Since the day God anointed Joseph to become a leader in Egypt, his path to victory did not come easy. He was wrongfully jailed, beaten, and sold by his own brothers, but what God had intended for him finally happen and he became a respected leader and blessing to his family. David’s story was the same; he was tested through the fire and desert before becoming king. Paul was prisoner for standing for truth, justice and the Gospel. It might be difficult to think that such similar stories are happening today, but they are, in Ethiopia. The East African nation of Ethiopia has seen its share of war and poverty and it is considered one of the poorest countries in the world with per capital income of less than 100. Half of the population make less than a dollar a day and eat once a day. Though Ethiopia is mentioned in the Bible over thirty time and God has promised so many blessing, it difficult to see any bright future in the near future.
In May of 2005, the 72 million Ethiopians had a day of hope which was shattered within few days. In the country’s three thousand years history, the Ethiopian people had a chance of voting on its first multiparty election. Few months earlier, some dramatic changes were happening in the camps of one of the political party the CUD (Coalition for Unity and Democracy). In what was unprecedented seen in the country so many Christians joined the party which came to the campaign with a platform of economic development, peace and freedom. Some of the young Christians quickly rise up in the party and the young Birtkun Meldeksa became vice chairman, Muluneh Eyol became sectary and Yeneneh Mulatu legal advisor. All are under the age of 35. What happens after the May 15 election was heart breaking but what is about to happen through the power of God is beyond human’s imagination.
The ruling party of EPRDF which also controlled the election process quickly realized that they had lost the election and thus stopped counting and claimed victory. Protest followed with the government taking out its guns and killing over eighty protestors. One hundred eleven (111) leaders of the opposition including the Christian leaders, journalists and civil advocates were taken to jail and changed with bogus and make up charge of treason and attempted genocide. Just like Joseph they were wrongfully jailed. Joseph’s days in jail didn’t disappear in vain, so will the days of CUD leaders.
During Easter Sunday of 2006, the prisoners asked two prisoners, Yeneneh Mulatu and another prison to teach them a short lesson from the Bible. What happens after that had been a miracle. The next Sunday came another request for Yeneneh to teach again and every Sunday since then. It has been an opportunity for the Yeneneh to witness and spread the Gospel to other prisoners that do not know Christ and particularly the other CUD leaders. It has been an opportunity to be molded and tested and go through the fire and most importantly see the hands of God.
When God is in charge we have seen miracles, the Red Sea open, blind eyes healed and even dead men come alive. When God is in charge of protecting innocent people, we have seen people saved from the mouth of lions, walk through fires and prison gates open. God will never let down his children and we are seeing modern day Joseph in jail being molded to be the next leader of Ethiopia
Copyright Daniel Fikreyesus
