Who Are You Really? - 1 Peter 2:9
My goal is to actually spark an idea of curiosity in your mind about the presented topic. This topic has has been a sensitive subject for me for years now. Not sensitive to the point that it would make me cry, but more so pick at me until I did something about it.
I have always wondered who I was and where did I come from. Unfortunately, for some odd reason in America, we as "Black Americans" are only told from as early as I can remember that we came from slaves that were brought here from Africa. As analytical as I am, you can only imagine how many more questions that created for me from my original question. Well, slaves answers who my ancestors were sort of, but that doesn't tell me who I am. They came from Africa, ok where in Africa? From which region and tribe? What did we do when were there? There are over 50 countries and approximately 3,000 tribes on the continent. And what made us so "special" to have to be brought all the way to America to work for free? As you can see, my search began to quickly go from one question to about a thousand.
Our history as an "African American" goes beyond Rosa Parks, Martin Luther King and Harriet Tubman (YAH Rest their souls) and it even goes beyond Slavery believe it or not. I recognized that we were constantly bombarded with slave movie after slave movie to the point that I would yell out in frustration that "We were more than slaves!" Yes, but I could never tell you what the more was. I had even sworn off watching another "slave" movie for good but it wasn't until recently that I realized that my ancestors slavery was the biggest key for me unlocking who I was, my true identity and that the slave movies was Hollywood's way of constantly telling me who I was but I was just too blind and ignorant to see and understand the message.
Identity is defined as: the fact of being who or what a person or thing is (google). I always saw that being identified as a slave or the descendant of a slave was a very hurtful and shameful thing, although it has it negative connotations, it actually led me to a Royal and Rich identity and history found in the King James Bible. The Bible is this wonderful book written to, for and about Israelites, YAH's (Hebrew name for God) Chosen People. The scriptures tells us that YAH chose the Israelites to be his chosen people; "But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light (1 Peter 2:9 KJV).
The Israelites had one simple job to do, live according to the Laws and Commandments given to them by YAH and proclaim His name and glory throughout all of the Earth. Unfortunately, they were more concerned with being just like everyone around them, they had a serious issue with blending in with everyone else and assimilating to their culture, god and ways. Their disobedience cause YAH to become furious with us and eventually turn His face and hand of protection away from us. Without YAH's protection, our enemies were able to pursue us and take us away as captives in every land, and these curses will pursue [follow (someone or something) in order to catch or attack them] thee and your generation. (Read Deuteronomy 28 for more info).
What am I really saying you may ask? I am saying that yes, I believe that those that are descendants of the "African/Negro" slaves brought to the Americas among other places are actual descendants of the Biblical Hebrew Israelites. You may have heard this a lot before from someone else; however, I am not here to push one skin color above the other or to argue about doctrine or scriptures. I am here telling about the importance of understanding who you are and the Spiritual responsibility you have as an Israelite.
The reason why I stress this fact is not to promote being better than anyone else, but to help all those who haven't realized who they are to step into their role and help heal the Earth. Being Israelite is not solely about being Chosen but rather fulfilling a role, a purpose here on Earth. Often times, some remain on the Chosen part but never really think about what you are Chosen to do? If you were picked first for a kickball team, would you remain in the clouds about being first or remember that you have to actually go out play a game, and help your team win? Let's not get hung up on the outward things, being the person that keeps every law to a tee, not eating pork and never forgetting to wear your fringes. While, all of those things are key and vital there is more responsibility to being Israelite than that.
I believe that we were Chosen to be an example to the other nations that YAH did not deal with as He did with Israel. I believe that those from other nations will see us and see YAH with us and want to join to us, not to become Israelites but to have a God if they so desire to. Zechariah 8:23 reads, "Thus saith the LORD of hosts; In those days it shall come to pass, that ten men shall take hold out of all languages of the nations, even shall take hold of the skirt of him that is a Jew, saying, We will go with you: for we have heard that God is with you." If we knew who we were, we as a people would not entertain the culture given to us by the worldly music industry and it's artists that are used to control and further destroy us. Psalm 83:4 says, "They have said, Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation; that the name of Israel may be no more in remembrance." They have truly done a good job at destroying us and we have certainly done a good job at forgetting the name of Israel. If we knew who we were, our young men wouldn't desire a life of quick fast money (that often results in imprisonment), sexual promiscuity and money and idol worship over the worship of Elohim. Our young women wouldn't desire to partake in sexual promiscuity, wearing revealing outfits while twerking on every corner and being envious of a body image and look that isn't genetically our own.
Those of you in the know, continue to keep the Commandments and Laws of YAH, but remember the Spiritual responsibility of being an Israelite, an example to those of us still lost and to those who may want to join with Israel. Take your responsibility of what you were chosen to do seriously and don't stop at exclaiming that you were chosen, but rather live out what you were chosen to do.
Shalom
Peace & Blessings
Joanna