Hear, O Israel | Previous Challenge Entry

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TITLE: Hear, O Israel | Previous Challenge Entry
By Shanta Richard
11/24/21
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Sitting at her window, Jehosheba watches the dawn gently chase away the darkness of the eastern sky. Sadly she visualizes the thundering clouds of terror and violence darkening the skies of her beloved nation, Judah. Would the Sun of righteousness rise and bring sunshine to this land, she wonders. In her heart she fears it will not happen as long as Athaliah is their queen.

Athaliah, is the daughter of Jezebel, Queen of Isreal, and wife of King Jehoram of Judah. On the death of her husband, she usurps the throne of David, by murdering all the royal seed. Under her idol worshipping rule Judah abandons their true God and falls into deep sin. Jehosheba knows that if the nation will repent and turn from their wicked ways and pray, Jehovah, God would in His mercy, forgive them and heal their land. At that moment as the sun's first rays brightened the sky she hears her husband, the priest, Jehoiada, sound the shofar, and call out the shema:
" Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God is one Lord......".
Would Judah respond and return to the one true God?

A gentle knock disturbs Jehosheba's reverie.
"Come in ", she says and a maid walks in .
"There's a nurse outside who wants to see you ma'am ", she announces .

Jehosheba nods and a very agitated woman, carrying a basket walks in. She bows and uncovering the basket reveals a sleeping baby and barely whispers,
" I come to you in the name of Jehovah, our God, seeking asylum for me and this baby. This baby is the youngest child of our late King. When the murdering soldiers came killing all the Royal children, I hid him and saved him. Thinking that the only safe place would be the temple I brought him to you. Save him."

In amazement , Jehosheba falls on her knees and praises God. She hides the baby and the nurse in her bed chamber while she discusses the matter with Jehoiada. When he realized the situation Jehoiada , was honored and deeply humbled that God had chosen them both to serve Him in this difficult task. If they had responded to the shema with heartfelt devotion then they would risk their lives to serve their Lord and God.

And so for seven years Jehosheba secretly feeds and nourishes the baby, Jehoash, and the nurse, while Jehoiada teaches him the scriptures and grooms him to be a king. And then one day, with the help the help of the loyal followers of the late King, Jehoash is anointed by the priest Jehoiada and crowned King of Judah. The cruel queen Athaliah and her followers are all destroyed. The devotion of the priestly couple is richly rewarded. Helped and guided by Jehoiada , the Bible records that Jehoash rules the country wisely and ' did that which was right in the sight of the Lord' (2 Kings.12:2 KJV).
And the nation hearkened to the shema :

"Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord.

And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart,

And with all thy soul and with all thy might." ( Deuteronomy 6:4&5 , KJV).

This story is found in 2 Kings, chapter 11 and retold in my words. Fiction.

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