Chapter 3: Knowing Your Roots
Before we explore what it means to be born again in Chapter Five, we must first address the vital issue of our roots.
Across the world, nations are investing millions to rediscover and revive their lost cultural heritage. People naturally value their identity, and religion is often seen as an inseparable part of that identity. As a result, cultural revivals are often accompanied by religious revivals. In Africa, this trend has sparked renewed interest in African Traditional Religion. In Ghana, for example, there is growing advocacy for a return to the indigenous faiths of our forefathers.
But here’s the question: Is it enough to trace our roots only to our immediate ancestors?
Every tree has more than one type of root: the taproot, which goes deep, and the secondary and tertiary roots, which are closer to the surface. In the same way, our family tree has deeper origins than just our recent forebears. If we only look to our immediate ancestors, we are merely tracing our secondary roots, and that’s not deep enough. To truly understand who we are, we must trace our origins to the primary root, the taproot, which reveals our true identity, not just our cultural surface.
Redefining Culture
Before going further, let’s clarify what we mean by culture. According to the Advanced Learner’s Dictionary of Current English, culture is:
The advanced development of human potential, body, mind, and spirit, through training and experience.
The intellectual advancement seen in the arts and sciences of a society.
A particular state of intellectual development among a people.
The refinement of values, tastes, and interests.
Clearly, culture is not a static thing. It evolves. Culture is not about clinging to the past or returning to the dark ages, it is about refinement, growth, and development. A cultured society is one that experiences continuous advancement, spiritually, intellectually, and physically.
So when we speak of culture, we should expect growth and innovation in language, clothing, customs, festivals, and even religion. Any revival that does not bring forward movement in these areas is not true cultural revival.
Christianity And Culture
If that is culture, then Christianity is one of its highest expressions.
Christianity was not introduced to destroy cultures but to promote the full development of humanity, spirit, soul, and body, based on a model: Jesus Christ. Christ is the pattern after whom every person is to be shaped. From the promise of salvation to its final fulfillment, Christianity has always been for the whole human race.
Far from erasing cultures, Christianity preserves and uplifts them. A look at Ghana’s history proves this. Our local languages, Ewe, Akwapim Twi, Asante Twi, Ga, Fante, and others, have survived as cultural treasures largely because early Christian missionaries took the time to learn them, write them down, and translate the Bible into them. Even today, missionaries, both foreign and local, are working in remote communities to preserve languages by translating Scripture.
This is what true Christianity looks like: it identifies with people. It works within cultures, not against them. It values local languages and sees them as worthy vessels for divine truth. Christianity is not a foreign, elitist religion that demands prayers in ancient tongues like Hebrew, Latin, or Arabic. It is the people’s faith. It speaks in the voice of the ordinary man. It meets people where they are.
According to the Wycliffe Global Alliance’s Global Scripture Access Report (June 2024), translation work is currently underway in 3,526 languages across 173 countries, serving over 1.26 billion people. So far, full Bibles or New Testaments have been completed in 1,895 languages, and Scripture portions are available in an additional 871 languages.
This remarkable global effort shows that true Christianity values every culture and every language. It does not erase identity, it affirms and redeems it. Christianity does not call us to abandon our roots but to dig deeper, to go beyond the surface, and to discover our true taproot, God Himself.
As we have already seen in Chapter Two, Christianity had deep roots in North Africa long before it became established in many parts of Europe. This reminds us that Christianity is not foreign to Africa. It is part of our spiritual history and heritage.
It is also true that Christianity did not spread across the whole continent of Africa in those early centuries. Many factors contributed to this, including geography, trade routes, political changes, religious conflict, and the later spread of Islam across North Africa. Because of this, large parts of Africa did not receive the Christian faith from the ancient African church.
In later centuries, European missionaries brought the gospel to many parts of Africa. Although their work was sometimes mixed with the weaknesses and errors of their own culture and time, we must still acknowledge that many of them sacrificed greatly to preach Christ, translate Scripture, build schools, establish hospitals, and teach the faith. In that sense, they helped bring back to us something that was never truly foreign to Africa. Christianity is part of our heritage, and we must embrace the truth of the gospel with understanding and gratitude.
Now, let me pause and explain what culture is not. Some people include idol worship in their definition of culture. But we must understand that while Christianity seeks to liberate, dignify, and elevate people, it does not approve of idol worship.
The Bible teaches that human beings are created in the image of God ( Genesis 1:26–2). Therefore, when a person bows to an idol, he lowers himself before something that is less than the God who made him. He exchanges the glory God gave him for created things such as stones, animals, trees, rivers, or other objects of worship. This dishonours God and degrades the dignity He placed in man (Romans 1:22–25)
True Christianity must speak against idol worship in all its forms. Christianity seeks the advancement of the whole person, while idol worship brings spiritual bondage, fear, and moral decline. True culture should promote what is good, noble, just, and life-giving. Anything added to our cultural heritage that leads people into fear, oppression, blood rituals, witchcraft, occultism, tribal hatred, unforgiveness, or injustice must be rejected.
We must also remember that for every genuine thing, there can be a counterfeit. Just as there is true Christianity, there can also be false Christianity. In the same way, there can be true culture and counterfeit culture. Not everything called “culture” is worthy of preservation. We must test our roots carefully and hold on to what honours God and upholds human dignity.
Having clarified what culture is not, we can now continue our search for our true roots. As we saw in the previous chapter, God is not against the national identities of the peoples of the earth. On the contrary, He is the God of variety. He created people, nations, languages, and cultures, and He is glorified when they reflect His truth, beauty, and righteousness.
Nations Before the Throne of God
According to the Apostle John, people from every nation, tribe, people, and language will be part of the world to come, after sin and death have been removed from the earth.
“After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb.”
Revelation 7:9, NIV
John also heard a loud voice from the throne declaring that God would dwell with His people:
“I heard a loud shout from the throne saying, look, the house of God is now among men and He will live with them and they will be His people, yes, God Himself will be among them.”
Revelation 21:3, TLB
“I did not see a temple in the city, because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light and the Lamb is its lamp. The NATIONS will walk by its light and the kings of the earth will bring their splendor into it. On no day will its gates ever be shut, for there will be no night there. The glory and honour of the nations will be brought into it. Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful (because sin is no more), but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life”Revelation 21:22–27
One God, Many Nations
In other words, even in the everlasting Kingdom, there will still be nations, languages, and cultural distinctions, but there will be no more sin and death. The people of God will not lose their identity, but their identity will no longer be tied to sinful practices or false worship.
It is important to note that in the everlasting Kingdom, there will be one God and one people. The nations may still be known by their languages, appearance, and cultural expressions, but there will be no division of worship. They will not serve different gods or follow different religions with different creeds and rituals. All nations will worship the one true God.
This helps us understand the difference between culture and false worship. God is not against nations, languages, or cultural identity. But He is against anything that replaces Him, dishonours Him, or leads people away from the truth. That is why this chapter is important. We are not merely looking for our cultural roots. We are searching for our true roots in God.
Eden and the Origin of Humanity
The Bible presents Eden as the place where human life began. Genesis describes a river flowing from Eden, which divided into four rivers. One of them, the Gihon, is said to have flowed around the land of Cush, while the Pishon flowed around the land of Havilah.
“A river watering the garden flowed from Eden; from there it was separated into four headwaters. The name of the first is the Pishon; it winds through the entire land of Havilah, where there is gold. The name of the second river is the Gihon; it winds through the entire land of Cush.”
Genesis 2:10–13, NIV
Genesis also records Cush and Havilah among the descendants of Ham:
“The sons of Ham: Cush, Egypt, Put and Canaan. The sons of Cush: Seba, Havilah, Sabtah, Raamah and Sabteka.”
Genesis 10:6–7, NIV
These passages are important because they connect the early biblical story of humanity with regions associated with Africa and the ancient Near East. The Bible teaches that humanity began from one origin and spread across the earth.
From Adam to Noah
The Bible records the creation of Adam, the fall of the human race, the spread of humanity, the wickedness of mankind, and the judgement of the Flood. After the Flood, the Bible presents Noah and his family as the beginning of a renewed human race.
God then entered into a covenant with Noah and his sons. This means that Noah’s sons were included in the covenant promise. In Genesis, we read:
“Then God said to Noah and to his sons with him, ‘I now establish my covenant with you and with your descendants after you.’”
Genesis 9:8–9, NIV
This covenant was not made with one son only. It was made with Noah, his sons, and their descendants after them. This is important because it reminds us that all humanity came under the covenant mercy of God after the Flood.
Noah’s Covenant and the Nations
Now, let us take note of what God said:
“I now establish my covenant with you and with your descendants after you.”
Genesis 9:9, NIV
This covenant was made with Noah, his sons, and their descendants. It reminds us that the peoples of the earth share a common human origin before God. The Bible presents humanity as one family, spread across the earth through the descendants of Noah.
This is why the search for our true roots is important. Many people today understand themselves mainly through their tribe, nation, religion, philosophy, or inherited tradition. But the Bible calls us to look deeper. Our true beginning is not found in idols, human philosophies, or man-made religion. Our true beginning is found in the God who created humanity and entered into covenant with Noah and his descendants.
Across the world, people have worshipped many gods and followed many religious systems. Some have worshipped gods connected with rain, fertility, the sea, the sun, love, and other areas of life. Others have followed mystical, philosophical, or human-centred systems of belief. But Scripture teaches that there is one Creator, and all people are called to know and worship Him.
The Bible speaks about the ancestry of the nations in Genesis 10 and 1 Chronicles 1. These passages are often called the “Table of Nations” because they describe the spread of peoples after the Flood.
Ham and His Descendants
The Scriptures tell us that Noah had three sons: Shem, Ham, and Japheth. Genesis records that these three sons and their wives were part of Noah’s family after the Flood. The nations are then presented as spreading from their descendants.
Ham had four sons: Cush, Mizraim, Put, and Canaan.
“The sons of Ham: Cush, Egypt, Put and Canaan.”
Genesis 10:6, NIV
Cush is often associated with the region south of Egypt, including Nubia and areas connected with ancient Ethiopia. Mizraim is commonly associated with Egypt. Put is often connected with Libya or North Africa, although its exact identification is debated. Canaan is associated with the Canaanites, who settled in the land of Canaan.
This is important because the curse recorded in Genesis 9 was not spoken over Ham or all his descendants. It was spoken specifically over Canaan.
“Cursed be Canaan! The lowest of slaves will he be to his brothers.”
Genesis 9:25, NIV
Therefore, those who use Noah’s words to claim that God cursed all Africans have misread the Scripture. The passage does not say that Ham was cursed. It does not say that Cush, Mizraim, or Put were cursed. It says Canaan was cursed. We must study the Scriptures carefully and refuse interpretations that have been used to justify oppression, racism, slavery, or colonial rule.
Africa, Cush, and Ethiopia in Biblical History
It is also helpful to understand how names were used in the ancient world. In Roman times, “Africa” first referred especially to Rome’s province in North Africa, around the area of present-day Tunisia, and later the name came to be used more widely. Today, of course, Africa refers to the whole continent.
The biblical name Cush is often connected with the region south of Egypt, especially ancient Nubia. The Greeks used the name Ethiopia for this region, and some biblical translations also render Cush as Ethiopia.
This helps explain why some older Bible dictionaries describe Ethiopia as a land south of Egypt, connected with Nubia and the Nile region. In the New Testament, Acts 8 mentions an Ethiopian official who served under Candace, queen of the Ethiopians. “Candace” was likely a royal title associated with queens of Meroë, in the region of Nubia.
Approximate regions associated with the descendants of Ham in Genesis 10.
This modern map is for biblical orientation only and shows the regions in broad terms, not precise
ancient locations or boundaries.
These details show that Africa is not absent from the Bible. African regions and peoples appear in both the Old Testament and the New Testament. This strengthens the point that Christianity is not foreign to Africa, and that Africans should not see the God of the Bible as a stranger.
Reading the Genealogies Carefully
Genesis 10 also mentions other descendants and peoples connected with Ham’s line, including Nimrod, Sidon, Heth, the Jebusites, and the Philistines. These names are connected with ancient peoples and places in the biblical world.
The Bible presents all humanity as one family before God. No race, tribe, or people should be treated as cursed, inferior, or outside the reach of God’s covenant mercy. All nations came from God’s creative purpose, and all nations are called back to Him.
Shem and His Descendants
Next, let us consider Shem. The genealogy of Shem is covered in several parts of Scripture, especially in Genesis 10, Genesis 11, 1 Chronicles 1, and 1 Chronicles 2.
Shem’s sons were Elam, Asshur, Arphaxad, Lud, and Aram.
“The sons of Shem: Elam, Ashur, Arphaxad, Lud and Aram.”
Genesis 10:22, NIV
These names are connected with peoples and regions in the ancient Near East. Elam is commonly associated with the Elamites, who lived east of Mesopotamia, near the region of ancient Persia. Asshur is associated with Assyria. Aram is associated with the Arameans, later connected with Syria.
It is also important to note that Abraham came through the line of Shem, through Arphaxad. From Abraham came Ishmael and Isaac. Ishmael became the father of the Ishmaelites, while Isaac became the father of Esau and Jacob. Esau became associated with Edom, while Jacob became the father of the Israelites.
Abraham also had six sons through Keturah, whom he married after the death of Sarah.
“Abraham had taken another wife, whose name was Keturah. She bore him Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak and Shuah.”
Genesis 25:1–2, NIV
While Isaac remained the child of promise, Abraham gave gifts to the sons of his other wives and sent them eastward, away from Isaac.
“Abraham left everything he owned to Isaac. But while he was still living, he gave gifts to the sons of his concubines and sent them away from his son Isaac to the land of the east.”
Genesis 25:5–6, NIV
This shows that Abraham’s family line spread beyond Israel and into surrounding regions. The Bible connects several peoples of the ancient world to this wider family history.
Japheth and His Descendants
Let us now consider Japheth. Genesis records that Japheth had seven sons: Gomer, Magog, Madai, Javan, Tubal, Meshech, and Tiras.
“The sons of Japheth: Gomer, Magog, Madai, Javan, Tubal, Meshek and Tiras.”
Genesis 10:2, NIV
These names are often associated with peoples who settled in parts of Asia Minor, the Mediterranean world, and regions north of the ancient Near East. Javan is commonly associated with the Greeks. Madai is commonly associated with the Medes. Gomer, Tubal, Meshech, and Magog have been linked by some scholars to peoples around Anatolia, the Black Sea region, and nearby territories.
Japheth’s descendants are connected with peoples of the ancient Mediterranean and regions north and west of the biblical world.
Genesis tells us that from these family lines, peoples spread into their lands, clans, nations, and languages.
“From these the maritime peoples spread out into their territories by their clans within their nations, each with its own language.”
Genesis 10:5, NIV
Again, Genesis says:
“These are the clans of Noah’s sons according to their lines of decent, within their nations. From these the nations spread out over the earth after the flood”
Genesis 10:32, NIV
Returning to Our True Roots
From the biblical point of view, all humanity is connected to Noah and his sons. The Bible presents the nations of the earth as having spread from the family of Noah after the Flood. This means that, before we speak of tribe, race, nationality, or culture, we must first remember that all people share one origin before God.
Whether a person is connected with the line of Shem, Ham, Japheth, or with a mixture of many peoples, the message remains the same: humanity belongs to the God who created us. The covenant God made with Noah was not for one family line alone. It was made with Noah, his sons, and their descendants after them.
“I now establish my covenant with you and with your descendants after you.”
Genesis 9:9, NIV
This means our true roots are deeper than the traditions we inherited from our immediate ancestors. Some of our forefathers may have turned away from the knowledge of the true God and followed idols, religious systems, or human philosophies. But we must look beyond the surface. We must go back to the God of creation, the God of Noah, the God of Shem, the God of Ham, and the God of Japheth.
We do not find our deepest roots in African Traditional Religion, Asian Traditional Religion, European philosophy, or any other religious system. Our roots go further back than these. They go back to the God who made all people and called humanity into covenant with Himself.
What the present generation needs is a return to the Maker of the universe. We must return to the God of our fathers, not merely the fathers of a few generations ago, but the God who stood at the beginning of human history. This is the call of this chapter: go back to your true roots. Return to the everlasting God, the Creator of heaven and earth.
The Bible shows that, over time, people turned away from God and gave themselves to idols and false worship. Kingdoms and empires rose, cultures developed, and religions multiplied. But the multiplication of religions did not change the truth that there is one Creator and one true God.
Therefore, the call is clear: return to the God who made you. Return to the God who entered into covenant with Noah and his descendants. Return to the God who calls all nations, tribes, peoples, and languages back to Himself.
The Nations, Peoples, and Empires that turned away from God
For the rest of this chapter, we shall look at some of the ancient nations and empires that rose after the Flood. This will help us see how humanity gradually moved away from the knowledge of the true God and became attached to idols, false worship, and religious systems that could not save.
The following summary is adapted from Wilmington’s account of ancient nations and empires.
The Canaanite People
The Canaanites were among the ancient peoples who lived in the land of Canaan, a region centred on Palestine and its surrounding areas. Canaan was made up of different peoples, cities, and kingdoms that occupied various parts of the land.
The Canaanites practised forms of idol worship. Among the deities associated with Canaanite religion were El, Baal, Astarte or Ashtoreth, and Molech. Baal was especially associated with fertility worship, while Molech is associated in the Bible with the practice of child sacrifice.
The Bible strongly condemns these practices. In Deuteronomy, God warned Israel not to imitate the worship and customs of the nations in Canaan:
“You must destroy all the peoples the Lord your God gives over to you.
Do not look on them with pity and do not serve their gods, for that will be a snare to you.”
Deuteronomy 7:16, NIV
The Bible also records that Solomon was led astray into the worship of foreign gods:
“He followed Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, and Molek the detestable god of the Ammonites. So Solomon did evil in the eyes of the Lord; he did not follow the Lord completely, as David his father had done.
On a hill east of Jerusalem, Solomon built a high place for Chemosh the detestable god of Moab, and for Molek the detestable god of the Ammonites. He did the same for all his foreign wives, who burned incense and offered sacrifices to their gods.”
1 Kings 11:5–8, NIV
The Canaanites were descended from Canaan, the son of Ham, as recorded in Genesis 10. The Phoenicians, who lived along the coastal regions of Tyre and Sidon, are also closely associated with the Canaanite peoples. Other neighbouring groups, such as the Moabites and Ammonites, were not Canaanites by descent, but they were part of the wider world of ancient peoples whose idolatrous practices often influenced Israel. The Philistines were also a neighbouring people and are connected in Scripture with the line of Mizraim.
These nations and peoples show how deeply idolatry had spread in the ancient world. Their worship practices often involved sacrifices, fertility rites, and devotion to many gods. This was why God warned Israel not to follow their ways.
The issue was not culture itself. The issue was worship that turned people away from the living God and corrupted human life. The Bible warns against idolatry, child sacrifice, sexual immorality, and every form of worship that dishonours God. The call, therefore, is not to reject people or nations, but to reject every practice that leads humanity away from the Creator.
The Sumerian Civilization
Next, let us consider the Sumerians. Sumer was one of the earliest civilizations of ancient Mesopotamia, flourishing in the region of southern Mesopotamia, in what is now southern Iraq. It was not one united world empire in the modern sense, but a civilization made up of powerful city-states such as Ur, Uruk, Lagash, and Nippur.
The Bible connects this region with Shinar and Babel. Genesis records that Nimrod was a mighty man on the earth and that the beginning of his kingdom included Babel, Erech, Akkad, and Calneh in Shinar.
“The first centres of his kingdom were Babylon, Uruk, Akkad and Kalneh, in Shinar.”
Genesis 10:10, NIV
Religion played a central role in the lives of the people of Mesopotamia. Each city had its own patron deity, and the temples were important centres of religious and social life. The people developed a complex system of myths, gods, rituals, and beliefs.
Among the deities associated with Mesopotamian religion were Inanna, later known as Ishtar, and Dumuzi, later known as Tammuz. Inanna or Ishtar was associated with love, war, and fertility. Dumuzi or Tammuz was associated with fertility, vegetation, and the cycle of life and death.
The people of Mesopotamia also studied the heavenly bodies, and over time this became closely connected with religious belief and astrology. Instead of worshipping the Creator of the heavens, people began to attach divine meaning to the movement of the sun, moon, stars, and planets.
The Tower of Babel also arose in the land of Shinar. The Bible does not directly say that Nimrod built the tower, but it places the beginning of his kingdom in Babel and later records that the people of Shinar built a city and tower in rebellion against God.
“Then they said, ‘Come, let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we may make a name for ourselves; otherwise we will be scattered over the face of the whole earth.’”
Genesis 11:4, NIV
This was the spirit of Babel. Instead of walking humbly with God, the people sought to make a name for themselves. Instead of obeying God’s command to fill the earth, they gathered in pride and self-exaltation. In this way, they also forgot the covenant of their fathers and moved further away from the living God.
The Egyptian Empire
Next, let us consider Egypt. Ancient Egypt was one of the greatest centres of early civilization. In the Bible, Egypt is closely associated with Mizraim, one of the sons of Ham.
Egypt became known for its wealth, learning, architecture, government, and influence. Yet, like many other ancient nations, Egypt also turned to the worship of many gods. Instead of worshipping the covenant God of their fathers, the Egyptians gave honour to idols and deities connected with nature, fertility, death, kingship, and the afterlife.
One of the well-known deities of Egypt was Isis. She was honoured as a mother goddess and was associated with protection, motherhood, and religious devotion. Her worship involved processions, hymns, incense, offerings, and sacred ceremonies. But however dignified a religious system may appear outwardly, it cannot replace the worship of the one true God.
The Bible speaks clearly about the idolatry of Egypt. Through the prophet Isaiah, God declared:
“A prophecy against Egypt: See, the Lord rides on a swift cloud and is coming to Egypt. The idols of Egypt tremble before him, and the hearts of the Egyptians melt with fear. ‘I will stir up Egyptian against Egyptian, brother will fight against brother, neighbor against neighbor, city against city, kingdom against kingdom. The Egyptians will lose heart, and I will bring their plans to nothing; they will consult the idols and the spirits of the dead the mediums and the spiritists. I will hand the Egyptians over to the power of a cruel master, and a fierce king will rule over them,’ declares the Lord, the Lord Almighty.
Isaiah 19:1–4, NIV
This passage shows that Egypt’s problem was not civilization, learning, or national identity. The problem was idolatry and dependence on false spiritual powers. Instead of seeking the living God, they consulted idols, the spirits of the dead, mediums, and spiritists.
The Bible also warns against offerings made to false gods. In Jeremiah, the Lord rebuked the people for worshipping the “Queen of Heaven” and pouring out drink offerings to other gods:
“The children gather wood, the fathers light the fire, and the women knead the dough and make cakes to offer to the Queen of Heaven. They pour out drink offerings to other gods to arouse my anger. But am I the one they are provoking? declares the Lord. Are they not rather harming themselves, to their own shame? Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says:
My anger and my wrath will be poured out on this place, on man and beast, on the trees of the field and on the crops of your land, and it will burn and not be quenched.”
Jeremiah 7:18–20, NIV
This is why practices such as consulting the dead, seeking mediums, or pouring out drink offerings to other gods must not be treated as harmless culture. These things lead people away from the Lord and provoke His judgement.
If idolatry brings spiritual loss and judgement, why should people continue in it? Why should any generation remain bound to practices that separate them from God? The better way is to return to our true roots and embrace the God of creation, the covenant God of our fathers.
Egypt, with all its greatness, also went after other gods. Its story reminds us that civilization without obedience to God cannot save a people. What God desires is not merely culture, power, or learning, but worship that is directed to Him alone.
The Babylonian Empire
Next, let us consider the Babylonian Empire. Babylon was one of the great kingdoms of the ancient world. It rose in Mesopotamia and became especially powerful under the Chaldean dynasty, during the reign of King Nebuchadnezzar.
The history of Babylon involved many peoples and ruling groups over time, including the Amorites, Kassites, Assyrians, Elamites, and Chaldeans. Through these periods, Babylon became known for power, wealth, learning, and religious devotion. Yet, like many ancient nations, its religion was centred on many gods.
The chief god of Babylon was Marduk. Babylonian worship also included deities such as Ishtar and Bel. The city was known for its temples, shrines, images, and altars. But with all its glory and religious activity, Babylon had moved away from the worship of the one true God.
The Bible gives us a clear picture of Babylonian idolatry. In Daniel 3, King Nebuchadnezzar made a great image of gold and set it up on the plain of Dura. He then commanded the people to bow down and worship the image.
“King Nebuchadnezzar made an image of gold, sixty cubits high and six cubits wide, and set it up on the plain of Dura in the province of Babylon.”
Daniel 3:1, NIV
But the story of Nebuchadnezzar did not end with idolatry and pride. In Daniel 4, we see that God humbled him and brought him to the knowledge that the Most High rules over the kingdoms of men.
Nebuchadnezzar looked at Babylon and boasted in his own greatness:
“Is not this the great Babylon I have built as the royal residence, by my mighty power and for the glory of my majesty?”
Daniel 4:30, NIV
While the words were still on his lips, judgement came upon him. His royal authority was taken from him, and he was driven away from people until he acknowledged that the Most High is sovereign over all kingdoms.
At the end of that period, Nebuchadnezzar lifted his eyes to heaven, and his sanity was restored. Then he declared:
“Then I praised the Most High; I honored and glorified him who lives forever. His dominion is an eternal dominion; his kingdom endures from generation to generation. All the peoples of the earth are regarded as nothing. He does as he pleases with the powers of heaven and the peoples of the earth. No one can hold back his hand or say to him: ‘What have you done?’”
Daniel 4:34–35, NIV
Nebuchadnezzar then testified:
“Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt and glorify the King of heaven, because everything he does is right and all his ways are just. And those who walk in pride he is able to humble.”
Daniel 4:37, NIV
This is the discovery that every nation and generation needs to make. Power, wealth, civilization, and religion cannot replace the living God. Babylon had temples, images, altars, and kings, but Nebuchadnezzar had to learn that there is only one sovereign Lord over heaven and earth.
The world today still needs this truth. Whenever people turn from God to idols, spiritual powers, human pride, or man-made systems, they repeat the error of Babylon. What we need is not a return to idols, but a return to the God whom Nebuchadnezzar finally acknowledged: the King of heaven, whose dominion is eternal and whose ways are just.
The Philistine People
Let us now consider the Philistines. The Philistines were a coastal people who settled along the southern coast of Canaan around the twelfth century B.C. They were especially associated with five major cities: Gaza, Ashkelon, Ashdod, Ekron, and Gath.
The Bible connects the Philistines with Mizraim:
“Mizraim was the father of the Ludites, Anamites, Lehabites, Naphtuhites, Pathrusites, Kasluhites, from whom the Philistines came, and Caphtorites.”
1 Chronicles 1:11–12, NIV
The Philistines also practised idol worship. Among the gods associated with them were Dagon, Ashtoreth, and Baal-Zebub. Dagon was worshipped by the Philistines, and the Bible records that the ark of God was once placed in the temple of Dagon after it had been captured.
“After the Philistines had captured the ark of God, they took it from Ebenezer to Ashdod. Then they carried the ark into Dagon’s temple and set it beside Dagon.”
1 Samuel 5:1–2, NIV
The Philistines also honoured Ashtoreth. After the death of Saul and his sons on Mount Gilboa, the Bible records:
“The next day, when the Philistines came to strip the dead, they found Saul and his three sons fallen on Mount Gilboa. They cut off his head and stripped off his armor, and they sent messengers throughout the land of the Philistines to proclaim the news in the temple of their idols and among their people. They put his armor in the temple of the Ashtoreths and fastened his body to the wall of Beth Shan.”
1 Samuel 31:8–10, NIV
The Bible also mentions Baal-Zebub, the god of Ekron, when King Ahaziah of Israel sent messengers to inquire of him instead of seeking the Lord.
“Now Ahaziah had fallen through the lattice of his upper room in Samaria and injured himself. So he sent messengers, saying to them, ‘Go and consult Baal-Zebub, the god of Ekron, to see if I will recover from this injury.’”
2 Kings 1:2, NIV
Here again, we see a people who had turned from the knowledge of the true God and given themselves to idols. The Philistines had cities, military strength, and influence, but their worship was directed to gods that could not save. Their story reminds us that no people can find their true roots in idols. We must return to the living God, the Maker of all nations.
The Assyrian Empire
Next, let us consider the Assyrian Empire. Assyria was one of the great powers of the ancient Near East. It rose in northern Mesopotamia and became known for its military strength, expansion, and rule over many peoples.
The Assyrians are connected with Asshur, one of the sons of Shem.
“The sons of Shem: Elam, Ashur, Arphaxad, Lud and Aram.”
Genesis 10:22, NIV
Nineveh later became one of the great cities of Assyria and served as an important royal city. The Assyrians were known for their power and harsh treatment of conquered peoples. Their strength made them feared among the nations, but their greatness did not bring them closer to God.
The Bible records that God sent Jonah to Nineveh because of the wickedness of the city:
“The word of the Lord came to Jonah son of Amittai: ‘Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before me.’”
Jonah 1:1–2, NIV
Like many ancient nations, the Assyrians also practised idol worship. Their national god was Ashur, who was closely associated with the Assyrian state and its military power. Their empire was therefore not only political and military, but also deeply religious.
Yet the story of Nineveh also shows the mercy of God. When Jonah finally preached to the city, the people of Nineveh believed God, humbled themselves, and turned from their evil ways.
“When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, he relented and did not bring on them the destruction he had threatened.”
Jonah 3:10, NIV
This shows that God is not only the Judge of nations, but also the God who calls nations to repentance. Assyria had power, armies, cities, and gods of its own, but none of these could save it. What God desired was repentance and a return to Him.
The Assyrian Empire reminds us that no nation is too great to be judged, and no people are too far gone to be called back to God. The true hope of every nation is not in military power, political strength, or national gods, but in the living God who rules over all the earth.
The Medo-Persian Empire
We now come to the Medo-Persian Empire. This empire rose after the fall of Babylon. Daniel 5 records the fall of the Babylonian kingdom and the rise of the Medes and Persians.
“That very night Belshazzar, king of the Babylonians, was slain, and Darius the Mede took over the kingdom, at the age of sixty-two.”
Daniel 5:30–31, NIV
The Medo-Persian Empire became a major power in the ancient world. It ruled over many nations and peoples, and it is remembered in Scripture as the empire that came after Babylon.
Like other ancient empires, the Medes and Persians had their own religious system. Persian religion later became closely associated with Zoroastrianism, which taught reverence for Ahura Mazda, often understood as “the Wise Lord.” Their religion was different from the idol worship of some surrounding nations, but it was still not the worship of the covenant God revealed in Scripture.
The Persians were also known for allowing conquered peoples to practise their own religions. Because of this, some Persian kings played an important role in the return of the Jews from exile and the rebuilding of Jerusalem.
Cyrus, king of Persia, issued a decree that allowed the Jews to return and rebuild the temple of the Lord in Jerusalem.
“This is what Cyrus king of Persia says: ‘The Lord, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth and he has appointed me to build a temple for him at Jerusalem in Judah. Any of his people among you may go up to Jerusalem in Judah and build the temple of the Lord, the God of Israel, the God who is in Jerusalem, and may their God be with them.’”
Ezra 1:2–3, NIV
Later, Artaxerxes also gave support connected with the restoration of Jerusalem. In the days of Nehemiah, he granted permission for the walls of Jerusalem to be rebuilt.
“And because the gracious hand of my God was on me, the king granted my requests.”
Nehemiah 2:8, NIV
The Medo-Persian Empire therefore shows us something important. Even when nations do not fully know the true God, God remains sovereign over kings and empires. He can use rulers, kingdoms, and political powers to fulfil His purpose.
Yet the kindness of Persian kings did not make their religion the way back to God. The true way back to God is not through any empire, religious system, or human philosophy. It is through the Lord Himself, the God who rules over the kingdoms of men and directs history according to His will.
The Grecian Empire
Next, let us consider the Grecian Empire. Greece became one of the most influential powers of the ancient world, especially through the conquests of Alexander the Great in the fourth century B.C.
The Greeks made significant contributions to history, medicine, philosophy, literature, public speaking, politics, and the arts. Famous Greek names include Herodotus, often called the father of history; Hippocrates, often called the father of medicine; Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle, who greatly influenced philosophy; Demosthenes, who became known for oratory; and Alexander the Great, whose conquests spread Greek influence across many lands.
Yet, with all their learning, culture, and influence, the Greeks also worshipped many gods. Their religious life was filled with myths, temples, sacrifices, and devotion to the gods of the Greek pantheon.
Among the most notable Greek gods was Zeus, who was regarded as the chief of the Olympian gods. Hermes was known as a messenger of the gods. Artemis was also worshipped as a major Greek goddess.
Greek mythology taught stories about the origin and relationships of the gods. According to these myths, Chaos came first, followed by Gaia, the earth, and Uranus, the heavens. From them came other divine figures, including Cronos and Rhea, who were regarded as the parents of several Olympian gods. Zeus, their son, became the chief of the Olympian gods and was connected with many other gods and goddesses in Greek mythology.
This shows again that civilization and knowledge alone cannot bring people back to God. The Greeks had learning, philosophy, political thought, art, and military power, but they still turned to many gods. Their story reminds us that human wisdom, when separated from the knowledge of the true God, cannot save the soul.
The Apostle Paul later encountered this religious world in Athens. When he saw the city full of idols, he did not deny their search for the divine. Instead, he pointed them to the one true God, the Creator of heaven and earth.
“The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by human hands.”
Acts 17:24, NIV
Paul then declared that God made all nations from one man and appointed their times and places, so that they might seek Him.
“From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands. God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us.”
Acts 17:26–27, NIV
This is the message every nation must hear. God is not far from any people. He is not the property of one race, tribe, empire, or civilization. He is the Maker of all nations, and all people must return to Him.
The Roman Empire
The last great world empire before the coming of Christ was the Roman Empire. Rome was traditionally founded in 753 B.C. Over time, it grew from a city into a powerful republic, and later into an empire that ruled many nations.
Rome gained control over central Italy by the fourth century B.C. and later defeated Carthage in 146 B.C., making it the dominant power in the Mediterranean world. By the time Jesus Christ was born, Rome had become the ruling power over Judea and many surrounding regions. It was under Roman authority that Jesus, the Son of God, was crucified.
The Romans were known for law, government, roads, military power, and administration. Yet, with all their order and strength, they also worshipped many gods. Roman state religion, like that of ancient Greece, was polytheistic. It was concerned with maintaining proper relationships with the gods through sacrifices, rituals, vows, festivals, and public worship.
Among the deities of the Roman pantheon was Jupiter, often regarded as the greatest of the gods. Mars was honoured as a god of war and was linked with the founding identity of Rome. Minerva was associated with wisdom, skill, and the work of the mind and hand. Vesta was connected with the hearth, home, and family life.
Large temples and altars were built for the worship of these gods. Images were made to represent them. In the countryside, shrines were also erected in places associated with life, strength, or mystery, such as springs, groves, mountains, and boundaries. Offerings of drink, grain, and sacrifice were brought to these shrines.
Other Roman deities included Faunus, associated with woodlands; Silvanus, associated with fields, forests, and rural life; and Terminus, associated with boundaries. Diana was also widely worshipped and was associated with the moon, hunting, and chastity.
During the first century, emperor worship also became an important part of Roman religious and political life. The emperor was honoured as the representative of Roman power and order, and in some places he received worship connected with the state. This made religion and empire closely joined together.
At the same time, many philosophical systems and religious ideas were present in the Roman world. These included Platonism, later Neo-Platonism, Epicureanism, Stoicism, Gnosticism, and different mystery religions from the East. Stoicism, for example, taught self-control, discipline, and living according to nature and reason. But even the best of human philosophy could not bring man into true covenant with God.
Judaism was also present in the Roman world, holding firmly to the worship of the one true God. So when Jesus came, He came into a world filled with many gods, philosophies, religious systems, and spiritual longings.
This confusion of religions showed how far humanity had moved from the knowledge of the true God. Men had forsaken the covenant of their fathers and were trying to find God through their own systems, images, philosophies, and rituals.
It was into this darkness that God stepped in. He did not leave man to continue groping after Him without light. He revealed Himself fully through His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ.
Before the coming of Christ, God first raised up the nation of Israel and prepared the way for the promised Messiah. Through Israel, He preserved the knowledge of the one true God, gave His law, sent His prophets, and prepared the world for the coming of the Saviour.
Summary
This chapter explains the importance of knowing our true roots. It begins by showing that many people today are interested in returning to their ancestral culture and traditional religion. However, the chapter teaches that our roots go deeper than our immediate ancestors, tribe, nation, or inherited customs. Just as a tree has a taproot that goes deeper than its surface roots, humanity must trace its origin back to the true source, God the Creator.
The chapter also explains the difference between true culture and false worship. Culture should lead to growth, refinement, dignity, and the development of human potential. Christianity does not destroy true culture. Rather, it uplifts people, preserves languages, affirms human dignity, and points every nation back to God. However, practices such as idol worship, witchcraft, occultism, blood rituals, and worship of created things should not be treated as harmless culture, because they lead people away from the living God.
The chapter then traces humanity’s common origin through Adam, Noah, and Noah’s sons: Shem, Ham, and Japheth. It explains that all nations came from one human family and that God’s covenant with Noah included his sons and their descendants. This means no race, tribe, or people should be seen as cursed, inferior, or outside God’s covenant mercy. The chapter also corrects the false idea that all descendants of Ham, or Africans in general, were cursed, showing that the curse in Genesis was spoken specifically over Canaan, not over Ham or all Africans.
The chapter further shows that Africa and African peoples are not absent from the Bible. Cush, Mizraim, Put, Canaan, Egypt, Ethiopia, and other regions connected to Africa appear in Scripture. This helps the reader understand that the God of the Bible is not foreign to Africa. Christianity is not a foreign religion imposed on Africans, but part of God’s redemptive plan for all nations, including Africa.
The chapter then looks at ancient nations and empires, including the Canaanites, Sumerians, Egyptians, Babylonians, Philistines, Assyrians, Medo-Persians, Greeks, and Romans. These civilizations developed culture, government, learning, wealth, power, and religious systems, yet many of them turned away from the knowledge of the true God and followed idols, false gods, human pride, and man-made religion. Their histories show that civilization, philosophy, power, and culture cannot replace obedience to the living God.
Finally, the chapter teaches that the true roots of humanity are not found in traditional religion, idol worship, empire, philosophy, or inherited customs. Our true roots are found in the God who created all people, entered into covenant with Noah and his descendants, and continued His redemptive plan through Israel until the coming of Jesus Christ. The call of the chapter is clear: do not stop at the surface roots of ancestry or culture. Return to the taproot. Return to the Creator, the everlasting God, and the only true source of life.
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