Daily Topic for August 20, 2012
Imagine a world without retribution and revenge. That is what God offers those who take Him at His word. It is not up to us to take revenge, for He can do it much better than we can if the wrongdoers don’t repent. It takes godly faith to trust that He is good, and that He is in control of our lives.
Pray for the Mala Malasar people to hear and respond to this verse in such a way that violence and retribution will be lessened throughout their region.
The Mala Malasar boys calmly and slowly thrust their hands into the beehives. Considered expert honey hunters, these cousins had learned this trade at a young age. They also had learned to carefully and quickly move about the dense forest, and across the dry moat surrounding their village. The moat keeps them from confrontations with elephants. They know the dangers wild animals pose.
The Mala Malasars are a small tribe of about 1,000 people who intermarry within their settlements. These south Indians inhabit four settlements within the Parambikkulam Wildlife Sanctuary in the southwestern state of Kerala. Some also live in the nearby state of Tamil Nadu. As strict vegetarians, they live off forest tubers and government rations. Men typically work to maintain roads and in towers to watch for fires in the sanctuary. But several years ago, forestry policies changed and many lost their jobs. Some disgruntled and unemployed firewatchers and honey hunters may have set a wildfire that destroyed hundreds of acres of forest and plantations.
Hinduism remains their dominant religion but some have received Christ. The Mala Malasars speak Telugu, a common language in southern India, and resources to reach them for Christ are available.
Learn more at joshuaproject.netPray that the Mala Malasar will hunger for God’s truth, and that they will come to know God through a people movement fueled by the fire of the Holy Spirit.-LR
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