Africa, home of blacks

Africa is a continent stretching for some 12 million square miles, comprising 22 % of the world’s landmass and 16% of the world’s population. “It is a land of Amazing contrast, arid desert, dense tropical forest, swamps and floating islands. It has vast stretches of savanna land, meadow lands, mountains ranges, great rivers, lakes as large as seas, elephant grass, and even snow near the Equator, on the peak of Mount Kilimanjaro.”1 It was called by the Greeks “Ethiopia,” which means ‘Home of the Blacks,’ and by the Arabs, “Billad of Sudan.”

On the continent of Africa the oldest remains of civilization were found along with the evidence that these people knew not the meaning of failure. It is clear that whenever adversities came and powerful armies were introduced, unlike any other nation on earth the Africans showed a remarkable ability to pick up the pieces of their lives, and start another great kingdom in some other location.

When Egypt fell, Nubia and Meroe became the center of black power. Next, there was Ethiopia or Axum center of Christianity. This nation was called the “Land of the Gods”— here Christian churches flourished in magnificence and beauty. In the Empire of Ghana that followed Axum, the Africans were traders with the world. Songhi, the empire that followed Ghana, specialized in scholarship. It is reported that the citizens of Songhi made more money selling books than gold. It was in Songhi that the famous University of Timbuktu was organized with the greatest library in the world where men came from Greece, Europe, Arabia, Spain and Palestine to study at the feet of the Great African Scholars. If there was any continent that deserved Biblical attention, it was this great continent of Africa.Let us, therefore, examine some of the things the Bible has to say about this continent and its people.

  1. What two African countries are mentioned most often in the Bible? Genesis 2:13, & Psalm 105:23 [OT 2, 471]

    2. * Ethiopia is known in the Bible as Cush —Egypt is known as Mizraim.

  2. Who inhabited the countries of Egypt and Ethiopia? Genesis 10:6 [OT 7]
    3. * Two sons of Ham called Mizraim and Cush inhabited the continent of Africa. Mizraim is translated Egypt, and Cush Ethiopia.

  3. What does the Bible have to say about the Ethiopians? Jeremiah 46:9 [OT 596]

  4. Who came to the rescue of Hezekiah King of Israel, when the Assyrians besieged Jerusalem? Isaiah 37:9. [OT 538]

  5. Which prophet of Israel was born to an Ethiopian? Zephaniah 1:1 [OT 692]
    6. * The word Cushi is another name for an Ethiopian or people who were black. Cush was one of the sons of Ham.

  6. Name two popular Africans who were leaders in Israel? Exodus 2:10, Numbers 27:18 [OT 45, OT 136]
    7. * The Nile is a river of the continent of Africa, and both Moses and Joshua were born to Israelite parents while Israel was enslaved in Egypt. Joshua was born of the tribe of Ephraim which was of African descent, and Moses looked like an Egyptian, (Exodus 2:15-19), which means both were black men.

  7. Who did Moses marry? Numbers 12:1 [OT 121]
    8. * Since the Bible also calls her a Midianites, it appears the black Midianites, who lived in Horeb, were also considered Ethiopians.

  8. Who did Joseph marry? Genesis 41:45 [OT 35]
    9. * Asenath was an indigenous African Egyptian, who would later be the mother of two of the tribes of Israel.

  9. What two tribes of Israel were of African descent? Genesis. 41:50-52 [OT 36]

  10. In what African country, did Jesus spend the early years of His life? Matthew 2:13 & 14 [NT 2]

  11. A queen of what country later sent her Eunuch to find out about Jesus? Acts 8:27 [NT 107]

  12. What would eventually happen to the Africans? Psalm 68:31 [OT 456]

  13. What is God's plan for the Africans along with others who remain faithful to Him? Isaiah 11:11 [OT 522]

    14. * The word Cush is translated Ethiopia.

  14. Is there any difference between the Jews and the Africans as far as God is concerned? Amos 9:7 [OT 680]

  15. What Does the Psalmist say about the Black nations of Babylon, Ethiopia, Egypt, Philistine, and Tyre? Psalm 87:4-6 [OT 464]
    16. * The sons of Ham Nimrod, Cush and Mizraim started the Nations of Babylon, Ethiopia, and Egypt while Ham’s grandson began Philistia. The Bible says they will be numbered among the people of God in Zion.

Is it your Desire to be in the New Jerusalem with all the other sons and daughters of Ham?

ANSWER SHEETQUIZ 1.

  1. A. Ethiopia B. Egypt.
  2. The Sons of Ham.
  3. They were mighty men who captured Israel.
  4. Tarhaka, King of Ethiopia.
  5. Zephaniah.
  6. A. Moses B. Joshua
  7. Zipporah the Ethiopian.
  8. Asenath.
  9. Ephraim and Manasseh.
  10. Egypt.
  11. Ethiopia.
  12. They would turn to God.
  13. To recover them from the Islands of the Sea.
  14. Before God, they are the same.
  15. They will be in Zion as God’s people.
© Copyright 1992 by Stephen L. Williams 1Margaret, Shinnie, Ancient African Kingdoms, Pg. 13