SIMALUNGUN, INDONESIA.- As a reference to the biblical plagues that reached Egypt, a river located in an Indonesian village turned red last Monday (7). The phenomenon in the Bah Bolon river was recorded by the inhabitants of Raya, in the Simalungun district, north Sumatra. With the red coloration, the place that houses various animals caused the death of many fish.
Known by locals as the “Balneario de los Reyes”, the river is outlined by the city of Pematangsiantar before flowing through the town, where houses were built on its banks.
The seemingly inexplicable plague is similar to the description of God’s punishment on Egypt in Exodus. “And the fish in the river will die, and the river will stink, and the Egyptians will be disgusted to drink the water of the river. (Exodus 7:18).
Although there is no exact explanation for the phenomenon, some residents believe that an industrial waste source may have caused the red coloration. Another argument indicates that the cause is in the uncontrolled growth of deadly algae.
For the religious, however, the image conveys an incisive message. With a population of 88% Muslims, Indonesia has promoted some actions of religious persecution against Christianss, who make up only 9% of Indonesians.
The best known case is the Christian governor of Jakarta, the capital of Indonesia, who was sentenced to two years in prison for “blasphemy”. against islam. The accusation was brought about the fact that Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, better known as Ahok, had quoted a verse from the Koran during his re-election campaign in September last year.
While his opponents used the same verse to encourage Muslims not to vote for non-Muslim leaders, Ahok alerted the public to the manipulation of politicians. An edited version of his speech was posted on the internet and spread through social media, sparking mass demonstrations against him.
On the other hand, although the influence of radical Islamism has had an impact on IndonesiaChristianity is advancing in the country, according to Pastor Kongkin, who works in Jakarta.
In his work as a missionary, he has heard many stories of ex-Muslims who decided to give themselves to Jesus. “The numbers are getting bigger in many parts of Indonesia. “There is constant growth”he said, noting that the Islamic community is concerned about the rise of Christianity.
“Many Muslims are perceiving that Islam is false. They see the bombings and terrorist attacks carried out in the name of Islam and wonder: ‘Is that what I want?’ reveals Kongkin. “They perceive that there is a better way, and then they find Christ.”
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