Previous Challenge Entry (Level 1 – Beginner)
Topic: Escape (01/02/06)
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TITLE: JACOB'S PERIL | Previous Challenge Entry
By Cathy Mitchell
01/02/06 -
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Jacob trotted as fast as he could. His white wooly sides were heaving as he struggled to catch his breath. Up ahead he saw a thicket of bushes. From behind the bushes he would be able to rest and watch the road to Jerusalem.
It had started out as a routine day for Jacob and his little master, Joshua. But very early this morning, everything changed when Joshua’s father made the announcement that this was the time of sacrifice.
Joshua had innocently asked, “What is the sacrifice to be Father?” When his father looked directly at the little lamb, Joshua had cried out, “No! No! No!” Then he loosed his hold on Jacob and swatted him on the backside and screamed, “Run for your life Jacob, RUN!”
So Jacob had run. He had been running for a long time now and he needed to rest. The thickets looked like a safe place for a lamb to rest and try to figure out what had happened. Joshua ran as fast as he could and crashed head long into the bushes. He struggled to move deeper into the cover of the thicket but as a sharp thorn pierced his flesh he realized he was stuck in a thicket of thorn bushes.
He dropped his head as two tiny tears ran down his soft fleecy cheeks. “Now what am I going to do?” he cried. He stood very still so the thorns wouldn’t stick him any worse and tried to recall what he knew about the time of sacrifice. It wasn’t much as he had only been born early this spring. He remembered some of the older sheep looking at him right after he was born. His mama had stood beside him and looked at him with love filled eyes.
The oldest ram looked Jacob over carefully and sadly shook his head. “He’s perfect, Hannah. I’m sorry” His mama had started to weep softly and all the other sheep quietly walked away.
“Mama, what’s wrong?”
“Shh child, rest now. When the time comes, perhaps the Creator will provide a way of escape for you.”
All these thoughts passed through Jacob’s mind as he tried not to struggle against the thorns. Then he heard voices coming down the road that led to Jerusalem. He wanted to turn and see who was passing by, but the thorns wouldn’t allow him to turn in either direction.
I must be very still, Jacob thought, and then perhaps they will not notice me.
The footsteps drew nearer. “Look Peter, there’s a lamb caught in the thorn bushes.”
“I can see him trembling; he may be hurt and I am sure he is frightened.”
Jacob heard footsteps coming closer and then he felt a gentle touch on his back.
“Easy little one, I’ll soon set you free.”
The gentle hands and calming words soothed Jacob as he stood quietly among the thorn bushes. The voice seemed familiar. “You were supposed to be the sacrifice, weren’t you? It is a frightening thing, to face death. But, little lamb; soon there will be no more need for sacrifice.”
Jacob felt the man sigh deeply and he leaned his warmly wooly body against the man’s leg. He felt drawn to this man and he wondered why.
“There you go, little lamb, you are free.”
Jacob looked into the face of his rescuer. Immediately he knew! This was the Creator! No wonder his touch was so kind and his manner so gentle. He bleated out a small, soft, “thank You.”
The Creator smiled and rubbed a kind hand across Jacob’s back. “Will they all be so grateful?” He pondered.
“Jesus! We are going to be late to the temple!”
“I’m coming Peter, this lamb needed my help.” He called.
He knelt by the lamb once again, “Be careful little lamb, and you will escape the time of sacrifice. But I must go, for you see, this time I am to be the sacrificial lamb.”
He stood and looked heavenward, then called, “All right Peter, it is time.”
Jacob stood beside the thicket and watched the group of men walk down the road. His heart felt heavy in his chest. He didn’t understand, but he knew this man, “Jesus”, was the Creator in flesh and that today he had provided Jacob with a way of escape. Jacob knew that He would soon provide the sacrifice for all.
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