Page 30 - Pentateuch - Student Textbook

Here in the early pages of Genesis, we are reminded of the wisdom of God in creation and in providence
to keep alive the message of the Gospel all over the world. “Incredible as it seems, literally thousands of
Christian missionaries down through history have been startled by exuberant welcome even among
some of earth’s remotest peoples! Folk who could not have read a newspaper even if one were dropped
on their doorstep anticipated the coming of message-bearers for the true God almost as knowledgeably
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as if they had just read about them in the morning news.”

Many examples can be cited. The Mbaka live in the Central African Republic. They
had a long cultural history of expecting a message and messengers of a unique
salvation. “Koro, the Creator, sent word to our forefathers long ages ago that he has
already sent His Son into the world to accomplish something wonderful for all
mankind. Later, however, our forefathers turned away from the truth about Koro’s
Son. In time they even forgot what it was that He accomplished for mankind. Since
the time of ‘the forgetting,’ successive generations of our people have longed to
discover the truth about Koro’s Son, but all we could learn was that
messengers would eventually come to restore that forgotten knowledge to Fig. 15: Mbaka tribal mask
us.”
35

We understand the nature and depth of sin. Sin kills. Sin leads to deeper and deeper levels of evil in
individuals and cultures. Sin cannot be overcome with human methods and human messages. We
should not be surprised when the gospel of Jesus resonates deeply with a variety of people all across the
world, some still living with cultural principles of previous centuries and others thoroughly modern in
their mindset. The same One who created us has provided for our salvation. His character shines
through creation at least dimly and fairly shouts to us in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The
cross of Christ is a “demonstration” of God’s character “at the present time” (Rom. 3:26). We see in him
on the cross what we would expect to see from our Creator.

34 Ibid, p. 56.
35 Ibid, p. 57ff.

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