Ethiopia and the Bible, Part 2

Ethiopia in the Bible, Part 2

This is the 2nd half of a study I did years ago. The last blog reviewed some Ethiopian believers in the past that the Bible records. This 2nd part talks about what the Bible records about Ethiopian believers after Bible times and in the future. As I travel to this land and with its people, I thought I’d share more about the grace God’s Word provides and prophecies for them and other Africans. 

In Genesis 12:3 God promises Abraham that all nations will blessed in him (gospel and salvation blessings in Christ, according to Galatians 3:8). In the context of Genesis 12, the “nations” specifically included Ethiopia (or Cush, depending on your translation) which is listed first among other nations in Africa in Genesis 10:5-6, and 13. In Psalm 68 there is a prophecy that along with gifts from foreign kings (v. 29) and envoys from Egypt, the nation of Ethiopia or Cush will soon or quickly stretch out her hands to God (v. 31, image of submission and worship). One translation says Ethiopia will “voluntarily offer tribute to God.” Psalm 87:4 further includes Ethiopia among nations who know God (or will come to know God, if taken prophetically). The text seems to describe believers from Ethiopia and other nations being viewed by God as if they were natural-born Israelites.

Amos 9:7 is even more striking:‘“Are you not as the sons of Ethiopia to Me, O sons of Israel?” Declares the LORD.’ (NKJV)

In this prophecy the God of Israel seems to be saying that He cares for and has a future plan for the Ethiopians just as He cares for Israel and has a future plan for Israel and the nations (v. 9). Nations besides Israel will be called by Yahweh’s name (v. 12, an expression for special blessings and relationship, especially in regards to salvation). It’s interesting that Amos 9 is quoted in the Jerusalem Council in Acts 15 as demonstrating that God bringing Gentiles into the church equally with Jews fits with OT prophecy.

In Genesis 12:3 God promises Abram that all nations will blessed in him (gospel and salvation blessings in Christ, according to Galatians 3:8). In the context of Genesis 12, the “nations” specifically included Cush, which is listed first among other nations in Africa in Genesis 10:5-6, and 13. In Psalm 68 there is a prophecy that along with gifts from foreign kings (v. 29) and envoys from Egypt, the nation of Ethiopia or Cush will soon or quickly stretch out her hands to God (v. 31, image of submission and worship). One translation says Ethiopia will “voluntarily offer tribute to God.” Psalm 87:4 further includes Ethiopia among nations who know God (or will come to know God, if taken prophetically). The text seems to describe believers from Ethiopia and other nations being viewed by God as if they were natural-born Israelites.

Amos 9:7 is even more striking:‘“Are you not as the sons of Ethiopia to Me, O sons of Israel?” Declares the LORD.’ (NKJV)

In this prophecy the God of Israel seems to be saying that He cares for and has a future plan for the Ethiopians just as He cares for Israel and has a future plan for Israel and the nations (v. 9). Nations besides Israel will be called by Yahweh’s name (v. 12, an expression for special blessings and relationship, especially in regards to salvation). It’s interesting that Amos 9 is quoted in the Jerusalem Council in Acts 15 as demonstrating that God bringing Gentiles into the church equally with Jews fits with OT prophecy.

Ezekiel 38 lists Ethiopia (v. 5) in the context of nations who will come to know that the Lord is Yahweh (LORD, v. 23). Isaiah 18 is addressed to the land deeper in Africa beyond the rivers of Ethiopia or Cush (v. 1), a people tall and known for their smooth skin (something that stood out to me), a powerful nation feared by others (v. 2). Isaiah speaks of a time after God’s judgment in Isa. 18:7: “At that time a gift of homage will be brought to the LORD of hosts From a people tall and smooth, Even from a people feared far and wide, A powerful and oppressive nation [one translation says “of strange speech”] Whose land the rivers divide— To the place of the name of the LORD of hosts, even Mount Zion."

Some might argue that began to take place in Bible times, with Ethiopians coming to Zion/Jerusalem to worship like the Ethiopian in Acts 8, but some of the passages seem to go further with a fuller fulfillment still to come. Could it be the explosive recent growth of Christianity in Africa (arguably more than on any continent in any century of history in the rate it is growing there since 1900) is fulfilling prophecy? Is Ethiopia not part of the fullness of Gentiles/nations God saves before He’s done with Israel and the world (Rom 11:26-27)? Zephaniah 3:8 says when God gathers nations in the end times, it’s not just for judgment on nations, Zephaniah 3:9 says “For then I will restore to the peoples a pure language, That they all may call on the name of the LORD, To serve Him with one accord [NIV “shoulder-to-shoulder”]. 10 From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia My worshipers …”

From the heart of Africa, south of Ethiopia (including Congo) worshippers will call on the name of the true Lord, and we get to meet some of them! May the Lord haste that day when worshippers from Ethiopia, Sudan, Congo, and beyond and every nation are worshipping the Lord shoulder-to-shoulder with us and all God’s multi-ethnic family singing, “salvation belongs to our God and to the Lamb” (Revelation 7:9-10)! I look forward to worshipping with some of my African brothers and sisters in Christ very soon! I hope this encourages and excites some of you as it has blessed my heart.