Previous Challenge Entry (Level 4 – Masters)
Topic: JOURNEY (01/13/22)
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TITLE: Water Ways | Previous Challenge Entry
By Terry R A Eissfeldt
01/19/22 -
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Israel’s prophetess slept peacefully. Jerusha’s eyes squinted in the dim light trying to see Miriam’s chest rise and fall. Her ears strained to detect breathing. Eventually she crept closer arching her ear toward Miriam’s mouth.
Was she still breathing? Or was Miriam’s journey over?
Suddenly the old prophetess inhaled deeply startling Jerusha. The girl leapt backwards knocking over a jug of water. She froze in place waiting for Miriam to go back to sleep. But she didn’t
“Whose there?” Her voice was still strong and clear.
“It’s Jerusha,” the girl whispered.
“Child,” Miriam reached out a wrinkled hand, “come sit with me.”
Jerusha tiptoed toward the cot.
“I’m not that frail am I?” Miriam asked with a chuckle.
Jerusha let out her breath. The last bit that traveled from lung to throat and past the vocal cords turned into a giggle.
“That’s better,” Miriam patted her hand on the cot. Jerusha jumped up, twirled and landed.
“I see you’ve been practicing.”
“Oh, yes, every chance I get. But I’m not supposed to dance when I carry water. I spill it.”
“Water is precious,” Miriam sighed.
She turned her face toward the girl. “Have I ever told you how water changed my life?”
Jerusha shook her head, “I don’t think so.”
“It all started with the Nile…..”
Miriam recounted going to the Nile as a young girl and carrying water for her mother as well as the day she released her baby brother on the mighty river.
Jerusha was spell bound. She heard this story before but never from Miriam. It was like she was wading in the shallows, hiding behind the rushes, watching the daughter of Pharaoh…
“But that was only the beginning…” Miriam continued.
Jerusha’s eyes widened. Her skinned crawled as she imagined the Nile as blood, dead fish everywhere, and swarms of frogs.
“Then we came to the Sea…” Miriam continued the story of how God parted the waters for Israel and then swallowed up the Egyptians.
“And that’s when you danced and sang, leading all the women of Israel in praise!” Jerusha clapped.
“Yes, child. Remember the song of Moses. Keep it in your heart. An entire generation did not remember the greatness of God; not even for three days. And they are buried in the sand now because of it.”
Miriam resumed, “It was in the Wilderness of Shur the grumbling began because there was no water…”
Jerusha heard the tales of grumbling, complaining and murmuring that followed Israel’s pilgrimage from wilderness to wilderness.
“But it was my own murmuring that began my journey to wholeness….”
Jerusha’s ears pricked up as Miriam told of how jealousy and accusations against Moses became leprosy on her body. She detailed the passage of seven frightening days and nights alone outside the camp.
But not one bitter word passed Miriam’s lips. Instead, gratitude and peace radiated off the prophetess.
“At the end of seven days Aaron came to inspect me. It was the Lord Himself who took away my shame and made me whole. Then, according to the Law, I was sprinkled with sacrificial blood, my head was shaved, my clothes washed and my body bathed.”
Miriam closed her eyes and grew quiet. Jerusha wondered if she had fallen asleep but then a smile broke over the old woman’s face and she began to laugh.
It was infectious. Jerusha joined in. Miriam opened her eyes.
“I felt every drop of water flow from my bald head all the way to my toes. It was like standing under a waterfall. With every drop I heard God speak over me:
I am your strength
I am your song
I am your salvation
I am your warrior
The Lord is my name
“I know my journey here ends soon. I will not see this Promised Land.” Miriam squeezed the young girl’s hand. “But you will…Promise me something, Jerusha.” Jerusha squeezed her hand back.
“Soon you will travel again. There will be more trouble, more doubting, and more thirst before you finally enter the Promised Land. Don’t participate. Believe God is good and powerful and just. Stand against the current. Can you do this?”
Jerusha looked deep into Miriam’s eyes and nodded.
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