Bible – Bible Society of Zimbabwe

Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.-2

Get ready to dive deep into Independence Day, celebrated every 18th of April in Zimbabwe! It’s not just about parties and flags waving high, it’s a chance to think big. We’re talking about freedom, justice, and how Zimbabwe broke free from the past. And guess what? The Bible has a lot to say about all of this! So, let’s see how its stories help us understand why Independence Day is such a big deal.”

Freedom from Slavery

The story of when the Israelites got free from being slaves in Egypt, like it says in the Book of Exodus, is a lot like what countries go through when they want to be independent.. Through divine intervention and the leadership of Moses, the Israelites were liberated from the oppressive rule of Pharaoh and embarked on a journey toward the Promised Land, Canaan (Exodus 12 – Numbers 33). This narrative underscores the biblical principle that God desires freedom for His people and calls upon individuals to resist bondage and oppression.

Justice and Equality

The prophets from the Bible always said that fairness and being equal are really important. They told leaders and everyone else to treat people who are pushed aside or treated badly with respect and fairness. The prophet Isaiah exhorted, “Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed. Take up the cause of the fatherless; plead the case of the widow” (Isaiah 1:17, NIV). Independence Day serves as a reminder of the ongoing struggle for justice and equality, echoing the prophetic call to advocate for the rights of all individuals, regardless of their social status or background.

Responsibility and Promise

While Independence Day commemorates the attainment of freedom, it also underscores the responsibility that comes with it. The biblical narrative emphasizes the importance of living in accordance with God’s laws and upholding moral principles. The promise between God and the Israelites, symbolised by the giving of the Ten Commandments, serves as a reminder that true freedom is found in obedience to divine guidance. ‘You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites.” (Exodus 19 v 4-6 NIV).

Conclusion

Independence Day offers an opportunity to reflect on the biblical principles of freedom, justice, and liberation. As you celebrate the attainment of independence, may you also heed the lessons of the Bible, striving to uphold justice, equality, and freedom in our societies. May you be inspired by the courage and resilience of those who have fought for liberation, and may you continue to pursue a world where all individuals can experience the blessings of true freedom.

The Journey from Egypt to Moab

1 The following account gives the names of the places where the Israelites set up camp after they left Egypt in their tribes under the leadership of Moses and Aaron. 2 At the command of the Lord, Moses wrote down the name of the place each time they set up camp.

3 The people of Israel left Egypt on the fifteenth day of the first month of the year, the day after the first Passover. Under the Lord's protection they left the city of Rameses in full view of the Egyptians, 4 who were burying the first-born sons that the Lord had killed. By doing this, the Lord showed that he was more powerful than the gods of Egypt.

5 The people of Israel left Rameses and set up camp at Sukkoth. 6 Their next camp was at Etham on the edge of the desert. 7 From there they turned back to Pi Hahiroth, east of Baal Zephon, and camped near Migdol. 8 They left Pi Hahiroth and passed through the Red Sea into the desert of Shur; after a three days' march they camped at Marah. 9 From there they went to Elim, where they camped, because there were twelve springs of water and seventy palm trees there.

10 They left Elim and camped near the Gulf of Suez. 11 Their next camp was in the desert of Sin. 12 Then they camped at Dophkah, 13 and after that at Alush. 14 Next was Rephidim, where there was no water for them to drink.

15-37 From Rephidim to Mount Hor they set up camp at the following places: the Sinai Desert, Kibroth Hattaavah (or “Graves of Craving”), Hazeroth, Rithmah, Rimmon Perez, Libnah, Rissah, Kehelathah, Mount Shepher, Haradah, Makheloth, Tahath, Terah, Mithkah, Hashmonah, Moseroth, Bene Jaakan, Hor Haggidgad, Jotbathah, Abronah, Eziongeber, the wilderness of Zin (that is, Kadesh), and Mount Hor, at the edge of the land of Edom.

38-39 At the command of the Lord, Aaron the priest climbed Mount Hor. At the age of 123 he died there on the first day of the fifth month of the fortieth year after the Israelites had left Egypt.

40 The king of Arad in southern Canaan heard that the Israelites were coming.

41-49 From Mount Hor to the plains of Moab the Israelites set up camp at the following places: Zalmonah, Punon, Oboth, the ruins of Abarim in the territory of Moab, Dibon Gad, Almon Diblathaim, the Abarim Mountains near Mount Nebo, and in the plains of Moab across the Jordan River from Jericho, between Beth Jeshimoth and Acacia Valley.

Instructions before Crossing the Jordan

50 There in the plains of Moab across the Jordan from Jericho the Lord gave Moses 51 the following instructions for Israel: “When you cross the Jordan into the land of Canaan, 52 you must drive out all the inhabitants of the land. Destroy all their stone and metal idols and all their places of worship. 53 Occupy the land and settle in it, because I am giving it to you. 54 Divide the land among the various tribes and clans by drawing lots, giving a large piece of property to a large clan and a small one to a small clan. 55 But if you do not drive out the inhabitants of the land, those that are left will be as troublesome as splinters in your eyes and thorns in your sides, and they will fight against you. 56 If you do not drive them out, I will destroy you, as I planned to destroy them.”

1 These are the iourneyes of the children of Israel, which went out of the land of Egypt according to their bands vnder the hand of Moses and Aaron. 2 And Moses wrote their going out by their iourneies according to ye commandement of the Lord: so these are ye iourneies of their going out. 3 Nowe they departed from Rameses the first moneth, euen the fifteenth day of the first moneth, on the morowe after the Passeouer: and the children of Israel went out with an hie hand in the sight of all the Egyptians. 4 (For the Egyptians buried all their first borne, which the Lord had smitten among them: vpon their gods also the Lord did execution.) 5 And the children of Israel remoued from Rameses, and pitched in Succoth. 6 And they departed from Succoth, and pitched in Etham, which is in the edge of the wildernesse. 7 And they remoued from Etham, and turned againe vnto Pi-hahiroth, which is before Baal-zephon, and pitched before Migdol. 8 And they departed from before Hahiroth, and went through the middes of the Sea into the wildernesse, and went three dayes iourney in the wildernesse of Etham, and pitched in Marah. 9 And they remoued from Marah, and came vnto Elim, and in Elim were twelue fountaines of water, and seuentie palme trees, and they pitched there. 10 And they remoued from Elim, and camped by the red Sea. 11 And they remoued from the red Sea, and lay in the wildernesse of Sin. 12 And they tooke their iourney out of the wildernesse of Sin, and set vp their tentes in Dophkah. 13 And they departed from Dophkah, and lay in Alush. 14 And they remoued from Alush, and lay in Rephidim, where was no water for the people to drinke. 15 And they departed from Rephidim, and pitched in the wildernesse of Sinai. 16 And they remoued from the desert of Sinai, and pitched in Kibroth Hattaauah. 17 And they departed from Kibroth Hattaauah, and lay at Hazeroth. 18 And they departed from Hazeroth, and pitched in Rithmah. 19 And they departed from Rithmah, and pitched at Rimmon Parez. 20 And they departed from Rimmon Parez, and pitched in Libnah. 21 And they remoued from Libnah, and pitched in Rissah. 22 And they iourneyed from Rissah, and pitched in Kehelathah. 23 And they went from Kehelathah, and pitched in mount Shapher. 24 And they remoued from mount Shapher, and lay in Haradah. 25 And they remoued from Haradah, and pitched in Makheloth. 26 And they remoued from Makheloth, and lay in Tahath. 27 And they departed from Tahath, and pitched in Tarah. 28 And they remoued from Tarah, and pitched in Mithkah. 29 And they went from Mithkah, and pitched in Hashmonah. 30 And they departed from Hashmonah, and lay in Moseroth. 31 And they departed from Moseroth, and pitched in Bene-iaakan. 32 And they remoued from Bene-iaakan, and lay in Hor-hagidgad. 33 And they went from Hor-hagidgad, and pitched in Iotbathah. 34 And they remoued from Iotbathah, and lay in Ebronah. 35 And they departed from Ebronah, and lay in Ezion-gaber. 36 And they remoued from Ezion-gaber, and pitched in the wildernesse of Zin, which is Kadesh. 37 And they remooued from Kadesh, and pitched in mount Hor, in the edge of the land of Edom. 38 (And Aaron the Priest went vp into mount Hor, at the commandement of the Lord, and died there, in the fourtieth yeere after the children of Israel were come out of the lande of Egypt, in the first day of the fifth moneth. 39 And Aaron was an hundreth, and three and twentie yeere olde, when hee dyed in mount Hor. 40 And King Arad the Canaanite, which dwelt in the South of the land of Canaan, heard of the comming of the children of Israel) 41 And they departed from mount Hor, and pitched in Zalmonah. 42 And they departed from Zalmonah, and pitched in Punon. 43 And they departed from Punon, and pitched in Oboth. 44 And they departed from Oboth, and pitched in Iie-abarim, in the borders of Moab. 45 And they departed from Iim, and pitched in Dibon-gad. 46 And they remooued from Dibon-gad, and lay in Almon-diblathaim. 47 And they remooued from Almon-diblathaim, and pitched in the mountaines of Abarim before Nebo. 48 And they departed from the mountaines of Abarim, and pitched in the plaine of Moab, by Iorden toward Iericho. 49 And they pitched by Iorden, from Bethieshimoth vnto Abel-shittim in the playne of Moab. 50 And the Lord spake vnto Moses in the playne of Moab, by Iorden towarde Iericho, saying, 51 Speake vnto the children of Israel, and say vnto them, When ye are come ouer Iorden to enter into the land of Canaan, 52 Ye shall then driue out all the inhabitants of the land before you, and destroy all their pictures, and breake asunder all their images of metall, and plucke downe all their hie places. 53 And ye shall possesse the lande and dwell therein: for I haue giue you ye land to possesse it. 54 And ye shall inherite the land by lot according to your families: to the more yee shall giue more inheritance, and to the fewer the lesse inheritance. Where the lot shall fall to any man, that shall be his: according to the tribes of your fathers shall ye inherite. 55 But if ye will not driue out the inhabitants of the land before you, then those which yee let ramaine of them, shalbe prickes in your eyes, and thornes in your sides, and shall vexe you in the land wherein ye dwell. 56 Moreouer, it shall come to passe, that I shall doe vnto you, as I thought to do vnto them.

Numbers 33