The Caribbean Pioneer

In the time of Moses, the “leaders and officials among the people” were called “elders.” God made it clear that the task of these elders was a proactive one, to “carry the burden of the people” (Num. 11:16-17). God put His spirit on them, for a divine calling requires divine power.

In the days of the early church, those members who were appointed to lead or feed the church of God were called elders, overseers or bishops (Titus 1:7; Acts 20:17-28). Let us bear in mind that an elder in the church was – and should always be – mature spiritually, which means that the inward character is fully developed in godliness and faith.

Respect to be shown
In I Timothy 5:17-21, Paul writes about the position of elders, not as being a high rank, but instead as being an opportunity to use their acquired spiritual knowledge and experience responsibly. The advice of such experienced brethren can be very helpful and necessary, especially in cases where crucial decisions have to be taken. It is therefore essential that other members show respect to these elders. This does not mean that elders are to be “worshipped,” nor are we to be “respecters of persons.” And it certainly does not mean that mature brothers and sisters never make mistakes. But we do need to treat them as experienced leaders. It is Paul who exhorts us to entreat our elder men as fathers and our elder sisters as mothers (I Tim. 5:1-2).

In the ecclesia, the scriptural use of father, mother, brother and sister implies that we consider each other as family members. Never at any time should we lose our temper and castigate an elder (I Tim. 5:1). Any concern should be addressed with respect. If an elder corrects a younger member, it should not be seen as a barrier to harmony. Instead it should be done with admonition in true love, as would be shown by natural godly parents, and received in the same spirit.

Caring for the older ones
According to Galatians 6:6 (NEB) and I Timothy 5:9-10,17, there seems to be the thought that the elders who labour in the vineyard might be, or even should be, taken care of by the ecclesia. This should be treated as a delicate situation, so that the recipient of such generosity does not feel dependent upon the financial support of others. Some old people are very independent, and this should be respected. On the other hand, an elder who has served a lifetime in the Master’s service must be adequately cared for, and not left to experience mean and degrading conditions simply because he or she is old and poor. In many cases, their older years are spent in impoverished circumstances because they have given freely and generously, following the commandment of love, when in their prime. I know one sister who, when she was working, gave freely of her means to help others in desperate need. She retired about 12 years ago after almost a lifetime in the government service, but now her monthly pension will not even buy a week’s groceries.

We see from several passages in Deuteronomy that the elders of Israel were the leaders and decision makers within their own families and then, by extension, of the wider ecclesial family. The responsibility for caring for the family would be entrusted to a senior relative if the father died. Abraham cared for Lot his nephew after his father died (Gen. 11:27-32; 12:4).

I always feel sad when an elder who has given a lifetime of willing and sacrificial service to the house of God is bypassed altogether by self confident younger leaders. It is more than respectful, it is wise, for those younger ones to seek the counsel of the older ones and discuss plans with them, even if they can no longer take an active part. Rehoboam would have been much more sensible if he had done this (II Chron. 10:1-15).

Ecclesial elders today
The ardent elders in our ecclesias today are always busy. There are those who are blessed especially with vigour and strength. This they use in the Lord’s service. They work relentlessly, caring for and instructing the younger ones in the ways of God. Let us appreciate them.

There is the well-respected and trusted elderly brother who seems to be eloquent in writing, and an expert in dealing with topical issues. He has the capacity to be young in mind whatever the age of his body. His decisions and advice need to be accepted with confidence, based as they are upon many years of experience in matters of faith and ecclesial life. It is both arrogant and stupid to ignore such wisdom, even if the head is hoary. Years of godly experience and knowledge will continue to provide our elders with the stamina needed to guide ecclesial affairs in the right way. Somehow, God has seen fit to abundantly bless the Caribbean ecclesias for more than a century with very many wonderful elders of this kind. We may be second-class citizens in a global economic and political sense, but certainly not spiritually. Our ecclesias have been burning and shining lights for more than a century. So don’t forget those elders who are feeble because of age and sickness. Listen carefully to their wisdom. To visit them is not only a Christian duty, it is often a learning experience!

A family unit
The ecclesia is a family that has a closer tie, and an even stronger unity, than has any natural family (I John 2:12-14). The Truth has banded the people of God tightly as links in a chain. This closely knit family is a unit, a unity. Brethren, remember that fact, and do not break that bond. Because the brotherhood is a family, there is a close personal relationship within the Truth. This makes it necessary for ecclesial elders to be aware of the family nature of the ecclesia, showing every care and consideration as they deal with brothers and sisters (I Cor. 9:22-23). I grew up in an ecclesial milieu where all the elders were like that. I thought that it would always be so. But nowadays I see some elders who run things and behave almost like directors of a worldly business, and that is not right.

Older brothers and sisters have many opportunities for service that the younger ones have no time for. These should be encouraged as much as possible and given the resources to be pastors of the flock. But just because elders are wise and some are still vigorous surely does not mean that the younger ones should be lazy. It is definitely wrong when an ecclesia becomes over-dependent upon an old and failing leader, and the younger ones do not shoulder responsibilities properly.

So, let us learn from our older ones, follow their example of faith, and care for them in their failing years as deeply respected and beloved members of the family of God.

The apostle Paul asked God three times to remove a serious physical handicap, a nasty jabbing “thorn in his flesh,” which left him feeling weak and inadequate to the task of preaching the gospel. Like all of us, Paul wanted his circumstances right so he could do his job properly. Surely there is nothing wrong with that? So he prayed hard, Lord, please get rid of this thorn.

The Lord’s answer
Paul finally received an answer. It was not the answer he was expecting. The Lord told him flatly that He would not remove the thorn. The Lord wanted Paul to live with this handicap. It was the Lord’s will that Paul should remain weak. But not for weakness’ sake. The Lord’s purpose was to weaken Paul’s dependence on his own strength, his own wisdom, his own intellect. The Lord wanted Paul to minister and live out of his weakness, not on his strength. The Lord was giving Paul a general principle. The Lord allows adversity to enter our experience: not for the purpose of making us weak and incapable of going on with our lives, but for the purpose of enabling us by His strength to do what otherwise would be impossible.

It is difficult to accept
From the Lord’s perspective, it was more important for Paul to experience divine power than it was for him to live a pain-free, adversity-free life. The closer we look at Paul’s life the more difficult that is to accept. He was stoned and left for dead, shipwrecked, beaten, bitten by a snake, and imprisoned – all for Christ’s sake. But when all was said and done, Paul’s response was, I take pleasure in infirmities, in distresses, for when I am weak, then am I strong (II Cor. 12:10) . So how do we reconcile Paul’s claim to weakness with his amazing accomplishments? Simple. The energy and zeal required to accomplish the Lord’s will must come from Him and be manifestly greater than anything we could do in our own strength.

Working through our weakness
God wants to work through our weaknesses. Some of us may have been born with characteristics which we consider weaknesses. Some of us might feel that we have been born into a family that did not provide us with the things we think are necessary for success. Sometimes a tragedy or illness has left us wondering about our usefulness or self-worth. Maybe poverty or unemployment is sapping our self-esteem. We may think our situation is simply hopeless. If any of these situations sound familiar to you, then rejoice: you are just the type of person God is interested in! He is looking for people through whom He can show His mighty power. He is looking for men and women who are willing to take on challenges too difficult for them to handle by themselves. They have to trust God to help them through. God wants us to be people who grow accustomed to weakness, but who draw daily upon the sufficiency and power of our God through Christ.

God’s opportunity
Brothers and sisters, I would like you to think about this: your greatest weakness is the Lord’s opportunity to demonstrate His power and glory. So instead of complaining and begging God to change the circumstances or adversities you are in, why not ask God to fill that void with His strength? God’s power will be perfected in us if we learn to depend upon His strength. All we have to do now is to make ourselves available to Him, for when we are weak, He is strong.

Apart from Jesus, of course, my favourite Bible character is Caleb. Although our circumstances are quite different, I feel that if we were contemporaries, we would be close friends.

His genealogy
It is all very odd, but Caleb seems to have had several different fathers! In Numbers and Deuteronomy, he is called the son of Jephunneh and is a leader of the tribe of Judah. Joshua calls him a Kenizzite, and as his closest friend, he should know. In Judges, his younger brother Othniel is called the son of Kenaz. Othniel conquered the Canaanite town of Debir and as a reward married his niece, Caleb’s daughter Acsah. To add to the complications, Moses’ father in law, in the same passage in Judges, is described as “the Kenite.”

In I Chronicles my friend is described as “Caleb son of Hezron,” and we are given an extremely complicated genealogy of his large extended family. Since neither Kenaz nor Jephunneh are mentioned, we might be tempted to conclude that this Caleb is an entirely different person. But we cannot, for it specifically states that this Caleb’s one named daughter was Acsah.

Adding still further to the complications is the fact that Caleb’s great-grandson was Bezalel of Judah, the wonderfully skilled craftsman who made exquisite articles for the tabernacle in the wilderness. Moreover, Caleb had a large family by his first wife Azubah, and it was after she died that “Caleb married Ephrath, who bore him Hur,” who, all scriptures agree, was Bezalel’s grandfather. But this same Hur was old enough to be a senior judge at the time when Moses and Joshua went up Mount Sinai for 40 days and 40 nights. And he held up Moses’ hands when the Amalekites attacked the camp at roughly the same time. Yet Caleb was only in his forties when the plans for the Tabernacle were drawn up. This is a puzzle which simply cannot be solved, at least by me.

When Caleb’s father was 60, he married a woman from the tribe of Manasseh, and the son of Segub, Caleb’s first cousin, became a very big man, controlling, we are told, 23 towns in Gilead, east of the river Jordan.

His large family
When it came to children, Caleb was a very productive man. It is quite unusual for the Bible to record women by name, especially daughters and slave women, unless they played an important part in God’s purpose, like Hagar or Rizpah, for example. Yet, uniquely in the case of Caleb, two wives are named, Azubah and Ephrath, and four concubines or slave wives: Jerioth, Ephah, Jahdai and Maacah, mother of his daughter, Acsah. Acsah had a full brother Sheva, which means “number seven”! Altogether nineteen named sons are mentioned, and one named daughter. From simple principles of demography, Caleb must have begotten between forty and fifty children, some of whom pop up at various points in the scripture record. Interestingly, a grandson gave his name to one of the principal flash-points of violence in the world today, namely Hebron in the so-called West Bank.

Caleb means dog in Hebrew, a word used in a pejorative way of Gentiles or non-Jews. He was undoubtedly considered a great “prince” of Judah, and, according to Luke’s gospel record, the Lord Jesus himself was descended from Caleb’s brother Ram. The Hebrew word “Ram,” as well as being a personal name, also means “the Syrian.” The Kenizzites are mentioned in Genesis 15 as one of the original ten “nations” occupying the land of Canaan in the time of Abraham. Caleb is definitely called a Kenizzite by Joshua, his close friend and fellow spy. So was he a Gentile who became a leading Israelite by adoption?

All of this seems terribly complex, and a prime example of the “endless genealogies” which the apostle told us to avoid. But as “all Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable,” there must be some reason and purpose behind it all.

Why Caleb is my friend
I leave you to chase up the leads if you like detective stories, but I can tell you some very personal lessons that makes Caleb my favourite biblical character.

He and his large family were fully involved in the daily lives of all God’s people.

He had tremendous faith which enabled him to cope with and accept crushing disappointments without losing heart.

Because he was a spiritual giant himself; the giants of Hebron were mere pygmies in his sight. He had God’s vision, God’s view of things.

Like Paul much later, he could “silence” a Jewish mob simply by his confidence and determination. His behaviour and his passionate words of truth, when this rabble was about to fling stones at Moses and Aaron as they lay face down on the ground, were truly awesome.

This is God’s estimation of Caleb: Caleb has a different spirit and follows me wholeheartedly.

When he was 85, he looked back on a life full of joys and frustrations with a wonderful serenity of spirit, knowing and loving the God of his salvation. His thoughts are recorded in Joshua 14. I am the same age as he was when he spoke those words, and I can echo them. Unlike Caleb, I have no children. My physical body is much more feeble than his. But I thrill to his godly sentiments, and say with his spirit, I was forty years old when the Lord sent me from Britain to explore this land. And I brought back a report according to my convictions. I followed the Lord my God wholeheartedly. Now here I am today, eighty-five years old! I am still as strong today as I was forty-five years ago when God sent me out to the Caribbean.

Beloved, be fervent in spirit, be instant in prayer. Remember the glory, remember the Land.

It was November, 1932, and I was nine years old. That was when a great wind came and the brightest lightning ever. My father made the home as safe as he could, telling my mother and us children to remain inside. Father was troubled knowing that a couple nearby were old and alone, so he went out and helped them to higher ground. You must understand that we were not related to these folks, but behaved like good Christians should, just helping each other. The night of that storm I was in a hammock looking after my one-year old brother, and holding him tight. One wall was blown in and the thatch roof blowing away. Birds could be seen through it, yes, I remember that. Prayers were being said all night, as the family kept together. We couldn’t pray God to take the storm away. It was already upon us! So we just prayed for strength to carry on.

You wouldn’t believe what met our eyes when we came outside. There were fish all around and lobsters in bushes. Our main water cistern had split, and a big drum full of water had clear blown away. All the trees were down. The hardest part was putting ourselves together after the storm. It seemed beyond all power of man. But we believed in our prayers, and somehow we got through. Clear and plant, clear and plant: that’s all we could do. But the soil is good in Cayman and things soon became established once more, thanks to God. Who does ‘dem young people think they is, not believing in God? Who them think put all these beautiful plants and everything here?

The storm of 1945 was hard too. By then we had a tin roof and father had to tie it down with rope we made ourselves from thatch. Then there was Gilbert who came close. What I recall of Gilbert is that the ground was covered with grapefruit everywhere you looked.

I still plant and plait, a skill I learned from my father. I make baskets, hats and brushes, whatever people want. My garden holds all the plants and trees that God has given to Cayman. I have to tell people: life is hard, too hard to live without God.

I, the Lord of sea and sky,
I have heard my people cry.
All who dwell in dark and sin
My hand will save.
I who made the stars of night,
I will make their darkness bright.
Who will bear my light to them?
Whom shall I send?

Here I am, Lord. Is it I, Lord?
I have heard you calling in the night.
I will go, Lord, if you lead me.
I will hold your people in my heart.

I, the Lord of snow and rain,
I have borne my people’s pain.
I have wept for love of them.
They turn away.
I will break their hearts of stone,
Give them hearts for love alone.
I will speak my word to them.
Whom shall I send?

Here I am, Lord. Is it I, Lord?
I have heard you calling in the night.
I will go, Lord, if you lead me.
I will hold your people in my heart.

I, the Lord of wind and flame,
I will tend the poor and lame.
I will set a feast for them.
My hand will save.
Finest bread I will provide
Till their hearts be satisfied.
I will give my life to them.
Whom shall I send?

Here I am, Lord. Is it I, Lord?
I have heard you calling in the night.
I will go, Lord, if you lead me.
I will hold your people in my heart.

Words and music by Dan Shutte, reproduced by permission. Submitted by David White (Negril, Jamaica) after listening to them at a recent meeting and hoping that some others may be as inspired by the hymn as he was.

This was a full width banner headline in The Sunday Gleaner, the most respected Jamaican national weekly newspaper that spans three centuries, and which, until recently, has been both conservative and ‘Christian.’ Moreover, the paper has made it clear that there will be more articles on Islam, and that it will not publish articles critical of Muslims.

Early in 2002, the Jamaican campus of the University of the West Indies established a professorship in Islamic History, and appointed a fundamentalist to the chair. The publications of this department indicate that its proclaimed intention to rewrite West Indian history in terms of jihad will be an immediate priority.

The style of journalism below that newspaper headline is far removed from the centuries-old tradition of the Jamaican press. If the Christadelphians, or any other religious denomination for that matter, had submitted a similar self-adulating article, it would never have been entertained for publication by the editor. But in the aftermath of the great ‘victory,’ everything is different now. Below the headline is the following:

All Praise be to Allah, the Creator of all creation, for His grace, mercy and guidance to establish the truth in West Indian history. Dedication: To Rasulullah Muhammad Mustafa and the Mujahadeen who sacrificed their lives to establish the dignity of the soul in Jamaica. Islam is deeply embedded and wrapped up in West Indian history. The unwrapping reveals the majestic beauty and richness of Islam like the glorious morning sun.

Although much of the article is typically bombastic, some interesting ideas are put forward. The persistence of concubinage in Jamaica as the prevailing mating practice is seen as a great triumph for Islamic family values in the face of unsuccessful attempts to ‘Christianize’ family life. The names Jesus and Mary are “distortions” by the infidel of the real name of the prophet Issa and his mother Maryam.

Finally, very prominent on this page of the Gleaner is a quote from “The Holy Quran.”

Worldly power cannot defy the Right, nor can misused intelligence obscure God’s Light: this world’s strength, skill, beauty and power are like a spider’s web, flimsy before the eternal Verities.

Since ‘September 11’, Islam has had an extraordinary renaissance in the Caribbean. Previous articles in the ‘Caribbean Pioneer’ have discussed this dramatic development in Trinidad and Guyana. The above editorial article takes up the story for Jamaica. Our readers, particularly Americans, should be aware that Muslims see ‘September 11’ as a tremendous victory for Islam in the fourteen hundred year war for world domination and its concomitant battle for absolute “Truth.” The proactive policies of the Bush administration and the security measures adopted in many countries are seen as fearful and futile attempts to thwart the inevitable conquest of the non-Islamic world by the followers of the Prophet.

	The Caribbean Pioneer (March 2003 Edition)
	The following is a list of this month's articles. Editorial - Elders in the Ecclesia At the Lord's Table - Your Weakness is God's Opportunity A Prayer for the Day My Friend Caleb Strength to Carry On I Will Hold Your People in My Heart The Invincibility of Islam in Jamaica
	Editorial Elders in the Ecclesia In the time of Moses, the “leaders and officials among the people” were called “elders.” God made it clear that the task of these elders was a proactive one, to “carry the burden of the people” (Num. 11:16-17). God put His spirit on them, for a divine calling requires divine power. In the days of the early church, those members who were appointed to lead or feed the church of God were called elders, overseers or bishops (Titus 1:7; Acts 20:17-28). Let us bear in mind that an elder in the church was – and should always be – mature spiritually, which means that the inward character is fully developed in godliness and faith. Respect to be shown In I Timothy 5:17-21, Paul writes about the position of elders, not as being a high rank, but instead as being an opportunity to use their acquired spiritual knowledge and experience responsibly. The advice of such experienced brethren can be very helpful and necessary, especially in cases where crucial decisions have to be taken. It is therefore essential that other members show respect to these elders. This does not mean that elders are to be “worshipped,” nor are we to be “respecters of persons.” And it certainly does not mean that mature brothers and sisters never make mistakes. But we do need to treat them as experienced leaders. It is Paul who exhorts us to entreat our elder men as fathers and our elder sisters as mothers (I Tim. 5:1-2). In the ecclesia, the scriptural use of father, mother, brother and sister implies that we consider each other as family members. Never at any time should we lose our temper and castigate an elder (I Tim. 5:1). Any concern should be addressed with respect. If an elder corrects a younger member, it should not be seen as a barrier to harmony. Instead it should be done with admonition in true love, as would be shown by natural godly parents, and received in the same spirit. Caring for the older ones According to Galatians 6:6 (NEB) and I Timothy 5:9-10,17, there seems to be the thought that the elders who labour in the vineyard might be, or even should be, taken care of by the ecclesia. This should be treated as a delicate situation, so that the recipient of such generosity does not feel dependent upon the financial support of others. Some old people are very independent, and this should be respected. On the other hand, an elder who has served a lifetime in the Master’s service must be adequately cared for, and not left to experience mean and degrading conditions simply because he or she is old and poor. In many cases, their older years are spent in impoverished circumstances because they have given freely and generously, following the commandment of love, when in their prime. I know one sister who, when she was working, gave freely of her means to help others in desperate need. She retired about 12 years ago after almost a lifetime in the government service, but now her monthly pension will not even buy a week’s groceries. We see from several passages in Deuteronomy that the elders of Israel were the leaders and decision makers within their own families and then, by extension, of the wider ecclesial family. The responsibility for caring for the family would be entrusted to a senior relative if the father died. Abraham cared for Lot his nephew after his father died (Gen. 11:27-32; 12:4). I always feel sad when an elder who has given a lifetime of willing and sacrificial service to the house of God is bypassed altogether by self confident younger leaders. It is more than respectful, it is wise, for those younger ones to seek the counsel of the older ones and discuss plans with them, even if they can no longer take an active part. Rehoboam would have been much more sensible if he had done this (II Chron. 10:1-15). Ecclesial elders today The ardent elders in our ecclesias today are always busy. There are those who are blessed especially with vigour and strength. This they use in the Lord’s service. They work relentlessly, caring for and instructing the younger ones in the ways of God. Let us appreciate them. There is the well-respected and trusted elderly brother who seems to be eloquent in writing, and an expert in dealing with topical issues. He has the capacity to be young in mind whatever the age of his body. His decisions and advice need to be accepted with confidence, based as they are upon many years of experience in matters of faith and ecclesial life. It is both arrogant and stupid to ignore such wisdom, even if the head is hoary. Years of godly experience and knowledge will continue to provide our elders with the stamina needed to guide ecclesial affairs in the right way. Somehow, God has seen fit to abundantly bless the Caribbean ecclesias for more than a century with very many wonderful elders of this kind. We may be second-class citizens in a global economic and political sense, but certainly not spiritually. Our ecclesias have been burning and shining lights for more than a century. So don’t forget those elders who are feeble because of age and sickness. Listen carefully to their wisdom. To visit them is not only a Christian duty, it is often a learning experience! A family unit The ecclesia is a family that has a closer tie, and an even stronger unity, than has any natural family (I John 2:12-14). The Truth has banded the people of God tightly as links in a chain. This closely knit family is a unit, a unity. Brethren, remember that fact, and do not break that bond. Because the brotherhood is a family, there is a close personal relationship within the Truth. This makes it necessary for ecclesial elders to be aware of the family nature of the ecclesia, showing every care and consideration as they deal with brothers and sisters (I Cor. 9:22-23). I grew up in an ecclesial milieu where all the elders were like that. I thought that it would always be so. But nowadays I see some elders who run things and behave almost like directors of a worldly business, and that is not right. Older brothers and sisters have many opportunities for service that the younger ones have no time for. These should be encouraged as much as possible and given the resources to be pastors of the flock. But just because elders are wise and some are still vigorous surely does not mean that the younger ones should be lazy. It is definitely wrong when an ecclesia becomes over-dependent upon an old and failing leader, and the younger ones do not shoulder responsibilities properly. So, let us learn from our older ones, follow their example of faith, and care for them in their failing years as deeply respected and beloved members of the family of God. Gerzel Gordon Return to Top At the Lord's Table Your Weakness is God's Opportunity The apostle Paul asked God three times to remove a serious physical handicap, a nasty jabbing “thorn in his flesh,” which left him feeling weak and inadequate to the task of preaching the gospel. Like all of us, Paul wanted his circumstances right so he could do his job properly. Surely there is nothing wrong with that? So he prayed hard, Lord, please get rid of this thorn. The Lord’s answer Paul finally received an answer. It was not the answer he was expecting. The Lord told him flatly that He would not remove the thorn. The Lord wanted Paul to live with this handicap. It was the Lord’s will that Paul should remain weak. But not for weakness’ sake. The Lord’s purpose was to weaken Paul’s dependence on his own strength, his own wisdom, his own intellect. The Lord wanted Paul to minister and live out of his weakness, not on his strength. The Lord was giving Paul a general principle. The Lord allows adversity to enter our experience: not for the purpose of making us weak and incapable of going on with our lives, but for the purpose of enabling us by His strength to do what otherwise would be impossible. It is difficult to accept From the Lord’s perspective, it was more important for Paul to experience divine power than it was for him to live a pain-free, adversity-free life. The closer we look at Paul’s life the more difficult that is to accept. He was stoned and left for dead, shipwrecked, beaten, bitten by a snake, and imprisoned – all for Christ’s sake. But when all was said and done, Paul’s response was, I take pleasure in infirmities, in distresses, for when I am weak, then am I strong (II Cor. 12:10) . So how do we reconcile Paul’s claim to weakness with his amazing accomplishments? Simple. The energy and zeal required to accomplish the Lord’s will must come from Him and be manifestly greater than anything we could do in our own strength. Working through our weakness God wants to work through our weaknesses. Some of us may have been born with characteristics which we consider weaknesses. Some of us might feel that we have been born into a family that did not provide us with the things we think are necessary for success. Sometimes a tragedy or illness has left us wondering about our usefulness or self-worth. Maybe poverty or unemployment is sapping our self-esteem. We may think our situation is simply hopeless. If any of these situations sound familiar to you, then rejoice: you are just the type of person God is interested in! He is looking for people through whom He can show His mighty power. He is looking for men and women who are willing to take on challenges too difficult for them to handle by themselves. They have to trust God to help them through. God wants us to be people who grow accustomed to weakness, but who draw daily upon the sufficiency and power of our God through Christ. God’s opportunity Brothers and sisters, I would like you to think about this: your greatest weakness is the Lord’s opportunity to demonstrate His power and glory. So instead of complaining and begging God to change the circumstances or adversities you are in, why not ask God to fill that void with His strength? God’s power will be perfected in us if we learn to depend upon His strength. All we have to do now is to make ourselves available to Him, for when we are weak, He is strong. Premod Das Return to Top A Prayer for the Day Dear Lord, I’m proud to say, so far today, I’ve got along all right; I have not gossiped, whined or bragged, or had a single fight. I haven’t lost my temper once, or criticised my wife; I have not lied, I have not cried, or loudly cursed my fate. So far today I’ve not one time been grumpy or morose; I’ve not been spiteful, cold or vain, self-centred or verbose. But, Lord, I’m going to need Your help throughout the hours ahead; So give me strength, dear Lord, for now I’m getting out of bed. John Baker (Cayman Airways) Return to Top My Friend Caleb Apart from Jesus, of course, my favourite Bible character is Caleb. Although our circumstances are quite different, I feel that if we were contemporaries, we would be close friends. His genealogy It is all very odd, but Caleb seems to have had several different fathers! In Numbers and Deuteronomy, he is called the son of Jephunneh and is a leader of the tribe of Judah. Joshua calls him a Kenizzite, and as his closest friend, he should know. In Judges, his younger brother Othniel is called the son of Kenaz. Othniel conquered the Canaanite town of Debir and as a reward married his niece, Caleb’s daughter Acsah. To add to the complications, Moses’ father in law, in the same passage in Judges, is described as “the Kenite.” In I Chronicles my friend is described as “Caleb son of Hezron,” and we are given an extremely complicated genealogy of his large extended family. Since neither Kenaz nor Jephunneh are mentioned, we might be tempted to conclude that this Caleb is an entirely different person. But we cannot, for it specifically states that this Caleb’s one named daughter was Acsah. Adding still further to the complications is the fact that Caleb’s great-grandson was Bezalel of Judah, the wonderfully skilled craftsman who made exquisite articles for the tabernacle in the wilderness. Moreover, Caleb had a large family by his first wife Azubah, and it was after she died that “Caleb married Ephrath, who bore him Hur,” who, all scriptures agree, was Bezalel’s grandfather. But this same Hur was old enough to be a senior judge at the time when Moses and Joshua went up Mount Sinai for 40 days and 40 nights. And he held up Moses’ hands when the Amalekites attacked the camp at roughly the same time. Yet Caleb was only in his forties when the plans for the Tabernacle were drawn up. This is a puzzle which simply cannot be solved, at least by me. When Caleb’s father was 60, he married a woman from the tribe of Manasseh, and the son of Segub, Caleb’s first cousin, became a very big man, controlling, we are told, 23 towns in Gilead, east of the river Jordan. His large family When it came to children, Caleb was a very productive man. It is quite unusual for the Bible to record women by name, especially daughters and slave women, unless they played an important part in God’s purpose, like Hagar or Rizpah, for example. Yet, uniquely in the case of Caleb, two wives are named, Azubah and Ephrath, and four concubines or slave wives: Jerioth, Ephah, Jahdai and Maacah, mother of his daughter, Acsah. Acsah had a full brother Sheva, which means “number seven”! Altogether nineteen named sons are mentioned, and one named daughter. From simple principles of demography, Caleb must have begotten between forty and fifty children, some of whom pop up at various points in the scripture record. Interestingly, a grandson gave his name to one of the principal flash-points of violence in the world today, namely Hebron in the so-called West Bank. Caleb means dog in Hebrew, a word used in a pejorative way of Gentiles or non-Jews. He was undoubtedly considered a great “prince” of Judah, and, according to Luke’s gospel record, the Lord Jesus himself was descended from Caleb’s brother Ram. The Hebrew word “Ram,” as well as being a personal name, also means “the Syrian.” The Kenizzites are mentioned in Genesis 15 as one of the original ten “nations” occupying the land of Canaan in the time of Abraham. Caleb is definitely called a Kenizzite by Joshua, his close friend and fellow spy. So was he a Gentile who became a leading Israelite by adoption? All of this seems terribly complex, and a prime example of the “endless genealogies” which the apostle told us to avoid. But as “all Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable,” there must be some reason and purpose behind it all. Why Caleb is my friend I leave you to chase up the leads if you like detective stories, but I can tell you some very personal lessons that makes Caleb my favourite biblical character. He and his large family were fully involved in the daily lives of all God’s people. He had tremendous faith which enabled him to cope with and accept crushing disappointments without losing heart. Because he was a spiritual giant himself; the giants of Hebron were mere pygmies in his sight. He had God’s vision, God’s view of things. Like Paul much later, he could “silence” a Jewish mob simply by his confidence and determination. His behaviour and his passionate words of truth, when this rabble was about to fling stones at Moses and Aaron as they lay face down on the ground, were truly awesome. This is God’s estimation of Caleb: Caleb has a different spirit and follows me wholeheartedly. When he was 85, he looked back on a life full of joys and frustrations with a wonderful serenity of spirit, knowing and loving the God of his salvation. His thoughts are recorded in Joshua 14. I am the same age as he was when he spoke those words, and I can echo them. Unlike Caleb, I have no children. My physical body is much more feeble than his. But I thrill to his godly sentiments, and say with his spirit, I was forty years old when the Lord sent me from Britain to explore this land. And I brought back a report according to my convictions. I followed the Lord my God wholeheartedly. Now here I am today, eighty-five years old! I am still as strong today as I was forty-five years ago when God sent me out to the Caribbean. Beloved, be fervent in spirit, be instant in prayer. Remember the glory, remember the Land. Walter Draper, Port Maria Return to Top Strength to Carry On It was November, 1932, and I was nine years old. That was when a great wind came and the brightest lightning ever. My father made the home as safe as he could, telling my mother and us children to remain inside. Father was troubled knowing that a couple nearby were old and alone, so he went out and helped them to higher ground. You must understand that we were not related to these folks, but behaved like good Christians should, just helping each other. The night of that storm I was in a hammock looking after my one-year old brother, and holding him tight. One wall was blown in and the thatch roof blowing away. Birds could be seen through it, yes, I remember that. Prayers were being said all night, as the family kept together. We couldn’t pray God to take the storm away. It was already upon us! So we just prayed for strength to carry on. You wouldn’t believe what met our eyes when we came outside. There were fish all around and lobsters in bushes. Our main water cistern had split, and a big drum full of water had clear blown away. All the trees were down. The hardest part was putting ourselves together after the storm. It seemed beyond all power of man. But we believed in our prayers, and somehow we got through. Clear and plant, clear and plant: that’s all we could do. But the soil is good in Cayman and things soon became established once more, thanks to God. Who does ‘dem young people think they is, not believing in God? Who them think put all these beautiful plants and everything here? The storm of 1945 was hard too. By then we had a tin roof and father had to tie it down with rope we made ourselves from thatch. Then there was Gilbert who came close. What I recall of Gilbert is that the ground was covered with grapefruit everywhere you looked. I still plant and plait, a skill I learned from my father. I make baskets, hats and brushes, whatever people want. My garden holds all the plants and trees that God has given to Cayman. I have to tell people: life is hard, too hard to live without God. Nell Smith Return to Top I Will Hold Your People in My Heart I, the Lord of sea and sky, I have heard my people cry. All who dwell in dark and sin My hand will save. I who made the stars of night, I will make their darkness bright. Who will bear my light to them? Whom shall I send? Here I am, Lord. Is it I, Lord? I have heard you calling in the night. I will go, Lord, if you lead me. I will hold your people in my heart. I, the Lord of snow and rain, I have borne my people’s pain. I have wept for love of them. They turn away. I will break their hearts of stone, Give them hearts for love alone. I will speak my word to them. Whom shall I send? Here I am, Lord. Is it I, Lord? I have heard you calling in the night. I will go, Lord, if you lead me. I will hold your people in my heart. I, the Lord of wind and flame, I will tend the poor and lame. I will set a feast for them. My hand will save. Finest bread I will provide Till their hearts be satisfied. I will give my life to them. Whom shall I send? Here I am, Lord. Is it I, Lord? I have heard you calling in the night. I will go, Lord, if you lead me. I will hold your people in my heart. Words and music by Dan Shutte, reproduced by permission. Submitted by David White (Negril, Jamaica) after listening to them at a recent meeting and hoping that some others may be as inspired by the hymn as he was. Return to Top The Invincibility of Islam in Jamaica This was a full width banner headline in The Sunday Gleaner, the most respected Jamaican national weekly newspaper that spans three centuries, and which, until recently, has been both conservative and ‘Christian.’ Moreover, the paper has made it clear that there will be more articles on Islam, and that it will not publish articles critical of Muslims. Early in 2002, the Jamaican campus of the University of the West Indies established a professorship in Islamic History, and appointed a fundamentalist to the chair. The publications of this department indicate that its proclaimed intention to rewrite West Indian history in terms of jihad will be an immediate priority. The style of journalism below that newspaper headline is far removed from the centuries-old tradition of the Jamaican press. If the Christadelphians, or any other religious denomination for that matter, had submitted a similar self-adulating article, it would never have been entertained for publication by the editor. But in the aftermath of the great ‘victory,’ everything is different now. Below the headline is the following: All Praise be to Allah, the Creator of all creation, for His grace, mercy and guidance to establish the truth in West Indian history. Dedication: To Rasulullah Muhammad Mustafa and the Mujahadeen who sacrificed their lives to establish the dignity of the soul in Jamaica. Islam is deeply embedded and wrapped up in West Indian history. The unwrapping reveals the majestic beauty and richness of Islam like the glorious morning sun. Although much of the article is typically bombastic, some interesting ideas are put forward. The persistence of concubinage in Jamaica as the prevailing mating practice is seen as a great triumph for Islamic family values in the face of unsuccessful attempts to ‘Christianize’ family life. The names Jesus and Mary are “distortions” by the infidel of the real name of the prophet Issa and his mother Maryam. Finally, very prominent on this page of the Gleaner is a quote from “The Holy Quran.” Worldly power cannot defy the Right, nor can misused intelligence obscure God’s Light: this world’s strength, skill, beauty and power are like a spider’s web, flimsy before the eternal Verities. Since ‘September 11’, Islam has had an extraordinary renaissance in the Caribbean. Previous articles in the ‘Caribbean Pioneer’ have discussed this dramatic development in Trinidad and Guyana. The above editorial article takes up the story for Jamaica. Our readers, particularly Americans, should be aware that Muslims see ‘September 11’ as a tremendous victory for Islam in the fourteen hundred year war for world domination and its concomitant battle for absolute “Truth.” The proactive policies of the Bush administration and the security measures adopted in many countries are seen as fearful and futile attempts to thwart the inevitable conquest of the non-Islamic world by the followers of the Prophet.
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