Mission of Fear | Previous Challenge Entry

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TITLE: Mission of Fear | Previous Challenge Entry
By Anne Warden
01/25/17
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The time had come!

I stood at the swollen river’s edge, pretending to be prepared, staring into the reed-laden swirls lapping the bank. Across the water, the terrain mimicked this side – bountiful trees and grasses climbing into bronze hills. The first autumn rains had blessed the land and the dry ground was blossoming, bringing forth succulent new shoots for the livestock.

Though I should be proud of this mission, my limbs trembled. Couldn’t an older man have been chosen instead? It was too honorable a task and the price of failure would be exacting. I was new to these responsibilities, only recently coming of age. Lord God, give me strength. My belly seemed as wobbly as my legs. It was good I hadn’t eaten this morning. I imagined losing it all if I had. Glancing at Micah standing next to me, his face the color of unripe olives, I knew mine must be also. He smiled encouragement, but it was weak, forced. I returned the expression, feeling faint.

The order came. “Move forward!”

Shouldering our half of the load, hands securely around our poles, Micah and I stepped together into the tumultuous water. The sunlight and my own sweat clouded my vision. I blinked. One step and reeds wrapped around my ankles. Another step and the rushing torrent swayed me at calf-level. How deep was this river anyway? With all I had, I concentrated on staying upright. It would be disastrous to drop our precious cargo now. On the third step, the water lapped at my knees. But I felt the poles begin to level and knew the two behind had entered the river.

Immediately, the torrent dropped. Before my eyes, it drained away on its intended course downriver. My focus swiveled to the right and I couldn’t help but stare. Far upstream, the water was heaping up, just as Joshua said it would, forming a vertical wall of sparkling turquoise like the Reubenite stone in Great-Grandfather’s breastplate. Glancing back and forth, I stood fearfully amazed.

Behind me, Jakin hissed, “Keep moving. Joshua said the middle of the river.” Startled back to our task, Micah and I edged forward. The ark wobbled slightly when Jakin and Mahazioth followed.

As we moved across the riverbed, the mud dried miraculously beneath our sandals. Even the verdant slime on the rocks hardened from slippery to leathery, giving us grip. When we reached the middle, we halted.

I still trembled.

The shofars blew two battle sequences. I interpreted the message: Go forth to conquer!

To our right, the people of Yisra’el began crossing the dry bed. Obeying Adonai. Many led donkeys laden with tents and goods. Some herded sheep and goats. Young women and children danced, a few beating tambourines. There was an air of jubilation to the procession.

Waiting there and pondering our inevitable mission, an immense joy claimed my soul. Tears welled up. We were finally on our way to the Promised Land and there, in the middle of the river, Adonai’s Presence was palpable. This must be how our forefathers felt, crossing the Red Sea.

What a thing to someday tell my children! “I helped carry the ark of Adonai across the Jordan. Me! Imagine! And Adonai was present, right there between the cherubim.” My nausea drained away, just as the water had disappeared downriver. My limbs calmed. Why fear when Adonai was leading?

Someone shouted, “Look!” and pointed. Shimmering against the heaped-up water upstream was a brilliant rainbow. It took my breath. Here was another thing to tell my children. “Do not forget. Adonai keeps His promises. His timing might make us wait for tomorrow, next year or even forty years, but He always keeps His promises.”

Girls passed by, waving palm branches, singing the Song of Moses. How fitting! I thought. Palms – sign of new life!

Yes, who is like You, Adonai, glorious in holiness, awesome in praises, doing wonders? You, in Your lovingkindness, lead the people You have redeemed. You guide them in Your strength to Your holy habitation.

I now stood tall and proud. Adonai is my Strength, my Song, and He has become my Salvation! This is my God, and I will glorify Him, my father’s God, and I will exalt Him!

We might be fledgling priests but we’d received a great honor today. No wonder Eleazar had chosen four young novices. With my renewed faith, I could help lead Yisra’el successfully for many decades to come.

_____
1 Exodus 15:11b, 13
2 Exodus 15:2
(TLV)

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