The Navajo Code-Talkers. During World War II,
Japanese cryptologists were able to break every radio code the
US Army and Marines used. Philip Johnston, son of a missionary
and raised with the Navajos, knew that Choctaw Indians had been
used as code-talkers in World War I. He also knew that the Navajo
language was unwritten and so complex that only another Navajo
could understand. So, he suggested a code using the Navajo language
be developed by Navajos. As a result, a code was developed that
the Japanese couldn't break. After Iwo Jima, Maj. Howard Connor
of the 5th Marine Division said, "Were it not for the Navahos,
the Marines would never have taken Iwo Jima." The irony of
the situation was that the Bureau of Indian Affairs had long sought
to eliminate tribal traditions. If a Navajo child spoke the tribal
language, his or her mouth was to be washed out with soap.
The Importance of Words. This speaks of the importance
of words. In a code, every word has design and significance. In
the Bible, every word of God has purpose and meaning. Jesus said,
"Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that
proceedeth out of the mouth of God." (Matt 4:4). He also
said, "... the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit,
and they are life." (John 6:63). Shortly thereafter, Peter
responded, "Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words
of eternal life." (John 6:68). Eternal life comes not by
phrases, principles, thoughts, or ideas, but by words. Every word
of God is important, because words express thoughts and principles.
Code Words In The Bible. God often spoke in code
(figurative language). The word die means separation from God
(Gen 2:17). Serpent is a code word for Satan and seed of woman
code for Christ (Gen 3:15) The mountain of the Lord's house stands
for the kingdom or the church (Isa. 2:22), and the Lamb brought
to the slaughter is code for Jesus Christ (Isa. 53:7).
Jesus often used code language. The temple He
would raise up was His body (John 2:19-21). The living water He
offered the woman at the well stood for spiritual blessings (John
4:10-14). Sleep is a code word for death (John 11:11). The parables
were stories in code. The Revelation was sent and signified (in
code).
Deciphering Code. For centuries men were not able
to decipher the code. Jesus said, "That many prophets and
righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and
have not seen them ..." (Matt 13:17). And Peter wrote, "Of
which salvation the prophets have inquired and searched diligently,
who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you ..."
(1 Pet 1:10). Apparently, even the angels couldn't always decipher
the code. Concerning the things of Christ the prophets wrote about,
Peter said, "... which things the angels desire to look into.
(1 Pet 1:12).
Why In Code? Messages sent in code are meant to
be understood only by those who know the code. When asked why
He spoke in parables, Jesus replied, "Because it is given
unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to
them it is not given." (Matt 13:11). Only those who know
the code will understand. Paul spoke the wisdom of God in a mystery,
which the princes of this world didn't understand, "But God
hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit ..." (1 Cor 2:7-10).
The spirit enables the Christian to understand the code. The natural
man does not receive the things of God because they are spiritually
discerned. (1 Cor 2:14).
The Importance Of Study. The Navajo Code-Talkers
had to learn the meaning of over 600 terms in order to understand
the message. We must learn the meaning of the code words to understand
the message of The Bible. That's why the Christian is admonished
to study (2 Tim 2:15).
Many code words have been mis-deciphered. Many
do not understand that kingdom is a code word for the church (Matt
26:29), that a pastor is an elder (Acts 20:28), that tongues are
languages (Acts 2:6), that baptism is a burial (Rom 6:4), that
bound means limited (Rom 7:2), that the heart is the mind (2 Cor
9:7). These are just a few of many code words misunderstood. We
must learn to "speak where the Bible speaks and be silent
where the Bible is silent, call Bible things Bible names and do
Bible things in Bible ways." "If any man speak, let
him speak as the oracles of God" (1 Pet 4:11). - HC 84 Box
80, Shock WV 26638-9502. 304 462-0384 ghmiller@rtol.net