Times And Seasons – The Precipitation Of An African Exodus
Africa has experienced a long period of exploitation and stigmatization dating back to the first millennium but two recent events have cast a sharp spotlight on the continued oppression of Africans both in the continent and in the diaspora.
The outbreak of COVID-19 has exposed widespread racism against Africans from China, the Arab world, Europe, and America. China, where the first outbreak occurred, mistreated several Africans prompting a rare protest by African Ambassadors. Thousands of Ethiopians were deported by Saudi Arabia a
nd United Arab Emirates. More than 2,870 Ethiopian migrants were deported in the month of April and Ethiopia expected to receive another 3,000 citizens.
The second spotlight event is the “Black Lives Matter” demonstrations sparked by the killing of George Floyd by the police in Minneapolis on May 25, 2020. Arrested from a convenience store on the allegation that he used a counterfeit $20 bill to buy cigarettes, seventeen minutes after the first squad car arrived at the scene, Mr. Floyd was unconscious and pinned beneath three police officers, even after showing no signs of life. His death sparked off demonstrations that spread over 2,000 cities and towns across the United States and 60 other countries in the world.
However, this stance that Africans and people of African origin are a pestilence, contradicts the Bible that records several positive contributions of Africa in world history. When Abraham faced famine, he took refuge in Africa (Genesis 12:10); when another famine came during the time of Jacob, God used Joseph to preserve the children of Israel and Egypt (Psalms 105:17-24. Then Israel entered Egypt; Jacob resided as a foreigner in the land of Ham.
When Herod ordered the killing of infant boys, God told Joseph to take Mary and the Christ child to Egypt (Matthew 2:13).Moses’s father in law; Jethro, an African priest, advised on the institution of the judicial, administrative and sacrificial patterns of Israel (Exodus 18:1-27).
The time for Africa to return to her divine purpose has come. Since March 2020, the change in Africa has been unprecedented. For example, when people started dying in large numbers in Italy, the migrant boats from Libya to Italy instantly stopped sailing the Mediterranean Sea; no African leader has flown to Europe, America or Asia for medical treatment or holiday; the labour export business (dubbed modern slave trade) has ceased, instead, as in the case of Ethiopia, the labourers are returning home; African governments are thinking about the well-being of citizens, a few rotten tomatoes notwithstanding; and there is an increase in urban to rural migration.
The rapid global change brought about by Covid-19 and the possibilities it presents for Africa can be described as a state of precipitation.
Precipitation is the creation of a solid from a solution. When the reaction occurs in a liquid solution, the solid formed is called the ‘precipitate’.
The chemical that causes the solid to form is called the ‘precipitant’. Without sufficient force of gravity (settling) to bring the solid particles together, the precipitate remains in suspension.
Questions
1. If Covid-19 is the precipitant and the changes in Africa are the precipitate, could Africa be at the point of precipitation of the destiny of Africa?
2. What will the spiritual, social, political and economic fabric of Africa look like after the Exodus?
3. What role can prayer and the prophetic word play in such a move?
Prayer Points
– Pray for the state of Africa during and post Covid-19 outbreak and that Africa will emerge once more as a place of refuge and a source of transformation.
– Pray for the spiritual salvation of Africans.
By James Abola