Previous Challenge Entry (Level 4 – Masters)
Topic: Search Engine (10/06/11)
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TITLE: Joshua Fit the Battle | Previous Challenge Entry
By Gerald Shuler
10/20/11 -
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It had been three days of that kind of leadership and now he was with his long-time friend and advisor, Caleb. They had spied out the promised land together 40 years ago and were now eager to take possession of the first city, Jericho. The two friends were seeking God about the right way to take the walled city. That wall was an obstacle that neither of them could plan away.
“Lord,” Joshua said, “You alone have the wisdom to give us a battle plan that can get us through that wall. Show us Your will and we will obey.”
Instantly, a flash of light shone in the tent and a strange object materialized in Joshua’s hands. It was thin, flat, and made of a substance neither friend had ever seen. It opened in the middle and one half of its surface lit up. On that surface were the words:
“Need to know how? Google it!”
Caleb’s jaw dropped to his toes. “Is this how the Lord speaks to you, Joshua?”
Joshua was still too shocked to respond.
“What is ‘Google it’?” Caleb pressed.
“I don’t know.” Joshua was obviously baffled. “I guess this is how the Lord is going to show us our battle plan for Jericho.” He cautiously reached his finger to the part of the object that had little knobs with letters on them. Perhaps if he spelled out a question he would receive an answer.
He typed ‘JOSHUA AT JERICHO?’
In exactly 2.4 seconds (that is what it read on the litghted surface) a long list of things appeared with the word ‘Joshua’ included. One of them was brighter than the others so Joshua touched the knob that said ‘enter’. The surface instantly filled with images and words that described the battle of Jericho. Joshua began to read.
“Caleb, it is written as though this battle has already been fought.” Joshua, being an intelligent man, was beginning to get the knack for using this strange device. He was maneuvering from page to page and learning more and more about the battle of Jericho.
But he certainly didn’t like what he was seeing.
“This device can not possibly be from God.” Joshua swallowed hard. “It gives battle instructions that only a fool would follow. Caleb, I am no fool.” The exasperation in his face was obvious. “This says we quietly marched around the walls of Jericho for seven days.”
“That doesn’t seem unreasonable.” Caleb said.
“And then we blow trumpets at the enemy and all our army shouts at them.”
“I would do that.”
“And the shout will make the walls fall down.”
The look of willingness in Caleb’s eyes vanished.
“Perhaps,” Caleb queried, “Satan has entered into this thing and we should destroy it without hesitation.” Caleb reached for his sword, ready to strike the item into non-existence.
“It makes no sense.” Joshua poked some more of the buttons and asked other questions . . . questions that he could confirm as true or false. He saw info about the tabernacle and the rebellious people. True, all too true. The ‘Google Search’ also quickly found about their exit from Egypt 40 years prior. It stated:
‘The crossing of the Red Sea is, of course, symbolic of our lives. The waters never literally parted.’
Joshua’s anger was instantly aroused.
“Destroy this instrument of lies.” He threw the thing to the ground and before Caleb could reach it with his sword, it vanished. Both men were visibly shaken.
“Lord,” Joshua cried out, “speak to me with your voice. Tell me what I must do and I will do it.”
Caleb heard the thunder and knew what was happening. He gave Joshua time to hear God’s Words. In time, his friend turned to him and spoke.
“God said he loaned us a computer from the future just for fun. We now have the real battle plan, though.”
“Good. What is it?”
Joshua grimaced. “Are you ready to follow a fool?”
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Mona
mona
The ending felt too much like a simple report, too me. I think I maybe would have started with the "eerie glow" and backtracked a bit? Or had Joshua explain the situation a bit as he talks to God. Maybe something like "Lord, I know I asked for a plan, and I know you've gotten us through sticky situations before, but... what IS this thing?" Or something like that.
Overall, though, this is an awesome entry! When Joshua threw the computer down, I was thinking of the line from the move Elf... "You sit on a throne of lies!"