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From Psalm 68:31 we learn that Ethiopia shall quickly stretch out her hands unto God. Perhaps something commendable. See also Isaiah 45:14. |
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Ethiopia is linked with Egypt in Isaiah 20 as not to be leaned upon. With Egypt they would be shamed. See also Nahum 3:8-10. |
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Egypt, Ethiopia and Seba are said to have been given as Israel's ransom to show how valuable Israel was to God. They were of great value, hence Israel must have been of great value to God for him to have given them up (Isaiah 43:3/4). |
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As all nations the Ethiopians were sinners and therefore come under judgement, being involved with others in wrongdoing (Ezekiel 30:4-9; Jeremiah 46:7-12; Daniel 11:43; Zephaniah 2:12). |
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The Ethiopians were involved in Shishak's war against Rehoboam when God was displeased with him (2 Chron. 12:1-4). However, when Zerah the Ethiopian came up against Asa God was with Asa and the Ethiopians were smitten (2 Chronicles 14:9-15). See also 2 Chronicles 16:7-10. |
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In Amos 9:7 the children of Israel are said to be like children of Ethiopians, perhaps suggesting that as the Ethiopians lived in a land far away, the Israelites had become far away from God in a moral sense: God's relations with them had become distant. |
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The Old Testament position in broad terms varied according to the attitude of each nation towards God's people at any given time. Thus, Abraham had Aner, Eschol and Mamre as allies (Genesis 14:13). They were Amorites and afterwards were enemies of the people of God (Deuteronomy 2). However, where marriage was concerned the Israelites were generally not permitted to enter into marriages with foreigners (Deuteronomy 7:3/4). So far as foreigners such as Ruth the Moabitess were concerned the position was different inasmuch as they became effectively Israelites: "Thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God" (Ruth 1:16). They were, in New Testament language, proselytes. If they had not been able to marry into Israel they would not have been able to marry at all ! Apart from this restriction there is that at the end of Numbers, which laid down that persons should not marry outside their tribe (Numbers:36:5-12). The reason for these rules was that the Israelites were to be a people apart (Leviticus 20:24) and also that the inheritance of a tribe was not to pass to another tribe (Numbers 36:7). |
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When we come to the days of Ezra and Nehemiah we find that the Israelites separated themselves from the mixed multitude (Nehemiah 9:2; 13:3) and in some cases actually put away their wives (Ezra 9 & 10). This was to ensure a pure line in the flesh. As a result of this there is still today a distinct Jewish race and nation. In the New Testament where we are concerned with a spiritual house genealogy according to flesh has no relevance (1 Peter 2:4/5). Hence we find that Paul makes it clear that the children of a Christian married to a heathen were not to be regarded as unclean (1 Corinthians 7:12-17). Christianity does not set aside legitimate relationships simply because one party is not a Christian. God has called us in peace (1 Corinthians 7:15). Christians are not to use carnal weapons to establish Christianity (2 Corinthians 10:3-6); we are not as the Israelites to go to war to establish an inheritance (Deuteronomy 4:37/38). |
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Conclusion |
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Race (which would include skin colour) has no significance in Christianity. We are all one in Christ Jesus (Galatians 3:26-29; Colossians 3:9-11). Even in Old Testament times, when racial purity was considered important skin colour had nothing to do with it. Probably, as often today, the black races would prefer to have been white skinned, hence we have it said in Jeremiah 13:23 " Can an Ethiopian change his skin ". It is not in his power to do so and it is certainly wrong and unchristian to despise him for it. The biblical writers do not as we have seen. Some things we can change, but others we have to accept, and skin colour is one of them. Some races are brown skinned and by getting tanned in the sun some westerners try to get a similar skin colour. However, too much exposure of a light skin to the sun has been found to be dangerous. Generally we should accept the skin colour that we have been born with. It is right to help nature by using protective creams etc. where necessary, but we should not abuse nature by seeking to make unnatural changes to ourselves. If we do, there could well be unexpected results, as when offal was fed to cattle which are herbivores it led to the BSE crisis. |
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May 1998 |
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