All men are related by creation. In Acts of the Apostles 17:26: “And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation.” This agrees with the creation account that Adam and Eve were created by God and the entire universe emanated from him:

• Genesis 1:28: “And God blessed them and God said unto them, be fruitful and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it; and have dom

inion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moves upon the earth.
• Genesis 2:7: “And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.”
• In Genesis 3:20: “Eve was referred to as the mother of all living.”
The word race refers to family, tribe, people or nation as belonging to the same stock or class or kind developed over time through migration and environmental influence.
It was not God who separated people by the colour of their skin, but rather man made the distinction out of ego and quest for dominion. Racial diversities exit, but we are created to glorify God in one another irrespective of our diversities.

The word fraternity is defined to mean “a group of people sharing a common profession or interests.” It could also mean that which is similar to profession, body of workers, band, group, set or circle. Furthermore, it is friendship and mutual support within a group, which is very closely similar to brotherhood, fellowship, kinship, friendship, companionship, support, mutual support, solidarity, community, union and together.

The word ‘brotherhood’ is defined as: “fraternal relation, relationship between sons of the same father or mother” originally “relationship of a brother.” It has the root word ‘brother’ and brother, as we have seen are those related by blood and from the same father.

After the flood, which destroyed the entire world saving only Noah and his household; the entire world began its’ multiplication through the family of Noah: Shem, Ham and Japheth (Genesis 10). From Ham the Cushites are linked to Africa, especially Egypt, Canaan and the Philistines. And from Japheth came Europe and Asia minor, hence he went towards the North and East. In Shem the posterity of Eber (Hebrews sprung); through the Abrahamic lineage. The Arabians also have their root.

In Genesis 11:2, the language of man was confused due to the quest championed by Nimrod, who was a mighty hunter. Nimrod and his people (Cush) decided to build a tower that will reach heaven, which was altered by divine power for disobeying God’s command for multiplication; everyone became scattered; leaving and dwelling in clusters: those who understood themselves moved their separate ways forming their own ‘hood.’

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We may be different in hood, but we are still brothers. The audacity of Nimrod and his people, which led to the confusion of their language could be the reason for the complexity of language differences across Africa and the rest of the world.

In Ecclesiastics 3:11, the Bible opined: “He hath made everything beautiful in his time; also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end.” The ordering of the universe by God’s creative power and the way He allowed men to live as they progressed is rooted in His wisdom (Deut. 29:29; Job 11:7-9).

Progressively, from one ancestor; one generation to another, the climate, available food source, and geographical formation caused physical adaptation and structuring of people, as they migrated from one place to another. This affected the people’s culture, and way of life. Their way of life all depended on how they adjusted to the environment they found themselves. Adam and Eve were neither white, black, brown nor red. They were simply- ‘adam’- humankind.

The sense of affinity and fraternity affects people’s response to one another. When we understand that we are from one root:
• We will love each other unconditionally.
• We will no longer be bias.
• We will treat all men equally.
• We will be committed to protecting lives and properties of one another.
• We will see strangers as siblings living in another location.
• We will have a sense of community.
• We will respect the sanctity and sacredness of marriage institution and family.
• We will not be greedy and covetous.
• The pain of others will be our pain.
• Those who are granted the grace to lead and rule will not make laws that will make life unbearable for the people. Nor devise wicked policies and activities that will be against the city and not see those they lead as lesser or slaves or even less animal
Someone said that the signs of a good brother is that:
• He will always watch your back.
• He helps you with new opportunity.
• He protects you where and when necessary.
• He will never allow anyone mess with you.
• He covers for you where he can.
• Venerable Stephen Wolemonwu is the Rector, Ibru Ecumenical Centre, Agbarha-Otor, Delta State (08035413812)

• He does not allow you to be ridiculed.
• He pampers you.
• He teaches you.
• He communicates with you freely.
• He seems to know everything about you.
• A true brother never betrays you.
• Sometimes he is your accomplice in crime.
Therefore, if we are related by creation then we should pay attention to this:
• Be careful how you treat people (Ezekiel 11:14-17).
• All those who obey God are his children (Ezekiel 11:19-21).
• Remember those who lead in word and doctrine.
• Do not be carried away by every wind of doctrine.
• Support others emotionally.
• Empathise with the weak.
• Be honest to all men.
• Give good leadership when it is in power to do so.
The benefit of family is posterity; life is continuous. We live to leave great inheritance to those coming after us. The fundamental is love for one another and protecting the values life unveil to us. The joy of life is readiness to better our environment and improve in the already existing structure; bullying and inhumanity are carnivorous.
• Venerable Stephen Wolemonwu is the Rector, Ibru Ecumenical Centre, Agbarha-Otor, Delta State (08035413812)