The Betrayal

Then the Lord said to Cain, “Where is Abel your brother?” He said, “I do not know. Am I my brother’s keeper?” – Genesis 4:9 (NKJV)

Can we admit that some of our ancestors were not their brothers’ keepers? Can we agree that some of our forefathers betrayed their fellow men due to their sinful nature, thus we are collectively suffering the consequences of it today? Can we accept that it was not just one group of people that betrayed their fellow men but multiple?

The seed of betrayal has been planted into the soul of man since Adam and Eve betrayed God in the Garden over a fruit, then later Cain betrayed his brother Abel due to jealousy. This seed continues throughout the Old Testament with one of the famous betrayals being Joseph’s brothers selling him into slavery because they were jealous of him.

“So Judah said to his brothers, “What profit is there if we kill our brother and conceal his blood? Come and let us sell him to the Ishmaelites, and let not our hand be upon Him, for he is our brother and our flesh.” And his brothers listened.” – Genesis 37:26-27

This betrayal is not limited to the Old Testament. Our Savior Himself was betrayed by his disciples who forsook Him, one even turned Him in over 30 pieces of silver.

“Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?” – Luke 22:48

Betrayal reigns in the human heart. This seed of betrayal is what led to the enslavement of African-Americans.

When we consider the enslavement of the African-Americans, we cannot limit the blame to Europeans, Africans must also share the blame. Slavery was not invented by Europeans nor did the enslavement of Africans begin with Europeans forcing it upon Africans. Both Africans and Europeans started as trading partners with slaves being one of the commodities they traded. Later it extended to some slaves being stolen and others taken by gunpoint but many were purchased from the Africans. The sin of slavery is a moral failure of humanity, not just the Europeans or White Americans.

Historians can trace the root of the practice of slavery back to roughly 11,000 years ago. Slavery in ancient times typically came about as a result of debt, birth into a slave family, child abandonment, war, or as a punishment for crimes. This inhumane practice grew as the world became more developed with the growth of cities and the increased need of low-cost labor to build monuments, cities, expand economies, and markets. Unfortunately, slavery continues until this day. It is estimated that over 40.3 million enslaved people are still in bondage today.

All nations who participated in slavery and did not repent and change their ways paid a price for it. Even when there is repentance and change, there are still consequences for the betrayal.

Just as America is having to address the consequences of slavery 100 plus years after the legal end of slavery in America, the African economic and social despair could also be due in part to its role in betraying their brothers and sisters and playing a part in the enslavement of millions of their fellow citizens over 500 years ago. Besides the natural consequence of sin, slavery became a brain drain of the best of Africa, it divided families and destroyed kingdoms. It is interesting that just like Joseph’s brother had to go to Egypt to get help from the very nation and person they sold into slavery, Africans today need the help of African Americans to rebuild Africa socially and economically. Today, Africa is the continent with the highest percentage of poverty in the world: 90% of global poverty resides on the continent of Africa while the wealthiest and most educated collective of blacks in the world are in America – the children of the slaves that were sold and captured.

“And God sent me before you to preserve a posterity for you in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance. So now it was not you who sent me here, but God; and He has made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and a ruler throughout all the land of Egypt.” – Genesis 45:7-8

Let’s reflect upon the questions below as we accept the reality of history whether we personally played a role in it or not:

1. Have you or anyone in your family played a role in betraying someone else or in injustice?
2. Are you willing to accept that some of what we face today is due to some of those past sins?
3. Do you agree that more than one group of people played a role in creating historical injustices?
4. As evil as slavery was, can you see how God could have used it for good?
5. What can you do to make sure you do not participate in the betrayal of any of your brothers or sisters?

My prayer for you today is that God will give you the grace to accept that the consequences we face today are due to the mistakes and sin of our collective ancestors, not just one group of people.