Truly
many of us didn't expect our Prophet TB Joshua of Synagogue Church of All
Nations, SCOAN, to be crying for the plights of helpless African Youths who
found them being chased out of South Africa. The politicians in all the
countries of Africa have only been making very calculated political statements
on the episode until TB Joshua cried about it. The public was in blindness,
seemingly due to political and economic failures in their respective countries.
African youths are now the victims. If these youths would survive "the Mediterranean
Sea death trap" they would take yet another risk to other places including
"South Africa". Since after apartheid it seems to us that South
Africa has no robust economic plan for the long future of that part of the
World. We wish our prophet to give a prophetic word on the economic development
of Africa in general. On academics, both short-term and long-term economic
development plans should be suggested.
Meanwhile,
why would Prophet TB Joshua leave the daily enormous problems in SCOAN and
shedding tears because some Africans are killing themselves over economic
survival; not necessarily criminal activities as South Africa government would
want the rest of the world to believe. The media claimed the loss of lives to
be just 12 souls. This number is relatively low compared to what is currently
ongoing in Libya, Syria, Yemen, Iraq and other parts of the world daily. The
hurricane in Bahamas, USA, or other place are claiming souls too.
The
first answer we got is that African leaders and their youth are living in blindness,
but TB Joshua can see. In Genesis 19:9-12 we read where the people of Sodom
were due for God's fire the next morning, but the inhabitants of that sinful
region failed to see. Instead, they blamed Lot saying, "This one fellow
came into sojourn, and he will needs be a judge: now will we deal worse with
thee, than with them". The angels in that episode saved Lot but they smote
the men that were at the door of Lot's house with blindness, both small and
great; so that they wearied themselves to find the door. Each society requires
a true Prophet in their midst for divine direction and guidance.
Incidentally,
some of TB Joshua's tears touched a few African leaders and the xenophobic
victims, producing some prevailing calmness currently. It's like the days of
Prophet Elisha when the Syrian government thought that the prophet in Israel
had a spy in his palace. Otherwise, why would Elisha be able to give correct
information about the plans and moves of the Syrian army to the King in Israel?
The full story could be read in 2 Kings 6. Therefore, the heart of the king of
Syria was sore troubled for this thing just as the hearts of many world leaders
are towards TB Joshua at the moment. Many church leaders, political or economic
leaders are unhappy with the man of God seeing their evil plans and teaching
the public which path to avoid or not. Eventually, they would find out where
the prophet Elisha lived so that they could arrest him.
"Therefore,
sent he thither horses, and chariots, and a great host: and they came by night,
and compassed the city about" to arrest the man of God. Whereas the
servant of Elisha was fearful about the strength of the enemies arraigned
against his master prophet Elisha wasn't blind either did he have to cry.
Instead, the prophet said to his servant, "Fear not: for they that be with
us are more than they that be with them". And Elisha prayed, and said,
LORD, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the LORD opened the eyes
of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and
chariots of fire round about Elisha. And when they came down to him, Elisha
prayed unto the LORD, and said, Smite this people, I pray thee, with blindness.
And he smote them with blindness according to the word of Elisha.
The
relevance in every society of true men and women of God in this dark age is
becoming more needful than before. Recently it appears that the government in
South Africa has learnt some lesson because it sent out peace envoys. Nevertheless,
we cannot say that African leaders have learnt anything. Xenophobia may happen
soon again in any part of Africa, including here in Nigeria or South Africa. If
political leaders have learnt their lessons it will be seen in the economic and
youth development programmes subsequently so that this generation of African
youths is not wasted away; drifting from pole to pole all in their search of
better places. This is when the tears of a prophet TB Joshua of our time could
be more effective when the government takes divine steps to avert coming
disasters.
Prof. R.
A. Ipinyomi, University of Ilorin, Nigeria.
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