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.

1 The Lord spake againe vnto Moses in the wildernesse of Sinai, in the Tabernacle of the Congregation, in the first day of the second moneth, in the second yere after they were come out of the land of Egypt, saying, 2 Take ye the summe of all the Congregation of the children of Israel, after their families, and housholdes of their fathers with the nomber of their names: to wit, all the males, man by man: 3 From twentie yere olde and aboue, all that go forth to the warre in Israel, thou and Aaron shall number them, throughout their armies. 4 And with you shalbe men of euery tribe, such as are the heads of the house of their fathers. 5 And these are the names of the men that shall stand with you, of the tribe of Reuben, Elizur, the sonne of Shedeur: 6 Of Simeon, Shelumiel the sonne of Zurishaddai: 7 Of Iudah, Nahshon the sonne of Amminadab: 8 Of Issachar, Nethaneel, the sonne of Zuar: 9 Of Zebulun, Eliab, the sonne of Helon: 10 Of the children of Ioseph: of Ephraim, Elishama the sonne of Ammihud: of Manasseh, Gamliel, the sonne of Pedahzur: 11 Of Beiamin, Abida the sonne of Gideoni: 12 Of Dan, Ahiezer, the sonne of Ammishaddai: 13 Of Asher, Pagiel, the sonne of Ocran: 14 Of Gad, Eliasaph, the sonne of Deuel: 15 Of Naphtali, Ahira the sonne of Enan. 16 These were famous in the Congregation, princes of the tribes of their fathers, and heads ouer thousands in Israel. 17 The Moses and Aaron tooke these men which are expressed by their names. 18 And they called all the Congregation together, in the first day of the second moneth, who declared their kindreds by their families, and by the houses of their fathers, according to the nomber of their names, from twentie yere olde and aboue, man by man. 19 As the Lord had commanded Moses, so he nombred them in the wildernesse of Sinai. 20 So were the sonnes of Reuben Israels eldest sonne by their generations, by their families, and by the houses of their fathers, according to the nomber of their names, man by man euery male from twentie yere olde and aboue, as many as went forth to warre: 21 The nomber of them, I say, of the tribe of Reuben, was sixe and fourtie thousande, and fiue hundreth. 22 Of the sonnes of Simeon by their generatios, by their families, and by the houses of their fathers, the summe therof by the nomber of their names, man by man, euery male from twentie yeere olde and aboue, all that went forth to warre: 23 The summe of them, I say, of the tribe of Simeon was nine and fiftie thousande, and three hundreth. 24 Of the sonnes of Gad by their generations, by their families, and by the houses of their fathers, according to the nomber of their names, from twentie yere olde and aboue, all that went forth to warre: 25 The number of them, I say, of the tribe of Gad was fiue and fourtie thousand, and six hundreth and fiftie. 26 Of the sonnes of Iudah by their generations, by their families, and by the houses of their fathers, according to the nomber of their names, from twentie yere olde and aboue, all that went forth to warre: 27 The nomber of them, I say, of the tribe of Iudah was three score and fourteene thousande, and sixe hundreth. 28 Of the sonnes of Issachar by their generations, by their families, and by the houses of their fathers, according to the nomber of their names, from twentie yeere olde and aboue, all that went forth to warre: 29 The nomber of them also of the tribe of Issachar was foure and fiftie thousande and foure hundreth. 30 Of the sonnes of Zebulun by their generations, by their families, and by the houses of their fathers, according to the number of their names, from twentie yeere olde and aboue, all that went foorth to warre: 31 The nomber of them also of the tribe of Zebulun was seuen and fiftie thousand and foure hundreth. 32 Of the sonnes of Ioseph, namely of the sonnes of Ephraim by their generations, by their families, and by the houses of their fathers, according to the nomber of their names, from twentie yeere olde and aboue, all that went foorth to warre: 33 The nomber of them also of the tribe of Ephraim was fourtie thousande and fiue hundreth. 34 Of the sonnes of Manasseh by their generations, by their families, and by the houses of their fathers, according to the nomber of their names, from twentie yeere olde and aboue, all that went foorth to warre: 35 The nober of the also of ye tribe of Manasseh was two and thirtie thousand and two hundreth. 36 Of the sonnes of Beniamin by their generations, by their families, and by the houses of their fathers, according to the nomber of their names, from twentie yeere olde and aboue, all that went foorth to warre: 37 The nomber of them also of the tribe of Beniamin was fiue and thirtie thousande and foure hundreth. 38 Of the sonnes of Dan by their generations, by their families, and by the houses of their fathers, according to the nomber of their names, from twentie yeere olde and aboue, all that went foorth to warre: 39 The nomber of the also of ye tribe of Dan was three score and two thousand and seue hudreth. 40 Of the sonnes of Asher by their generations, by their families, and by the houses of their fathers, according to the number of their names, from twentie yeere olde and aboue, all that went foorth to warre: 41 The nomber of them also of ye tribe of Asher was one and fourtie thousand and fiue hudreth. 42 Of the children of Naphtali, by their generations, by their families, and by the houses of their fathers, according to the nomber of their names, from twentie yeere olde and aboue, all that went to the warre: 43 The nomber of them also of the tribe of Naphtali, was three and fiftie thousand, and foure hundreth. 44 These are the summes which Moses, and Aaron nombred, and the Princes of Israel, the twelue men, which were euery one for the house of their fathers. 45 So this was all the summe of the sonnes of Israel, by the houses of their fathers, from twenty yeere olde and aboue, all that went to the warre in Israel, 46 And all they were in nomber sixe hudreth and three thousande, fiue hundreth and fiftie. 47 But the Leuites, after the tribes of their fathers were not nombred among them. 48 For the Lord had spoken vnto Moses, and said, 49 Onely thou shalt not number the tribe of Leui, neither take the summe of them among the children of Israel: 50 But thou shalt appoynt the Leuites ouer the Tabernacle of the Testimonie, and ouer all the instruments thereof, and ouer all things that belong to it: they shall beare the Tabernacle, and all the instruments thereof, and shall minister in it, and shall dwell round about the Tabernacle. 51 And when the Tabernacle goeth forth, the Leuites shall take it downe: and when the Tabernacle is to be pitched, ye Leuites shall set it vp: for the stranger that commeth neere, shalbe slaine. 52 Also the children of Israel shall pitch their tentes, euery man in his campe, and euery man vnder his standerd throughout their armies. 53 But the Leuites shall pitch rounde about the Tabernacle of the Testimonie, least vengeance come vpon the Congregation of the children of Israel, and the Leuites shall take the charge of the Tabernacle of the Testimonie. 54 So the children of Israel did according to all that ye Lord had comanded Moses: so did they.

The First Census of Israel

1 On the first day of the second month in the second year after the people of Israel left Egypt, the Lord spoke to Moses there in the Tent of his presence in the Sinai Desert. He said, 2 “You and Aaron are to take a census of the people of Israel by clans and families. List the names of all the men 3 twenty years old or older who are fit for military service. 4 Ask one clan chief from each tribe to help you.” 5-16 These are the men, leaders within their tribes, who were chosen from the community for this work:

Tribe Clan chiefReuben Elizur son of ShedeurSimeon Shelumiel son of ZurishaddaiJudah Nahshon son of AmminadabIssachar Nethanel son of ZuarZebulun Eliab son of HelonEphraim Elishama son of AmmihudManasseh Gamaliel son of PedahzurBenjamin Abidan son of GideoniDan Ahiezer son of AmmishaddaiAsher Pagiel son of OchranGad Eliasaph son of DeuelNaphtali Ahira son of Enan

17 With the help of these twelve men Moses and Aaron 18 called together the whole community on the first day of the second month and registered all the people by clans and families. The names of all the men twenty years old or older were recorded and counted, 19 as the Lord had commanded. In the Sinai Desert, Moses registered the people. 20-46 The men twenty years old or older who were fit for military service were registered by name according to clan and family, beginning with the tribe of Reuben, Jacob's oldest son. The totals were as follows:

Tribe NumberReuben 46,500Simeon 59,300Gad 45,650Judah 74,600Issachar 54,400Zebulun 57,400Ephraim 40,500Manasseh 32,200Benjamin 35,400Dan 62,700Asher 41,500Naphtali 53,400Total: 603,550

47 The Levites were not registered with the other tribes, 48 because the Lord had said to Moses, 49 “When you take a census of the men fit for military service, do not include the tribe of Levi. 50 Instead, put the Levites in charge of the Tent of my presence and all its equipment. They shall carry it and its equipment, serve in it, and set up their camp around it. 51 Whenever you move your camp, the Levites shall take the Tent down and set it up again at each new campsite. Anyone else who comes near the Tent shall be put to death. 52 The rest of the Israelites shall set up camp, company by company, each man with his own group and under his own banner. 53 But the Levites shall camp around the Tent to guard it, so that no one may come near and cause my anger to strike the community of Israel.” 54 So the people of Israel did everything that the Lord had commanded Moses.

Numbers 1