Diversity & Inclusion

According to YHWH

“Therefore, wait for me”—a declaration of Yahweh—“for the day of my rising as a witness. For my decision is to gather nations, to assemble kingdoms, to pour out my wrath upon them, all my burning anger. For by the fire of my anger all the land shall be consumed. Because then I will make the speech of the nations pure; that all of them might call on the name of Yahweh, to serve him in unison. From beyond the rivers of Cush my worshipers and the daughter of my scattered ones shall bring my offering. (Zephaniah 3:8-10 LEB)

In the midst of the final chapter of the story of Zephaniah, which is itself a part of the Scroll of the Twelve Minor Prophets, YHWH speaks, through his prophet, to his nation Israel. He lets them know that his will includes the nations, even those darker-skinned folks down south. Really.

The patience of a junior to a senior is a virtue. It sounds nice when we say YHWH is an inclusive deity. It matches the zeitgeist of the diversity and inclusion industrial complex being formed in the US. But, the situation is more complex. The zeitgeist says call in, don’t call out. The spirit of YHWH’s inclusivity calls in by calling out. The inclusion of everyone leads to the belittling of everyone. An indiscriminate belittling is the great and proverbial equalizer. Nation, nations, and even cushites (ethiopians) become slaves of YHWH shoulder-to-shoulder. They all get their lips, mouths, tongues, way of speaking purified and sanctified by his instruction which he will pour upon them out of the mouth of his representatives who read his word aloud for them.