PART XV: Our Covenant

I need to add some more history of my People. I know it might be boring. Some will already know it, and others would wonder what does it have to do with them? It has to do with God, so if you're a Child of God, see it as a little Bible story. At the end, you will realise why I call it that.

I mentioned how my People, the Afrikaners and Boere split into 2 groups, North and South, when the British took the Cape Colony over from the Dutch around the 1800's. Beginning of the 1830's, the Boere left the Cape and moved North into the unknown, where they traded for land with local inhabitants. We didn't steal any lands, nor just claim when other people lived on it. We didn't murder to get the land. We traded. 

The lands there were scarcely populated, as it was dry. The nomadic KhoiSan lived in the West on the coastal areas or in the deserts of the North. The Bantu lived in the far East of this part of the continent, where there were enough rainfall to provide for their cattle. The middle inland parts were dry, with cold winters and frost, followed by hot summers. Conditions were harsh, so few tribes lived there. It was mostly the weaker ones, pushed away from the fertile East to the outskirts.

Though most of our groups went inland, North, there were a few smaller groups that also went West towards the Coasts and desert areas, and some East, where the Zoeloe and Xhosa ruled. The British had a Colony called Port Natal in the East as well. Most of our people warned that groups to steer clear of those areas, but a few thought they'd find a place to the North and West of those 3 areas.

The Zulu's at that stage were well-known as conquerors. Under a few of their rulers, starting with the infamous Shaka, they have conquered many, many other Bantu tribes during the 1700's. Some tribes were forever annihilated from the face of the earth, others were assimilated by the Zulu's after killing all men and male children. Many of the surviving, scattered tribes, traded land with us to protect them from these marauding Zulu's.

Unfortunately, one small group of ours that went more East, came too close to their area, and the Zulu's attacked one night. Killing every last one of them. They pushed spears into the children's heads, bashed the babies to a pulp against the wagon wheels, and killed all adults, old and young. Male and female. Only one child survived, wounded, to flee on his horse to a neighbouring group to tell the tale.

This happened multiple times thereafter. Many of our people were killed mercilessly. Not only those close to their areas. They actively went inland and murdered groups and towns far away from their own lands. So the Trekboere (“farmers who were journeying” or Pioneers) soon realised, the Zulu's were coming for them all. Either they make a stand, or they all flee back to the Cape, under English control again. They decided to rather stand their ground.

So volunteers were called for that "punishment expedition". I guess it can be seen as war. We did not start the war. We did not want it, and even tried to negotiate a peace treaty at first by sending a delegation. They killed the negotiator and his son and all his men, directly after signing the treaty!

So our options were now very limited, with dwindling numbers of people and a clear message that they will kill us all, and do not wish to live in peace with us. In today's world, I suppose people would think we should have retreated back to the Cape "where we belonged". But the Zulu's did not belong in the interior either, and didn't even want the areas (too dry). They were from the East Coast and still lived there, only sending their impi's inland to war with other tribes. Most of the other Bantu tribes of those days still alive in the interior wanted us there, to protect them from these Zulu's. We had signed treaties with them. 

There were less than 500 volunteers of our people willing and able to go on this suicide mission against the Zulu's. Most were Boere, but some also arrived from the Cape to help, most especially the Spiritual Leader, and even a handful of English joined, as well as some KhoiSan farm hands. 

These groups have specific meaning, which is why I mention it. It's important for people to realise though the Boere were the core group, they were Spiritually lead by an Afrikaner from the Cape, joined by other Afrikaners from the Cape, English and even KhoiSan and other farm hands. There were even a few foreigners as far as I know, from Europe who happened to have been closeby during that time. We have kept records of most of the people, but unfortunately not all. All of them were part of the covenant, all of them were in the Lager, and God saved all of them. And they all represent a future playing out of the covenant.

The expedition travelled Eastwards, away from the women and children in the interior, and took up camp next to a river, with a small hill at their backs and a gorge on the other side, close to the Zulu empire. Thus semi-protection on 3 sides. They had about 60 wagons with them and pulled it into a tight circle with branches stuck in between for more protection. A clear invitation to the Zulu's. Here we were. Come and get us.

Word came, the Zulu's were on their way. 15 000+ warriors. Experienced soldiers who lived through decades of warring with other Bantu tribes. Our men were less than 500, some were barely adults, with one cannon, and a few weapons each that needed to be reloaded after being fired every time. Thus, every man could shoot one bullet every 2-3 minutes. Superior weapons but extremely limited in such a setup. They knew the odds were extremely grim. And if they loose and die, the Zulu's will continue on to the towns where the old men and women and children stayed, and the last of the Voortrekkers would be killed. This would have an escalating effect on the Cape Colony as the English would then know the Afrikaners are out of options and at their mercy with no escape to the North anymore.

So they prayed. Sarel Celliers, was their chaplain, much respected as a devout Believer. And Andries Pretorius was their General, their leader. A very trusted man. They went into isolation, prayed and with God's guidance, wrote a covenant. This was in agreement with the whole camp. That evening, on the 9th of December 1838, he read the covenant to the less than 470 men. They repeated it out loud. Then they worshipped with song, praise, Scripture and prayer. On the 10th, they repeated the covenant again, as a whole group (Boere, English and Khoisan) and worshipped. 

This became routine. For 7 nights in a row they would say the covenant out loud, then worshipped God. This is the covenant, made in Dutch. Here is the English translation:

We stand here before the Holy God of heaven and earth, to make a vow to Him that, if He will protect us and give our enemy into our hand, we shall keep this day and date every year as a day of thanksgiving like a Sabbath, and that we shall build a house to His honour wherever it should please Him, and that we will also tell our children that they should share in that with us in memory for future generations. For the honour of His name will be glorified by giving Him the fame and honour for the victory.

So the vow had the following promises:

1. Build or erect or set up a House for God where it would please Him (the word used in the original Dutch is more reminiscent of a setup, or to erect, than a physical build).

2. Include all our children and descendants into the vow for all generations to come.

3. Remember it yearly on the anniversary as a Sabbath with thanksgiving.

On the condition that God protect us and give our enemy into our hand.

You will notice that the enemy was never named or limited in any way. It also never gave timelines, except for celebrating the specific day when victory will be achieved.

(I need to interject here that there is a version that seemed to be more original than this well-known verse. It says basically the same, except that it doesn't bind the generations to come to a yearly anniversary, but more that God will remind them and keep them.)

Like always, things initiated by God, has layered meanings. The first obvious meaning was that it was about that fight on that day with the Zulus, and that the physical church building we built some years later, were the House spoken of. But since then, God has shown us that the deeper layer was about the future. The future fight against the Bantu's again, as well as our real enemies, the enemies of Christ.

He also showed us that the future House that we will build for Him, will be made from living stones, as He doesn't reside in a physical building. We will build His House, amongst His People, for all our generations to come.

On the 7th day, the 15th of Dec 1838, they got word from their scouts that the Zulu's are close, has set up camp and are preparing to strike. So they prayed the covenant for the last and 7th time, and got ready for the slaughter which from past experience, should begin during the night. Mood was subdued.

The Zulus arrived during the night hours, setting up in their usual "bull-shape" attack formations. But one group acted a little before time. So instead of the two sides working together, striking the camp from both sides at once, one side surrounded the camp before the other side was there.

Then, as they arrived, a sudden fog fell down over the whole camp. Thick, misty fog out of nowhere in the middle of the night. The Impi's, as the Zulu warriors are called, could barely see their own hands in the thick smoke, let alone who's friend or foe! So they fell back in confusion, back to their camp, a bit of distance away.

Afterwards they said the lamps hanging from the wagons also scared them as it seemed like lights swinging in the middle of nothing in the fog. So they decided to wait until first morning light when the fog and darkness were gone, to attack. Deviating from their usual way. The Boere saw the footprints early morning and said the impi's came within touching range of their wagons during the darkness before falling back!

Imagine being one of 500 men with weapons that needed to be hand loaded, surrounded and attacked by 15000 spear-wielding warriors in the dark. Clearly the result would've been very very different if the Zulu's usual timing of attack worked out for them. But God sent fog and confusion.

Early morning, as first light broke on the 16th of December 1838, on day 8, the fog disappeared as suddenly as it appeared. It surprised the Zulu's who weren't ready yet for their second attack. This gave the Boere a chance to set up on their posts, get their weapons ready and assume defensive positions. Strangely, the Boere found their weapons dry, and the gunpowder not clammy after such fog, which puzzled, but also pleased them.

When the Impi's stormed from their camp, the Boere started shooting when they came into firing range. The canon only worked once and then had problems. The weapons worked well, but from the first shots, until the 2nd, it took a few minutes to reload in which time the Impi's were able to storm unheeded closer. Then the 2nd shots fired, and again the Impi's had time to storm forward afterwards. So even if the 460 guns made a huge impact, the Impi's had the numbers, the force and enough time to storm closer and closer quickly. They were also very skilled in using their large shields for the bit of protection it afforded them.

Fighting continued for a few hours and then the end neared. The Boere were surrounded and no more time left for another reload before the first Impi's will reach their wagons. The Impi's advanced and stretched their hands out to pull the wagons and branches wrenched in between, apart to get to the Boere.

Now, here we are a bit uncertain to the exact events. The Boere wasn't privy to see the next part and their testimonies were thus confused and unclear. It had to be gathered afterwards from the Zulu's side. Several testimonies were put together, and the best we could clarify, was something like this happening (I thus do not claim this as exact truth, just as good as we understood it to have happened).

Just as the first Impi's reached for the dry branches pushed in between the wagons, to break through the Boere camp, they suddenly looked up towards the mountain hill behind the wagons. Their faces contorted and they started screaming and turned on their heels and ran back. Straight back into their own men! 

The Impi's at the back were the older soldiers, the young ones at the front. They thought the young ones got scared and that's why they turned around. They had no mercy with coward warriors. So they killed their own fleeing men! Still, it did not stop the young ones from the front. They kept on turning on their heels, fleeing toward the older ones. Eventually the older ones too saw what they saw, and fled themselves.

The Boere were astonished. Flabbergasted. Stunned. 

I read the testimony of 2 young ones (one was 17). He said he just grabbed the gun to reload, knowing there's too little time as the Impi's hands were on the branches in front of him and the young Boer he was reloading for. Next moment, the Impi's were gone. Just. Gone. He said he was so sure he was only moments away from death. Already accepting it. Then, the enemy was gone. Just like that.

So, the Boere got onto their horses, broke the camp open and followed the retreating Zulu's, making sure the message is hammered in. Do not attack the Boere ever again. They did not. To this day.

Afterwards, the Boere counted 3000 bodies lying around their camp. The majority had spear wounds, not gun wounds. Killed by their own men. Many fell into the river and their blood tainted the water bright red, so to this day, it is called Blood river and the Battle of Blood River (“Bloedrivier” in our language).

The English missionaries from Port Natal who worked in the Zulu area, spoke to the Zulu Impi's after they arrived back home. Several different people recorded their testimonies from them. What the Boere never saw, that caused the fear in the Impi's, was apparently a HUGE army of white-dressed people on white horses storming down the hill. All armed with big swords (some recordings mentioned guns, not swords) and the leader was apparently screaming fiercely and ferociously as they stormed down the mountain straight at the Impi's. None of the Boere saw this army. But many of the Impi's testified that's what they saw. They all seemed to have seen the same thing and terror struck into their hearts. They fled and rather faced the wrath of their elder warriors. Some later claimed they feared this white army "in the clouds" more than those on the ground, and some seemed to believe that they were even mowed down (shot at) by those in the "clouds". 

There's no other explanation than that the Lord Himself battled for us that day. Honoring the Covenant, assuring us that it was indeed from Him, for His Honor and Purposes.

It's the only battle ever recorded in world history where the odds were stacked up so much against the defending group and they all lived. We had 464 men against 15000+ and NONE of us were killed. 

Let that sink in. 500 surrounded by 15 000 and none of the 500 died. 

The covenant said "if God would protect us". He did. Every last one of them. The KhoiSan, the English and the Boere, all who were within the Camp, the Lager, were saved.

So not even one Boer died that day, or from his wounds later on. Only 3 Boere were lightly wounded on our side, but healed fine afterwards. 3000+ were killed on the enemy's side and at least another 3000+ were estimated to have later died from their wounds. Thus, more than a third of their army were decimated in one day.

This collapsed the Zulu Empire and thereafter they were never again as strong, never again annihilated another Bantu tribe, and never again attacked the Boere. They were humbled and for the first time, thereafter more open to the English Methodist Missionaries' message of Jesus Christ and our hope through Him.

To this day, we honor the 16th of December as the Day of the Vow, when we tell our children about the day God Himself fought for us, saved us, and we rest like during a Sabbath and praise Him for the miracle victory. Some celebrate by having a Feast Day or going to church. Thus honoring our part of the Covenant, since God honored His. 

We built a small church in a nearby town, and then eventually a monument to Honor God in one of our Capital Cities, Pretoria. The city was named after the Leader of those 464 men, Andries Pretorius. But from around 1920, God started to make it clear, His House that we are building since the covenant, is a House of Living Stones.

The Boere as a nation, survived due to this victory, then thrived as more from the Cape joined them in their new Republics, of which the most important 2 were the Transvaal and the Orange Free State. Two free countries of which we were so immensely proud and grateful for. We fled the British Empire and created our own sovereign Republics. Our rules were based on the Bible, our laws were Roman, Western laws, and we lived as free Christians, speaking OUR language in our towns and cities proudly. The language which the English tried to suppress and take from us. The language for which we fled, bled and fought. 

Continuing with the second Anglo-Boer War here.