The Black Presence in the Bible - Part V

As I submit this final article on the black presence in the Bible and how Western theologians have muffled their presence, there may be some who are asking if the issue of color in the Bible merits such attention. My response to such queries is if it is in the Bible, it is vital to someone’s salvation. Most Americans take for granted that the Gospel – Christ’s virgin birth, death and resurrection – is enough to draw most people to the cross. Although the Gospel is the ultimate message that all must accept to receive redemption, the majority of the world’s population will not embrace it unless God is drawing them by his Spirit. Jesus’ sacrifice does not translate into a one size fits salvation.

The message that drew me to the cross is not the message that will draw another to the cross, and it certainly is not the message that will draw a hardened Muslim, Hindu or atheist to the Cross. The Scripture tells us that All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17. That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works. (2 Timothy 3:16-17).

There are thousands upon thousands of scriptures in the Bible, and each one has the potential of pricking someone’s heart and sending them running to the foot of the cross saying, “What must I do to be saved?” However, if the man of God has been trained with Western theology, then according to 2 Timothy 3:17, there is a high degree of certainty that he may not be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

According to Acts 21, there was a band of men that wanted to kill Apostle Paul for teaching against the Law of Moses, and when the chief captain discovered the uproar, he apprehended him. During his initial interrogation of Paul, he mistook him for an African:

37. And as Paul was to be led into the castle, he said unto the chief captain, May I speak unto thee? Who said, Canst thou speak Greek? 38. Art not thou that Egyptian, which before these days madest an uproar, and leddest out into the wilderness four thousand men that were murderers? 39. But Paul said, I am a man which am a Jew of Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, a citizen of no mean city: and, I beseech thee, suffer me to speak unto the people (Acts 21:37-39).

Paul’s physical features resembled the African bandit, and although Paul admits to being Jewish, the chief captain initially believed that he was an Egyptian. Based on the images and biblical teachings that the Western theologians have churned regarding the ethnicity of the Apostles, many Western Christians take for granted that these men were European. Now this propaganda would probably be of no consequence to an American who is seeking salvation. However, if the man of God has access to this tool – that Paul had African features – while ministering in the Middle East, this minute piece of truth may plant a seed or water one that has already been sown into the heart of a lost soul.

Solomon told us that [e]very word of God is pure (Proverbs 30:5a). And despite the Western theologians’ effort to limit the role of the people of color in the Bible, it is not God’s word that has been injured, but the understanding has been tainted of those who have been taught this fabricated message.

The Western theologians’ tampering with the Word of God goes way beyond simply censoring the idea that people of color hold a prominent role in the Scriptures. In an unprecedented display of audacity, the Western world has hijacked the New Testament, by taking custody of this Hebrew book and making it their own. Why is it that most ministers will refer to the “original Greek” when doing a word analysis in the Scripture? This is extraordinary that the Western scholar has conditioned much of the world to believe that the original tongue of the New Testament was Greek; when in fact Jesus and his apostles spoke Aramaic. Therefore if we wanted to look up a New Testament word in its original form, we would need an Aramaic lexicon; however, most students of the Bible have a trusty Greek lexicon sitting on the book shelf.

Although I am not suggesting that the Western theologian has corrupted God’s Word, it is clear to those who know and understand the truth that he has interfered with our understanding of the Scripture. This has been no egotistical effort by him to make it appear that he is the custodian of the oracles of God – this is about controlling the destiny of human civilization.^* The irony of this clever deception is that the Saviour of the world was born out of a Jewish genealogy that intersected the lineage of the Hamitic tribe, permitting the dark skinned family to contribute to the genetic disposition of Jesus Christ.

The first genetic intersect point in the lineage of Christ occurred with Judah, Jacob’s son who was promised the royal throne - The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be (Genesis 49:10). Although Judah was married to a black woman, Shuah who was a Canaanite, it was his daughter-in-law, Tamar, another Canaanite, who Judah slept with that produced an heir to the royal lineage. This act of adultery on Judah’s part and prostitution on Tamar’s to extend the lineage of Jesus has been described in detail in the book of Genesis (see chapter 38 for the full account).

The next intersect point came in Jericho after the Jewish family was released from bondage in Egypt. When the nation of Israel sent spies into Jericho to search out the country, Rahab, who the Bible calls a harlot, protected them. According to the hall of faith in Hebrews, she was spared because of her faith when God brought destruction upon the city – By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace (Hebrews 11:31). Her act of faith also caused her entry into the lineage of Jesus after marrying Salmon and giving birth to King David’s great-grandfather Boaz (also known as Booz) - 5. And Salmon begat Booz of Rachab; and Booz begat Obed of Ruth; and Obed begat Jesse; 6. And Jesse begat David the king; and David the king begat Solomon of her that had been the wife of Urias (Matthew 1:5-6).

The third Hamitic woman to contribute her genes to the anthropology of Jesus was Ruth. The book of Ruth is a wonderful story of love and redemption. It describes the plight of a woman whose husband died and her mother-in-law urged her to return to her people. With one of the most poetic recitals in the Bible, she responds to Naomi as follows:

14. And they lifted up their voice, and wept again: and Orpah kissed her mother in law; but Ruth clave unto her. 15. And she said, Behold, thy sister in law is gone back unto her people, and unto her gods: return thou after thy sister in law. 16. And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God: 17. Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the Lord do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me (Ruth 1:14-17).

Ruth married Boaz, the son of Rahab, in a beautiful story that resembles redemption as Boaz redeems her for a life of plenty and a place in the genealogy of Jesus (see the book of Ruth for the story).

The final contribution of the Hamitic tribe came during the reign of King David. While walking upon the roof of his castle, he noticed Bathsheba washing herself, and called for her to sleep with him. After she got pregnant, the king had her husband killed so he could marry her, and she gave birth to Solomon, the wisest man to ever live – And Jesse begat David the king; and David the king begat Solomon of her that had been the wife of Urias (Matthew 1:6, also see I Samuel 11 for the entire account).

The lineage of Jesus is characterized with blood contributed from the Hamitic family. The dark skinned people of the earth have found, within the pages of God’s holy word, reason to celebrate its family heritage, because God in his divine wisdom included their genetic material in the royal lineage of Jesus Christ.

^* Although this is beyond the scope of this article, I may expound upon it in a subsequent teaching.