Page 37 - Msingi Afrika Magazine Issue 1

that’s why for most people that have heard about God but not fully
God dealt with in scriptures and THE SPIRITUAL MEANING OF embraced Him. I speak in terms
even in our present day, He either THE NAME KENYA of embracing God in the true spirit
names them Himself before they Scripture makes it clear that there and not some religious rites or
are born, or changes their names are always two realities that work acts. This narrative too will change
when they have encounters with at once on earth; the physical and with time, for God is determined to
Him. This shows the foundational then the spiritual. And we also perform His words and promises
importance of names as key know that the physical realities concerning the land of Kenya.
determining factors for a man’s of things by the arrangement of
life and destiny. The same thing God always come first before the THE MOUNTAIN CALLED KENYA
applies to the names nations are spiritual realities, even though Mountains in spiritual terms
called, for it affects both their the spiritual always predate the always refer to kingdoms, nations
physical and spiritual destinies, physical, however hidden in God. and people or high profile persons.
irrespective of whether the people I believe Kenya is one country And that’s why the Kingdom of
are aware of it or not. in Africa that is very attractive Christ is referred to as a mountain
to foreigners, investors, other that will dislodge other mountains
The name Kenya, from its physical Africans etc. Indeed Kenya has on earth (see Daniel 2). And
meaning, is derived from the Kikuyu been a peak of whiteness set on a because Jesus himself said that
word “Kirinyaga” which means mountain which cannot be hidden, a city set upon a hill or mountain
“One having stripes”. The nation but which must be understood and cannot be hidden, it means such
Kenya, named after Mount Kenya appreciated from the perspective personality or nation that bears
had its earliest recorded version of what God calls her in destiny. such mountain attributes are
of the modern name written by Meaning that the true purpose of targeted by God for the revealing
German explorer Johann Ludwig Kenya cannot be defined by the of the thoughts of His heart. Such
Krapf in the 19th century. The government, lawmakers and not is the case with Kenya, a mountain
story says that while Krapf was even the people, but by God and targeted of God to manifest His
traveling with a Kamba caravan Him alone. This is so important ways, His truth and His life. So it
led by the legendary long distance and should be taken very seriously. is not a coincidence that Kenya
trade chief Kivoi, Krapf spotted the For I find it so interesting that got her name from a mountain,
mountain peak and asked what it this same line of thought is for this is the true spiritual reality
was called. Kivoi told him entrenched in the constitution of that Kenya is mandated to express
”Ki-Nyaa” or “KIima-Kiinyaa” Kenya which says “that we as the in God. I remember my second
probably because the pattern of people of Kenya acknowledge visit to Kenya in late 2016, prior to
black rock and white snow on the supremacy of the God of all leaving Nigeria my home country,
its peaks reminded them of the creation”. It is beautiful indeed and God told me directly that coming
feathers of the male ostrich. The I also want to submit that it goes to Kenya was to come build the
Kikuyus, originally known as the beyond the acknowledgement of mountain of the Lord’s house.
Agikuyu who inhabit the slopes God’s supremacy, but the actual From a human sense, you would
of Mount Kenya call it Kirima living out of the practicalities of think He meant to come build a
kirinyaga, while the Embu call His Lordship and supremacy, church or ministry. Not at all. For
it “Kirenyaa”. All these names which is found in the acceptance what He intends is for Kenya to be
have the same meaning. The of His way, His truth and His life. shown her role in this age of the
name Kenya however, has other The acknowledgement of the end time as a physical expression
meanings in several cultures and supremacy of God over Kenya of the spiritual reality of the
languages. In the Hebrew language, and the various other strands mountain of the Lord’s house.
Kenya means “animal horn” or that are coming together about Isaiah 2:2-3. Jerusalem here
“Yes to God”. Ken is Hebrew word her destiny in God is what makes means whoever, or wherever
for yes and Ya is Hebrew for God. Kenya the land chosen by God to God finds room for His rest and
The popular Maa (Masai) name manifest His way, His truth and expression on earth through
for Mount Kenya is “Ol doinyokei” His life. Many of these words reconciliation of the hearts of men
which means striped mountain. and statements may not make to Himself. This is what Kenya is
Bringing the various strands much sense right now, but they called to both become and also
of names together, we have “a will eventually. For the Kenya and express.
striped mountain that says yes to the Kenyans that most people see
God”. This is very interesting to me in the physical are those that are THE WAY OF GOD
in its physical definition, however, broken, struggling each day to Faith, rather than law is God’s
my deeper interest is the spiritual survive the times and seasons of a current pattern for dealing with
interpretation. changing world, and who seem to man. For no man can please God