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A thought on covenant:
In Suzein-Vassal covenant, between two unequal parties, let me focus on Abraham with God.
God as a superior power and Abraham as much inferior power. In this:
1. Only the superior power can initiate the treated.
2. Only the superior power gives the terms to the other.
3. No provision of negotiations or bargain from the inferior party.
4. The inferior party big role is to abide and act as the terms.A thoughtful point:
– Is salvation through Jesus, the same kind of covenant?
– Can it in any way be altered or negotiated?
– can us, as inferior party, do only what is applicable and acceptable to our culture, status or wisdom?
– why is us as subscribers to this covenant practice differently?The culture in patriarchal society exposes some character of God as really loving. He looks at our hearts’ intentions and not how we are but we can be when we accept to be lead by Him. It also exposes human weakness.
If we turn to Abraham, he accept to be heed God’s voice and left his home. An act which make him man of faith. He had not done anything great to be called and blessed. God just loved him.
Walking with God does not mean immune to hardships and trials. He was faced with barrenness in his house. This he decided to solve it as the society did. Another weakness was lack of patience.
We can learn of God’s love to humanity.
The sacrifice of the son of Sarah did not come as surprise. The culture where he came from had it. God used the same cultural practice to test him.
Learning this backgrounds deepens our understanding of the patriarchs and reflect on our relationship with God.My role model is David son of Jesse:
1. Respectful and obedience – He did do what parents asked regardless of how risky it was.
2. Faith in God – When facing Goliath, he believed in God for victory
3. Not revengeful – He did take chance to kill one who wanted to kill him(king Saul). Could not pay bad with bad.
4.Courageous- He went to grace in the same field he had been attacked by wild animals.
5. Resilience – David displayed a tough young man committed to his task regardless of persecution and hardships he faced
6. Self confidence – in fighting Goliath, he trusted his skills and style much it sounded unpopular.
7. Praiseful – it is said he played harp praising God as he tended the flock alone.The understanding that Bible translators endeavoured to maintain the contents of the original message as accurate as possible, leads me to appreciate the definition of translation as both the process and product of the same process. It is a process demanding a lot of research, consultations and reviews to ensure the product is accepted in the community targeted for it respects their language beauty and culture of the readers.
This leads me to appreciate the product (version of Bible), respecting the scholars involved in the time the process was undertaken.
It calls me to do some good study before conducting a Bible study.As a Bible reader, understanding translation definition is important in several ways:
Allows me to embrace different versions of the Bible and actually source them and use them along the version I had thought was accurate.
It has attracted me to dig a bit more in the language dynamics and structural principles.
It has enhanced my understanding of a given text when I consider the key words in the text how they are termed.Bible Translation.
There are several meaning of translation but basically is retelling the Bible or part of, from a given language to intended one.
The given language can be the original language writers wrote in ( Hebrew, Aramaic or Greek) or a source or supplied language from which translators will refer.
It can be a simple single activity especially done in sermons or teaching bible to a listening (target) audience. Or a process by a group of scholars to have detailed product (any bible version we read).
Goal
The main goal is to have biblical message reach the target audience or community in as much as accurate as the original intention and context, in clarity, in language they can understand, preserving theological significance.The translation enables the biblical instructions be accessible to many in their language. The translators must display both knowledge and sensitivity of historical and cultural contexts of the target community for it to embrace it and feel abided by the same.
It also help to conduct liturgical services in both the language and cultural set up, which is clear and acceptable to the target community.
Translation also help breakdown the linguistic barriers
It is very important bible translators to try as much as possible to preserve the original content and intentions.When translation is done word to word, some meanings are lost. Each language has some unique phrases, for example idioms, whose individual word has different meaning when the same word is used in a phrase. Let site an idiom which has come across my mind.
“Kick the bucket” which means to die but if put in Kiswahili directly will have a very different meaning
“Kupiga teke ndoo”
Also word to word may deny culture of target community not be expressed.One key feature of Patriarchal Period.
This is a biblical period from the time of Abraham to his great grandchildren sons of Jacob. It has different geographical location starting from Ur of Mesopotamia to the land of Egypt.
At this period, a male was the head of the family or clan and could make a decision which was followed (with few exceptions but also in those, he had to give consent).
Supporting examples
We can see what happened to Abraham. He had settled well in Haran after leaving Ur of Mesopotamia, a richly built city and one day (in obedience to voice of unknown God to others), decided he had to move to unknown destination. The household just followed for the head had said. (Gen 12:1-4)We look at where patriarch was to consent. Sarah, Abraham’s wife despised Hagar, her househelp she had given to Abraham to bear a child, and wanted to humble her put of the house and family if possible. She only did so when Abraham, the head of family consented.( Gen16:6)
Importance
Knowledge of the common practise among communities during patriarchal period, will help to understand why they did some activities.
In example of Sarah offering a maid to her husband was to solve the issue of barreness. It was not extraordinary circumstance. It was commonly done.
This may not necessarily mean it is right for our practice for patriarch Abraham did it as well his grandson Jacob.
