In some
cases many people feel and try to justify that the Bible discriminates on a particular color however when we dig deeper into Gods word, history, geography, science and different groups, we find a different story.
We can not deny that color differences truly exist as well as other characteristics that seem to fall within certain ethnic groups across the world. Skin color, body sizes, shapes, weight, and even facial characteristics.
Typically the mindset is, if you live in Russia you are Russian even though your skin color is what society says is "white". If you live in China, you’re Chinese. African, then you are African. Regardless of what color you are, if you live in America you are called American. We have been indoctrinated to believe this is truth so it’s important that we look at the word of God to see if it has any explanation as well if science can shed any light to this racial debate and division.
In the book of Genesis (11:1-9), man disobeyed Gods word to fill the earth. Man wanted to settle down together in the land of Shinar. God created Multiple languages and scattered mankind across the world for their disobedience. Take in consideration the population of man was a lot smaller so these groups were a lot further apart than we see today.
Can we see the remains of the scatter in our world now? Of course we can. Russia, Africa, South America, Australia, and every other country land on the face of the earth. We see particular groups and cultures of humans.
If we are all one race why is there such a difference in our characteristics? First we must prove that we are in fact one race. In Genesis 1:26 God created man and woman in His likeness. “Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. “ In Genesis 3:20 Adam calls Eve the mother of all living. “The man called his wife's name Eve, because she was the mother of all living.” This proves that we are all descendants of one man and one woman.
If we are from one man and one woman why are there so many characteristic differences? After the Tower of Babel these groups became genetically isolated and could not mix easily for hundreds if not thousands of years. They had to marry and reproduce within their own group. Throughout the years, each group developed its own ways of life and culture, as well as certain physical traits which became more prominent in each individual group. These ethnic characteristics through human profiling are mistaken for racial characteristics.
We all carry a skin pigment called melanin that determines our skin color. Ultimately, everyone has the same skin color. We just have varying skin tones. The two forms of melanin are eumelanin (brown to black) and pheomelanin (red to yellow). Their proportion determines skin tone.
So what determines our skin tone? Science suggests the locations God scattered each group would be one cause. For example, darker skin is normally found in regions closer to the equator which protects them from the intense sunlight. People in higher latitudes where there is less intense sunlight need lighter skin to produce vitamin D efficiently.
Over many generations these favorable characteristics would be carried over in the gene pool and other less favorable characteristics that were not needed for those regions would in time fall away. This produced less genetic variations of skin tone in the individually isolated groups. Because of these genetic deformities in all skin tones, those who are dark skinned will naturally have children with dark skin. Those with lighter skin will have children with lighter skin. Interesting enough, those who possess middle brown skin tone tend to have children with a much wider variety of skin tones.
What about other characteristics used to distinguish between groups? Hair colors, straight or curly? Lip thickness and shape of eye lids? These characteristics which individual groups contain at various levels would be produced over many generations and are genetic defects due to what we would call inbreeding within families or “groups.”
Scientists involved with mapping the human genome have declared that there is only one race, the human race. Some have even said that the term race is meaningless.
Gods word has been declared through the ages. and nothing we say can change that. Acts 17:26 And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place,
The Bible does talk about tribes, or groups of people which fall under the cultures/customs that were created after God scattered the people at Babel.
You, I, and every person that we know are only a mere fraction of time. Satan has had thousands of years to manipulate us, to trick us into being multiple races to create division. Just as satan felt he was greater than God's creation and even God Himself, the sin he planted in us is at work trying to convince us that one color is better or worth more than the next. It is one of thousands of tactics satan uses to keep used distracted.
The only way for us to overcome this mindset is to walk in the Spirit and allow God to give us wisdom to see His creation as He does.
"But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.
For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do."
Galatians 5:16-17