Warfare Against the Awakening – Part 1: Subterfuge

The Hidden War

The deadliest wars are not always fought on open battlefields. Sometimes the most devastating weapons are words, contracts, and promises. This is the essence of subterfuge—deception that hides destruction behind friendship.

Subterfuge is the enemy’s oldest tactic. It blinds people before the sword is ever lifted. In Scripture, it is called ʿormah (עָרְמָה)—craftiness, cunning. The same word describes both the serpent in Genesis 3 and the Gibeonites who tricked Joshua. The method is the same across history: appear harmless, promise peace, and strike once trust is secured.

This article explores how subterfuge appears in the Bible, how it was weaponized to conquer Africa, and how it continues today against the awakening of Black Hebrews.

Subterfuge in the Bible

The Gibeonite Trick (Joshua 9)

When Israel entered the land, the Gibeonites feared destruction. They disguised themselves with worn-out clothes and stale bread, pretending to be distant travelers. They asked Joshua to make a covenant (berit, בְּרִית).

Joshua’s mistake? “The men of Israel took their provisions, but did not ask counsel of Yahuah” (Joshua 9:14). Once the covenant was made, Israel was bound. A nation that should have been conquered was instead protected—by deceit.

Judas Maccabeus and Nicanor (1 Maccabees 7 & 9)

• 1 Maccabees 7:10–18 shows Nicanor arriving “with words of peace in his mouth” but plotting betrayal.
• 1 Maccabees 9:1–18 records Judas being drawn into a battle shaped by deceit and overwhelming force. Though he fought bravely, he was killed.

The Greek word used here is dolos (δόλος)—craft, bait, fraud. It describes a trap set with friendly bait.

Subterfuge in Africa

The Berlin Conference (1884–85)

In Berlin, European powers divided Africa like a cake. They called it bringing “civilization,” “order,” and “development.” Not a single African voice was invited. Borders were drawn on maps thousands of miles away, ignoring tribes, cultures, and kingdoms. The result was war, famine, and disunity that still scars the continent.

Proof: Historian Thomas Pakenham describes the conference as a “paper partition” that became the blueprint for military invasion.

The Treaty of Wuchale (1889)

Ethiopia signed a treaty with Italy in two languages. The Amharic version called it a friendship pact. The Italian version declared Ethiopia a protectorate of Italy. When Menelik II discovered the trick, he resisted—and Ethiopia won at Adwa (1896).

Proof: Research in The Journal of African History notes the Italian text was deliberately mistranslated—a textbook case of diplomatic subterfuge.

Missionaries as the First Wave

Missionaries often arrived before soldiers. They learned languages, mapped regions, and built schools. Many were sincere, but their presence softened resistance. By the time armies came, locals had already accepted outsiders as “friends.”

Proof: Historian Lamin Sanneh documents how missions and colonial administrations often worked hand in hand, especially in West Africa.

Subterfuge Today

• Digital Platforms: Social networks invite us to “connect and share,” yet algorithms can bury content tied to Black identity, Hebrew awakening, or anti‑colonial narratives—visibility stolen quietly.
• Governments: Surveillance programs promoted as “safety” track, monitor, and neutralize dissent.
• Religious Systems: Many preach Scripture yet hide the Name of Yahuah, erase Hebrew identity, and promote doctrines designed to pacify, not empower.

The mask is still friendship, but the goal is still control.

Lessons for the Awakening

1. Discern Before Agreement: Joshua’s error was not asking Yahuah. Before joining movements, signing contracts, or accepting “help,” pray, research, and discern.
2. Read the Fine Print: Hidden clauses betray intent. Ask: Who benefits? Who controls?
3. Expect Soft Words from Hard Enemies: Judas faced friendly words before betrayal; expect the same today.

Closing

Subterfuge is the first weapon in the war against our people. From the Gibeonites to Judas Maccabeus, from the Berlin Conference to Wuchale, from platform algorithms to policy—the tactic endures. But discernment breaks its power.

The awakening must learn: test every word, question every covenant, and seek Yahuah before signing away authority.

Next, in Part 2: Asymmetry, we’ll see how small forces dominate entire nations through fear, technology, and strategy—the few against the many.