Previous Challenge Entry (Level 4 – Masters)
Topic: FAITH (strong, confident belief in God) (02/26/15)
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TITLE: Send My Bones Home | Previous Challenge Entry
By Jack Taylor
03/02/15 -
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The middle-aged warrior glanced over at the regal image of his father, dressed in the best of Egypt. He rested a strong hand on the bony shoulder of the vice-regent who had single-handedly saved a nation in his prime. “When the time is right, the gods will have their way.”
The wizened sage released a sigh and rubbed a knuckled fist into the back of his neck. “One God, my son. There is only one God. Do not be tempted by the myths and legends of a desperate people.”
The younger man stretched his hand toward the horizon. A faint haze like a disappearing dust devil floated along a dune. “There! The caravan is coming.” He stepped down off the chariot and held out his left hand for his father to take.
The elderly statesman chose instead to sink onto a stool at the side of the chariot. He bowed his head as if the weight of the world was crushing him.
A Nubian slave adjusted a fan of ostrich feathers to give him more shade. “Mighty Zaphenath-Paneah, life ruler of our peoples, your wife Asenath threatened to feed me to the crocodiles if I did not make you drink the healing waters of the Nile. Please, refresh yourself, my lord.”
The old man took the gourd of warm liquid and poured a little on his neck and face. He tilted back his head and allowed the healing fluids to fill his throat and slowly satiate his thirst. “Tell that old woman that I have escaped my childhood. I can take care of myself. Share this with my son.” He handed back the gourd.
The warrior stepped forward and snatched the gourd from the slave. “You know that grandfather Potiphera tells mother that Ra is the lord of the skies. Mother says that she will serve the goddess Neith until she passes over into the netherworld.”
The older man grasped the side of the chariot and pulled himself back to his feet. The expanding swirling cloud captured his attention for a moment. “You would think these people would remember the God who saved them from disaster. I was not sent here to keep them in their folly. At least you should know better.”
The son reached up and helped his father to the ground. “There are so many options to choose from in our world. We are not like the ancients who knew nothing.” He held up his hands and splayed his fingers. “We have Amun, Hathor, Horis, Isis and Osiris. We have Aten, Nun, Seth, Tawaret and Tefnut. There are more gods than fingers and toes.”
The Mighty One held up a single finger. “There is only one true God, Creator of the heavens and the earth. He revealed himself to my great-grandfather and one day he will visit us again.” He took three small steps away from the chariot and stared back toward the city and a rising monument. “He is the giver and revealer of dreams. He will not forget his people.”
The small group stood in silence as a convoy of ten chariots charged over the sands. Eleven men dismounted and moved toward the old man. Most of the group seemed even older in years but younger in health. The group hugged freely and moved into the shade of a tented shelter erected nearby.
“The Almighty is One,” he said.
“The Almighty is One,” they replied.
The group found their places on the carpet and accepted the assortment of nuts, dates, figs, fish, and fruit offered by the slaves. They drank deeply of the rich wine. Finally the oldest broke the stillness.
“Brother, what is this about?”
The regal statesman called for his slave and took a scroll from his hand. “I need you to make me a promise.”
“Do we have a choice?”
“Promise me now in front of my son.”
“We promise. Now, what do we promise?”
“One day the Almighty will take our people from this land. Promise me on that day that you or your families will take my bones to our homeland in Canaan.”
“Your bones?”
“Yes, I have faith the Almighty will give us our homeland. Bury me in Shechem.”
The oldest brother raised his cup. “Are you asking as vice-regent of Egypt or as our brother Joseph?”
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The many descriptive details make this an outstanding story.