By Bobbie Jean Dicking . . . .
Numbers 10:29-32 (English Standard Version)
29 And Moses said to Hobab the son of Reuel the Midianite, Moses’ father-in-law, “We are setting out for the place of which the Lord said, ‘I will give it to you.’ Come with us, and we will do good to you, for the Lord has promised good to Israel.” 30 But he said to him, “I will not go. I will depart to my own land and to my kindred.” 31 And he said, “Please do not leave us, for you know where we should camp in the wilderness, and you will serve as eyes for us. 32 And if you do go with us, whatever good the Lord will do to us, the same will we do to you.”
Luke 23:26 (New American Standard Bible)
26 And when they led Him away, they seized a man, Simon of Cyrene, as he was coming in from the country, and placed on him the cross to carry behind Jesus.
See also Matthew 27:32 and Mark 15:21
Hello Precious people of God. February has been a very busy month for America. President’s Day, Valentine’s Day, Super Bowl, Mardi Gras, Ash Wednesday, as well as Black History just to name a few. It is mind boggling just reading the list on my smart phone. Many have ran to and fro trying to keep up.
Being a member of African origin, I have given more attention to The Black History celebrations. I was invited to participate in a presentation at the church I attend and also with the gospel group with which I sing.
As you may or may not know I am a retired educator as well as a person who has served in the church in various roles. And being twenty years shy of one-hundred years of age I have much information from which to choose.
I cited the verses at the beginning of this chat which demonstrated that Black History (USA style) did not just begin when Black Africans were brought as slaves to America. In most accounts in the Bible I have found that the blackness of the characters have been neglected. They have been overlooked, ignored, and secretly hidden in plain sight. Now that’s all I’m going to say about that.
The power of the picture of a black man (Hobab) leading Moses, the deliverer. as eyes that would assist the people of God through the wilderness and on into the promised land is rewarding to me. The power of the picture of a black man, Simon, assisting Christ with his burdensome cruel cross is almost too much for some of us to wrap out minds around. Without my mental permission, my heart swells at the grace of it all.
Jesus came to show us the way. Jesus had help bearing the cross. And both times it was a Black man who was taken to minister in such a manner for the purpose of ushering in the Kingdom of God. Anointed strength was required for these positions of sacrifice, and still are.
Jesus was despised and rejected, acquainted with grief..see Isaiah 53.
My precious people of God let us open our hearts and minds to our Lord and Savior. Let us allow Holy Spirit to show us the love in the heart of God. Let us pray for unity and love of the brethren as Jesus did in the 17th chapter of John so that the world will know that He came and shed His blood for us; that He is the way the truth and the life. O bless His name.