Slavery, Famine and Racial Healing
by Randy Robison
“Joseph said to them, ‘Don't be afraid… You intended to harm
me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now
being done, the saving of many lives.’” (Genesis 50:19-20)
This week, my parents tackle the tough issue of race relations on LIFE Today. Three pastors spearheading the “Race To Unity” movement to help bring healing to African-Americans talk about the hurts of the past, problems of the present, and hope for the future.
The experience of African-Americans is unique to our country. Unlike other immigrants that populated North America, Africans did not originally cross the Atlantic in pursuit of life, liberty and happiness. They were captured (often by other African tribes), packed like animals into ships, sailed across the ocean, and sold into slavery in the New World. They were mistreated and degraded for a century until President Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation, thereby ending the institution of slavery in the United States.
But even then, it was another century before the Civil Rights movement officially purged oppression from our social institutions. Forty years later, remnants of racism still appear.
For those my age, the lasting effects of this turbulent and troublesome history can be difficult to understand. My generation, for the most part, was raised to judge people by their character, not their color. Many of our parents, like my father, actively fought against racism during the 60’s. Those of us coming of age in the 80’s watched Bill Cosby on television, cheered Michael Jordan on the court, and listened to Michael Jackson on the radio. To us, a black schoolmate, teammate, teacher or neighbor was just another schoolmate, teammate, teacher or neighbor. Slavery, Jim Crow, and all of the other ugly aspects of racism are more a matter of history than present-day reality.
No wonder so many of us are clueless as to how we should feel when confronted with anger, hurt, or any other negative emotion that lingers among African-Americans. It is hard to feel responsible for something in which we never took part.
So when we began to discuss racial healing, I decided to turn to the book that holds all of the answers to life’s problems – the Bible. When I looked at one of the first stories of slavery, I found something quite spectacular.
Genesis 37-50 covers the life of a famous slave. At the age of 17, Joseph was sold into slavery by his brothers. He was taken from his home in Canaan down to the land of Egypt, where he was forced to serve a man named Potiphar, who was one of Pharaoh's officials. Despite the injustice of Joseph’s situation, he served his master faithfully. More importantly, he served God faithfully. Because of this, the Bible tells us, “the Lord blessed the household of the Egyptian because of Joseph” (Genesis 39:5).
That’s right – because of Joseph’s righteousness, the Egyptian slave owner was blessed! However, Joseph fell victim to Potipher’s wife’s deceit and was wrongfully imprisoned. Even in Pharoah’s dungeons, Joseph resisted bitterness and anger. Eventually, God supernaturally brought him out of bondage and placed him in an even higher position, though still under the service of an Egyptian master.
“You shall be in charge of my palace,” Pharoah told Joseph, “and all my people are to submit to your orders.”
In time, Joseph received more supernatural wisdom and prepared his adopted homeland for a difficult future. When famine struck the land, as well as Joseph’s true homeland of Canaan, Egypt survived while other nations withered and died. During this time, Joseph’s brothers came to Egypt and begged for help. Because of Joseph’s faithfulness, and despite the wrongs suffered throughout his lifetime, he was in a position to determine the fate of his people.
Once again, Joseph chose righteousness over revenge. Not only did he help his brothers – the very ones who had sold him into slavery – he used all of his power and position in Egypt in order to save his family. He even told his brothers, "Do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you…” (Genesis 45:5)
Joseph reconciled with his family, healing a hurt that had plagued him all of his life, and left a legacy that lasts to this day.
Thousands of years later, many African-Americans have risen to places of wealth and power in their adopted homeland. And, as in Joseph’s time, their distant brothers now face famine and other life-threatening circumstances.
The world is rallying around efforts to rid Africa of diseases such as malaria, cholera and AIDS. Governments seek to bring peace between warring factions. Relief organizations work to bring food and clean water to those on the brink of death. We have an historic opportunity to save lives on a massive scale.
I believe the stage is set for African-Americans to follow the example of Joseph and reach out in love to the people of Africa. Despite years of wrongful suffering, the average black American has a far better life than the average African. But the race-related issues we continually debate seem insignificant to the life-and-death issues that face millions of people overseas.
I can’t help but believe that the God of Israel will bring healing to the lives of those who will focus with a Joseph-like intensity on reaching out to those in need. Of course, every person, regardless of race, should reach out with the love of Jesus Christ to minister to suffering people everywhere, but I believe that a special blessing awaits every African-American who will turn their heart to the land from which they came and use whatever power and position they possess to help save the lives of the precious people of Africa.
This Week
Read Joseph's entire story, starting in Genesis 37. Ask the Lord how you can help those in need.
Prayer
"Lord, heal the hurts of the past and reconcile the racial divisions so that Christians of every color can save the lives of those facing poverty, disease and death."
