Previous Challenge Entry (Level 4 – Masters)
Topic: Liberation (05/02/24)
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TITLE: 'Wholeheartedly' | Previous Challenge Entry
By Anne Warden
05/08/24 -
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It had been one battle after another, until they had conquered clear to Mount Hermon in the north. But Commander Salma couldn’t call them hard battles. Adonai had been fighting for Israel. Their awesome God had delivered one king after another easily into their hands. The trek back home – through the Promised Land which was now theirs to occupy – had caused more fatigue than the fighting.
Closing in on Gilgal the last afternoon, the men heard roars of welcome from the camp. Spying his own daughter running toward the troops, Salma smiled, his weariness instantly dissolving.
Joshua yelled, “Halt!” Then “Disperse!”
“Tamar,” shouted Salma, closing the distance. He hefted the nine-year-old into his arms to hug her tightly.
“Abba, you’ve been gone so long.”
“Eight months. How’s your new ima?”
“They’re both good.”
“Both?” He frowned and looked deep into her eyes.
Tamar giggled. “Rahab is having a baby. Finally, I’ll have a brother or sister.”
Stunned, Salma could only say, “Oh.” He set Tamar on the ground. “Let’s go home.”
That evening in their tent, after marveling over Rahab’s pregnancy, taking a long warm bath, and good conversation over supper, Salma sat back on his cushions and sighed. “It’s good to be home.”
Tamar rolled her eyes. “That’s the sixth time you’ve said that.”
He reached to tousle her hair. “What else can I say?”
“Tell us a story. About a valiant warrior.”
Rahab grinned. “Yes. Do.”
Ah, his wife was truly beautiful. Salma rubbed his bearded chin. “I will tell you about a most valiant man. And it isn’t Joshua.”
“Who, then?” asked Tamar.
“A man who holds as high a place as Joshua. In Adonai’s opinion. And in mine.” He leaned back, his hands behind his head. “Tamar, I was your age when Moses sent twelve spies into this land, to report on its harvests and the people who lived here. The man chosen for our tribe of Judah was Caleb, who isn’t even an Israelite. He’s a ‘foreigner among us,’ but he trusts Adonai better than many of our own.
“I was with my father – near Moses – when the spies returned. Ten of them despaired over the giants living here and spoke discouraging words.
“But Caleb and Joshua had faith in Adonai. Caleb said, ‘Let us go up at once and occupy it, for we are well able to overcome it. Adonai will bring us into this land and give it to us, a land which flows with milk and honey.’ Joshua added, ‘Only do not rebel against Adonai, and do not fear the people of the land, for their protection is removed from them, and Adonai is with us. Do not fear them.’”
Yet the people sought to stone them for their words of trust in Adonai. Even my father picked up stones.” He shook his head.
“Moses prayed for the people, that Adonai would forgive them. He did. But He vowed ‘None of those who despised Me will see the land I swore to give to their ancestors. But My servant, Caleb, because he has a different attitude and has followed Me wholeheartedly, I shall bring into the land, and his descendants shall possess it.’ That is why, from all the adults who came out of Egypt, only Joshua and Caleb were fit to inherit this land.”
He leaned toward Rahab. “Notice what Adonai said. ‘He has followed Me. Wholeheartedly!’ That made an impact on my young mind. And I have sought since that day to follow Adonai wholeheartedly, to remain blameless in His sight.
“But more than just for His approval, following our God wholeheartedly gives me a tremendous sense of freedom. Because of my great trust in Him, I’ve conquered doubts and fear, prejudice and arrogance, discouragement and hopelessness. It has brought me peace of mind, joy of heart.
“Wholehearted obedience gives rest to my soul. Burdens which I must bear are light. Even when Tamar’s mother died, I could bear it, because I felt Adonai wrap me in His compassionate arms.”
Salma placed a gentle hand on his wife’s arm. “I heard His voice. Once.” He smiled into her eyes. “When I began to have feelings for you, He said to my mind, ‘It is time to marry again. This woman trusts Me wholeheartedly.’”
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Joshua 11:16-23; Numbers 13:25-14:24 1 Chronicles 2:11; Matthew 1:5, Hebrews 11:30-31 Matthew 11:28-30
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You've made the MC real and thus believable.
I became so engrossed in the story that I forgot to pay attention to the topic focus but
the whole story revolved around liberation, as a body of people and personally, didn't it?