarchs. Others bore children with these men. They include Abraham who had children with Hagar, a woman of Hermitic origin. If these men held such important positions in the narrative of Israelis, this indicates the central place that Africa was given in Christian living. In fact, it is Sarah who recommended to Abraham. It gives the children of Hagar a very special place.
Psalms also mentions two African nations of Egypt and Ethiopia. Egypt is said to be the bearer of a prince while Ethiopia will turn to the Lord. The book of Psalms was written way before Jesus was born. This is a prediction of Jesus running to Egypt to escape the wrath of Herod. As for Ethiopia, it is the recognition that the wise men gave to Jesus that signifies the turning to God. One of these men is said to have come 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 New Testament introduces Africa through the flight of Mary and Joseph when Herod wanted to kill them. It is the angel of God who instructed them to run. The death of Jesus would have spelt doom to salvation. It is Africa that gave refuge to the Son of God.
Simon of Cyrene is the stranger forced to assist Jesus with the cross on the way to Calvary. Interestingly, Cyrene was a Roman colony in Africa. It was an important source of corn, oil and wool. Further, her people were marathoners or long distant traders. This means that Simon was most likely an African on his errands when he was forced to act merciful, another insurmountable contribution of Africans to the story of salvation.
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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