Today i received a message from a friend remind me about the historical
value of Ambraham's deed. Classical scriptural thought seems to carry with
it two major ideas which i would like to lay some emphasis on.
First the power of sacrifice.
Secondly the importance of the altar and the horns as symbols of power.
The desire to write this is energized by a need to shed some light on certain aspects of our African culture that are much more similar to ancient Jewish thought than we realize. The first, though rather negative is an increase in the cases of
ritual sacrifice. The basis of this seems to stem from the first reference of scripture in which Abram responds with some swiftness and rushes to give away his first born son.
Before he is able to complete this task, he is interuupted by his maker, commends him for his willingness but instead provides him with a replacement.
Oh that those who seek the same would find themselves interrupted!
The second thought that came to mind was regarding a man who sought to gain the throne from Solomon. Adonijah which means my lord is Jehovah. He makes use of the Horns (an ancient symbol of authority and power) of the altar, when he finds himself pursued, he seeks refuge by grabbing a hold of the horn of the altar.
It is almost impossible for a day to go by before one hears of a story about
a village that invades a household destroying it because of accusations of having (mayembe or horns) which in our local cultures are viewed as an abomination and often connected to wizadry.
The Story described above is better explained in its entirity by Charles Spurgeon
(http://www.spurgeon.org/sermons/1826.htm).
The point is an old symbol of power has managed to creep back into modern life albeit in a negative manner and now begs to be understood and explained.
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