Daily Topic for December 13, 2009

Luke 1:32, 33

We will read about the Banu Yams today, a tribe that is noted for their raids. Because of man’s selfishness and greed, it has been common throughout history for one group to swoop down on another to take booty, kill and rape. When Christ “raided” the earth to take His rightful throne, it was for an entirely different purpose. It was to give, not to take! What an unearthly concept!

Pray that the Banu Yams and other tribes of Saudi Arabia will soon understand and embrace the holy “raid” by Jesus Christ when He came to earth on Christmas.

Banu Yam Tribe

In 1775, while British and American forces were “raiding” one another, the Banu Yam tribes were raiding Bedouin settlements in Saudi Arabia from Naj to Dhruma near Riyadh. The Banu Yams have a very complex tribal tradition and history. They live near the hostile desert in Saudi Arabia known as the Empty Quarter. They are native to Najran Province in southwestern Saudi Arabia. They now live in small villages, yet they still find the nomadic life attractive. The Banu Yam tribe is highly respected by the Murr and the Ujman tribes in the east, because they have common family roots.

They belong to a small branch of Ismaili Islam that traces its roots to Shi’ite Islam. Only 15 percent of Muslims follow this tradition, and there is a lot of friction between the majority Sunni and Shi’ite followers. This is especially true in Saudi Arabia, where the royal family views itself as guardians of the “pure” Sunni form of Islam.

However, both Shi’ites and Sunnis revere the Injil, or New Testament, and they have a high regard for Old Testament figures such as Moses or Abraham. Those that might want to share Christ with them have something to build upon.

Learn more at joshuaproject.net

Pray that God will use the Injil to guide the Banu Yam tribe to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. Pray that the Injil and the JESUS Film will soon become widely available to this tribe.-CH

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