Tsali was a Cherokee Indian who is remembered in history because of his love for his people and the sacrifice he made for them.
The Cherokee Indians lived in the southern Appalachian Mountains in what is now the state of North Carolina. There they developed to a high cultural level and had the first written language of any of the American Indians.
As farmers and hunters the Cherokees defended their lands against the colonists in the middle 1700's. They even joined with the British against the Americans during the Revolutionary War, because the American colonists kept taking their land.
When gold was discovered on their lands, the United States government forced them to sell their lands, and in 1838, 17,000 Cherokees were forced by General Winfield Scott to walk from western North Carolina to the new Indian Territory, which is now the state of Oklahoma. The conditions of this march were so difficult that nearly 4,000 Indians died, and it is called the “trail of tears” in Cherokee history.
It was during the conflict with the American army before their move to Oklahoma that this story about Tsali takes place.
Tsali’s wife had been murdered by a drunken soldier who was then killed by Tsali and his sons. They and about 1,000 of their followers then hid for two years in the mountains which they knew so well. They stayed in the mountains even when the rest of the tribe had to march to Oklahoma.
Finally, General Scott got word to Tsali through a trusted friend that if Tsali and his sons would surrender to be punished for their crime, the remainder of the tribe could stay in the North Carolina mountains.
Tsali decided that, although it meant death for him and his sons, to save his people he would surrender. Tsali and his two sons were convicted and shot. It was love for his people that brought him to die.
Tsali loved his people but he, like you and me, was just a poor sinful person. The Lord Jesus Christ loved everyone in the whole world and came to save them. He died on the cross because of the sins of those he loved. He had committed no sin, nor was He even capable of sinning. Yet we read in the Bible, “Christ died for our sins.” 1 Corinthians 15:33For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; (1 Corinthians 15:3). Can you say that He died for your sins?
Today the eastern tribe of Cherokees whose descendants still live in the southern Appalachians, honor the memory of Tsali. Do you honor the Lord Jesus Christ who is many times greater than Tsali? He died, rose from the dead, and now is waiting to return for those who accept Him as their Saviour.
ML-04/21/1985