Japheth’s arm
stopped mid-throw. The stone fell from his hand, popping to the ground. His
eyes bulged. A large dust plume formed in the distance. Emerging from the
dirty grime was its source. A man was racing his Arabian straight towards
camp. “Wow, he’s in a hurry!”
Japheth said to no one in particular.
Japheth was nine
years old. Strong and stocky with curly black hair and dark eyes. He wants
to be a warrior, like his Dad. Defending his people, Israel, is the ultimate
job. Israel’s leader, Joshua, had just made a peace treaty with their
neighbors, Gibeon. At first, they were told that Gibeon was far away. This
lie bound the Gibeonites, or aliens, to work for Israel.
Many Gibeonites moved into their camp, at Gilgal, to bring each
family water and chopped wood every day. Japheth
was glad these chores were lifted off his shoulders. Joshua promised to
protect their new allies.
It didn’t take
long for the man to race his frothy horse into the center of the camp. He
jumped down, his eyes ablaze, demanding to see Joshua. His robe tattered,
the cloth that covered his face, filthy. Dust settled all around.
Japheth pointed
to the purple striped tent in the center of the camp. He stood staring, eyes
wide with curiosity. His knees
started to quake, and he leaned against a tree for stability.
He wondered, What is this
about?
It sure doesn’t look good.
All at once a
voice boomed from inside the tent. “We made an oath, and we will honor it.”
That thundering voice could only be Joshua. The tent flap dashed aside as
both men strode outside.
“That’s Chemar,
from Gibeon!” one alien gasped, who was watching.
Just then, Chemar bowed low to the ground in front of Joshua. Joshua
extended his hand to the man, who grasped it like he wasn’t going to let go.
His black eyes were calmer now, and tears flowed onto his tunic.
“Thank you, Joshua. Come quickly, I beg you!”
Japheth’s eyes
were wide in alarm. What now? he
thought.
Joshua signaled
to his officer and suddenly the blare of a trumpet sounded throughout the
camp. This was a call to arms. Chemar went for his horse, but someone
brought him a fresh one. In a flash, he tore back from where he had come.
Dust settled as people scurried out of their home tents. In Japheth’s
excitement, he began hopping. Promptly, his dad, Tubal, placed his hand on
his son’s head. Japheth raised his chin, face alight with questions.
Tubal shushed
him. “Listen.” he said.
Joshua raised
his hands high, then lowered them slowly, silencing the crowd. When all was
still, he announced, “Five kings from the cities close to the Great Sea,
from Hebron, Jarmuth, Jerusalem, Lachish, and Eglon attacked Gibeon.
It is our sworn oath to protect them. Come warriors, we will leave at
once, traveling all night, if necessary.”
The crowd
immediately dispersed, swarming in all directions.
Japheth ran fast trying to keep up with his Dad to his family’s tent.
Tubal darted inside, whooshing the flap aside. He yelled, “Achsah, my
provisions!”
His wife
scampered forward with a covered pallet, his sword poking through the top.
She said, eyes pleading, “El-Roi sees all, Jehovah-Shamma be present
with you and return you safely home.”
They embraced.
Tubal kissed her tenderly. He turned and hugged Japheth
and daughter, Naamah.
His finger pointing at them, he said, “Obey, children.
I will return, God willing.”
With that, he
was gone, the heavy flap came to rest in the open hole. Naamah dashed a tear
from her eye, and held out her hand.
“Come brother, watch the army depart.
Who knows when we’ll see our father again?”
Naamah was 12
years old and enjoyed watching her little brother act as the man of the
house in their Dad’s absence. She was tall and thin, long black hair,
hanging to her waist. “Your
scarf, Naamah!” their Mother
said, and expertly secured it over her daughter’s head.
Naamah and
Japheth trailed their warrior Dad’s Calgary of horses—along
with throngs of other children. Lately, every man returned home
safely, but that did not lessen their fears.
Some watched
until the procession disappeared from view, but eventually, they all filed
back to camp.
* * * * *
Naamah went
outside the following morning to find Japheth sitting alone. His body a
tripod: his face secured in his
hands, elbows propped on bent knees. “What’s up, Japh?”
she said.
“Nothing.”
Japheth’s voice sounded weak, his eyes red“I always know when something’s
wrong. Tell me.” Naamah sat
down and tweaked his ear. Japheth looked at her.
“I just have a
terrible feeling…” he began.
“About Dad?”
“You heard the
man, Naa. He said five kings had attacked Gibeon! That’s where Dad went, to
do battle with five kings!”
She took
Japheth’s face in her hands, their olive skin tone matching each other
perfectly. Her heart ached, too. She said, “You know it’s a sin to worry,
Japh. God is our El Shaddai, He watches over all His children, including
Dad. All our lives are in His hand.
Trust him, Japh, as I do. Can you do that?”
Japheth wanted
to. He wanted so much to trust the Lord.
He just looked at Naamah. She hugged him tightly. He wrapped his arms
around her shoulders. “I’m sc…scared., Naa!”
he blinked his eyes hard, but a tear trickled down his cheek.
They held each
other a long moment. Naamah understood he was trying to be strong. She said,
“Be brave. Trust God instead of
worrying.” She flicked away his
tear to save him embarrassment.
“I think we all
could use some storytelling. That would pass the day and take everyone’s
minds off our father’s safety.” Naamah said. “Go to the tent of meeting.
I’ll bring everyone together.”
The tent of
meeting opened on all sides so air could flow through. It was shade from the
sun, and benches for everyone to sit down. Soon it was filled with children,
young and old. Hagaba, the eldest at fifteen, was their leader. He lived
much of the Israelites most recent history, and he loved to remind them.
None of them had been born when they fled from Egypt, but their history
remained alive through storytelling. “Let’s play a question and answer
game.”
“First question,
How did we get across the Red Sea after leaving Egypt?”
One child yelled
out, “Boats!”
Hagaba shook his
head, “No, we talked about this before Aaron, what did God do to make it
easy for us?”
Another kid
yelled, “He made the water go away?”
“Yes, that’s
right, Zipporah, God parted the water so we could walk on dry land all the
way across!”
After
the day-long storytelling, Hagaba said, “Now off to supper. Return for a
game of sticks.”
“Yeah!” The kids
cheered, and the tent quickly emptied.
* * * * *
Hagaba gathered
several sticks, medium width, as long as 3 feet. Jubar, his friend who was
also fifteen, pounded a stake into the ground. He gathered smooth stones for
tossing at the stake.
Japheth arrived
first. He grabbed one stick, and used it to swiped at the air. Kophar, his
buddy, joined him. Hagaba
instructed the boy’s duel.
Naamah finally
returned, bringing her weaving. She plunked herself on the ground, watching
the boy’s warfare training.
The games and
duels went on and on and on, into what should have been night.
The youngsters
grew tired, but it was still light, so they played on.
Mothers came to
get their children and faced a battle.
Still light,
everyone wanted to continue playing. The Mothers won, and herded everyone
home.
* * * * *
There was no
dawn.
Naamah went
outside as the Gibeonite alien was delivering their water. “Shalom, and
thanks,” Naamah said. She
looked curiously at the sky. “Mom! It’s
still light. Did it ever get dark
last night?” she asked, setting the water down.
Japheth peeked
outside. “Wow!”
The entire camp
was aflutter. After eating their morning meal, the kids resumed their play.
Their mother’s didn’t object.
How could they?
The kids
returned home when they got hungry.
After eating,
they continued playing.
Anxious Moms met
with each other outside. Talking in hushed whispers, they pointed to the
sky. Their kids played on.
Dust flew as a
messenger drove his horse all the way to center camp.
People gathered
to surround the new wonder, curious and talking to each other. The man
waited until everyone grew still.
“Our Lord God,
the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob has handed our enemies into our hands.
Jahovah-Jireh, God who provides.
May His Name be blessed among His people forever!
He made the sun to stand still throughout yesterday into today as His
sign of our victory!”
Kids cheered.
People fell on bent knees, some prostrated themselves on the ground praising
God. Japheth grabbed Naamah.
“I’ll never
doubt God again!” He said, his dark eyes dancing.
The Biblical story about the day the sun stood still is found in Joshua
Chapter 10.
