Writers make propositions. For this blog post, I chose a statement I have heard more than once, “The Bible is a book of fairy tales.” Do people who say such things ever read or comprehend the significance of the stories in the Bible? Does science or archeology dispel Bible stories or support them?
In recent days I watched a video on the Biblical story of Jericho. We must admit, to believe the Israelites brought down the walls with a seven-day march and blowing horns takes strong faith. Or does it? As I watched the video, I used my imagination and went beyond the focus of the narrator. His objective was to demonstrate whether the city of Jericho did or didn’t exist and if it did, to question if it was in a certain frame of time. To the secular world a failure to correspond to the exact historical movement of the Israelites after being freed from Egypt would dispel the Bible story for chronological errors.
In my research, I read additional articles with an obvious slant to dispel the story as inaccurate based on secular research.
Below, I share a link for you to do additional research.
My focus centers on the plausible destruction of Jericho’s city walls. In my mind, I questioned how the walls might have crumbled. I’m just an author, not an archeologist or Biblical scholar. An opinion is just dust in the wind, the truth exists without my help or understanding. So, if you will, open your mind to imagine the days of Jericho’s wall collapse. The following Bible quotes are taken from Joshua 5:13-6:27 New International Version.
Joshua 5: 13 Now when Joshua was near Jericho, he looked up and saw a man standing in front of him with a drawn sword in his hand. Joshua went up to him and asked, “Are you for us or for our enemies?” (this took some courage)
14 “Neither,” he replied, “but as commander of the army of the Lord I have now come.” Then Joshua fell facedown to the ground in reverence, and asked him, “What message does my Lord have for his servant?”
(Note the word neither—very interesting to think about this one word.)
15 The commander of the Lord’s army replied, “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy.” And Joshua did so.
Joshua 6: Now Jericho was tightly shut up because of the Israelites. No one went out and no one came in.2 Then the LORD said to Joshua, “See, I have delivered Jericho into your hands, along with its king and its fighting men. 3 March around the city once with all the armed men. Do this for six days. 4 Have seven priests carry trumpets of rams’ horns in front of the ark. On the seventh day, march around the city seven times, with the priests blowing the trumpets. 5 When you hear them sound a long blast on the trumpets, have the whole army give a loud shout; then the wall of the city will collapse and the army will go up, everyone straight in.” (This would take a lot of courage and faith to execute such a plan.)
This is where the fairy tale label of the nonbeliever comes into play. Such an act could never crumble fortress walls.
Or could it?
You can visit YouTube http://tinyurl.com/JerichoUnearthed
Jericho Unearthed: The Archaeology of Jericho Explained, provides more background for the existence of Jericho.
Here, I offer an author’s imagery of the day’s events and possibilities. As a writer of fiction, historical fiction, and creative non-fiction, my experience is in making plausible arguments for events.
In the video, archeologists in fact do find the ruins of Jericho. An explanation of the architectural structure of the walls gives insight as to the plausibility of their flawed construction. There existed a two-tier wall system, the base wall or retaining walls were older stone walls to hold back the earthen base of the city. On top of the stone walls existed the city’s mud brick walls. To the Israelites, this structure had to look impenetrable. A direct affront would cost the lives of many soldiers.
Now, view the situation from the perspective of someone within the city. Imagine a huge army approaches, you know their intentions to attack, but you have no idea what their tactics will be. They march around the city on the first day, while the guards on the wall watch. Sure the guards can repel any advance, but an advance doesn’t occur.
When the witnesses on the wall tell of what they have seen, rumors and excitement spread. The next day another Israelite parade takes place, this time perhaps the wall guards are joined by civilians to see the spectacle. After the parade disperses, many of the folks of Jericho remain on the walls waiting, in wonder of when the next show will be, Perhaps some returned home with word of what they saw.
The city walls are made of mud bricks, but of what vintage? The spot where Jericho stood had human habitation for a thousand years. How much stress did the extra traffic impact on these old walls? Every day, the crowd on the walls increased as rumors and stories spread and grew. Tensions among the city dwellers grew in anticipation of an impending attack. Throughout the week, speculations grow. Many never leave the walls, and as the next marches occur, more and more people rush onto the walls to witness the event. The city dwellers’ thoughts and insecurities toy with them. The burden on the walls increases with everyone climbing up and down. Witnessing the damage, the guards turn on the hordes. The rabble resists the city’s authorities and continue to overburden the walls.
On the seventh day, with tensions at fevered pitch on the walls, the Israelite priests sound their horns, long and loud. Every person on the wall is frantic, fearing the time has come.
(Note: Isaac Asimov, in his book, Guide to the Bible: The Old Testament, delves into the psychological effects of the Jericho siege. Asimov was a vice-president of Mensa and a prolific writer and editor with over 500 books to his credit. His work on the Bible is more of a literary and historical study.)
Few had slept during the past week, and when the Israelite soldiers shouted in great unison—as instructed by God—panic ensued. The movement on the weakened mud walls triggered debris to begin to fall. The initial crumbling further arouses fear. A snowball effect occurs as the crowd tries to disperse. The crumbling mud bricks tumble down in front of the stone walls to form a perfect incline for the Israelite army to scale and gain entrance into Jericho.
A plausible secular explanation, maybe, but as in all truths there is much unseen, especially the less obvious details. Before anyone writes off the Bible as a book of fairy tales, it might be best to follow up with a little science.
In the case of Jericho, my belief embraces the courage and belief which rattles the non-believers.
The walls tumbled down; this is an archeological fact. The debris formed an incline against the stone wall which offered access to the city. Jericho’s ruins offer these facts. The Bible documents the event, and all these years later, we can read the text and analyze the data. This is, in and of itself, a miracle. There is room for debate on what crumbled the walls, and many will still refuse to accept the story as true. A messenger claimed to be from God and the Israelites listened to him, accepted the advice, and triumphed. Not by their will, but by God’s will.
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https://braveknightwriters.com/blog/55-Coming-Home
https://www.amazon.com/stores/William%20A.%20Wright/author/B0164HULKG
Psalm 34:18 The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.
My head bumps the window as the bus swerves to avoid a pothole. My painfully thin body has fallen limp from exhaustion and stress. So deep in thought. It would be better to sleep, if only I could. The boys sleep beside me, young and skinny. Together they don’t fill the seat. The oldest rests his head against me, his brother against him. So innocent, yet sensing an irreversible change. They lack an in-depth comprehension of their world’s end, but so do I. Sounds echo in a hollow heart, images blur in smoked mirrors. Truth eludes love’s patsies. How many soldiers return from war on buses? How many old movies begin with a woman’s return on a bus after years of absence? The bus drops into yet another pothole, stirring the boys but not waking them. Potholes let me know we are nearing home. Three years on the autobahn had let me forget such things. There were no bumps on German roads… just the ones we carried with us.
We left the deep south on a midnight express, the most economical way to travel from Sumter to home. After nine years of military life, I have nothing except these little guys by my side and two bags of clothes stuffed under the seats. It will take all my resources and my family’s help for me to return to Germany, wherein I believe lies my one hope. In times of war, desertion has severe consequences.
Ironically, our nation experienced nine years of military peace during my enlistment. The wounds I suffer won’t be recorded in my military records, nor his desertion. My situation isn’t a case for a military tribunal. It came in the way of a spiritual abrogation. I deliberately head bump the window in self-punishment for acts of stupidity. The battle existed in my imagination—none of it was true, or so I have been told. The pain feels real. Yet my days in Hunsruck possess a surreal quality, as we travel by bus toward home. My military counselor in Germany shared wise advice, “base nothing on words written in sand, hold fast to those in stone.” If only I had known her ten years ago.
My parents raised the eleven of us in a Godly home, where rumors of spiritual warfare were spoken. No longer rumors, the spiritual battles have left me wounded, even broken. The thought chills me. I have been emotionally broken. My father has been physically broken for many years now. My body functions. I must not wallow in self-pity. Confessions are due, as I too, am a deserter. Nine years on the run from God has left me hollow, with no way to provide for the spiritual needs of these innocent victims.
Utility poles, trees, shrubs, all bathed in the morning sun fly by as the greyhound weaves off the interstate. With only fifteen passengers on board, many of them stretched out on empty seats during the night. In the morning light passengers stir with annoying chatter. My ear catches softly spoken German sprinkled in the blather behind us. The night’s silence and darkness had been a false comfort, I knew we weren’t traveling alone. Earlier, I had wondered why people travel where they do. Our small town has a college, a cheese factory, and a large Amish community in the surrounding countryside.
Basic training in our home was rather tribal, our parents set a good example but with eleven recruits at various stages of development we lacked a training manual. The older siblings stepped up to fill in some of the missing pieces, and a lot of the pieces came from their own unsolved puzzles. By the time I reached my teen years, I knew of things, but I didn’t know things. So, I tried to imitate the older siblings and fell to the pressures of my peers. None of it prepared me for the unraveling of so much that I held as truths. Clearly, at my lowest point, those I loved most embraced pretty lies over ugly truths and I sought an escape. It took the pain of hard knocks to really know, instead of knowing of.
How many lives have been ruined by running away from things we only know of, before we invest the time to know the essence of truth? My Mom loves the Lord, she knows the Lord, and she told me about Him. What I wanted from her was protection, but her focus on the good left her naïve in some respects. My trust shattered, I had run.
Mom issued subtle warnings about the road I had chosen, but those warnings fell on closed ears. Sadly, she had valuable insights which I did not heed. Even though she proved to be right, her heart will never allow her to say, “I told you so.” Instead, she will offer patient love and support, this I know. When I escaped to the military, I left God behind.
Satan the liar and murderer seeks the bereft. In hot pursuit, he tracked me down with offers to fill the void left by God’s absence. A murder took place, not of the flesh, but of the spirit. The murder of belief, a marriage, the children’s childhood, love, and my last ounce of trust.
When I had said goodbye to Dad to board the bus for basic training, his only advice was, “If this is what you are going to do, be good at it.” The women’s movement had drummed into all of us girls, we could be whatever we wanted to be. Dad’s words had a different message. In it all, I learned women can do everything or anything, but to be the best requires a specialty, generalities never bring excellence.
As a recruit, as a sergeant, I worked to be good at my job and eventually supervised an F-16 avionics maintenance crew of two dozen. Other aspects of my life weren’t the best, and I knew it. So I walked away from things I excelled at to be the best mom.
When I walked away from my military career, I entered enemy territory. A mine field spread into the distance, etched with meaningless words. Spiritual warfare has no periods of peace, just quiet periods between attacks. When the explosion occurred, it shattered my heart, as well as my children’s childhoods, and created a questionable future.
Penniless and broken, no F-16’s in sight, I headed home in hopes of a second chance. Home offered refuge, a place built around struggle, and populated by those familiar with tragedy, with knowledge gained by pain.
When I was a child, my father’s legs had been left paralyzed in a near-fatal accident. Tough men don’t cave, they get tougher. Unable to remain employed in the mill, he managed his apple orchard, opened a hardware store, and even with his physical challenges managed to build a house. My parents knew the pain of a dying child. The loss of my sister at ten years old had devastated them.
In retrospect, I realize my mother’s focus on goodness has been her survival technique. Enough hard times had been dumped on her, she isn’t compelled to seek more or indulge in drama. No one will want to hear excuses from me when I arrive, they’ll simply support me and help me move forward. True Christians know the meaning of turning into a pillar of salt and the need to focus on distant mountains.
The airbrake whistle and downward groan of the bus’s engine announce our arrival in town. The shops along the main street are the same as the day I left. The sun illuminates their facades, the windows gleam as Mrs. Lindsey polishes them for the millionth time. My boys continue to sleep until the last passenger exits, only then do I wake them.
The first to exit the bus are four college-aged guys only slightly younger than me, who joke and push one another with total disregard for my sleeping sons. Next, an elderly woman using a cane mumbles to herself as she passes our seats. Lastly, an Amish couple and their eight children, the father leading the way. He gives me a nod of acknowledgement and his wife gives me a meek smile as her gaze leaves my children and rests on me. The eight Amish children come by according to height, smallest to tallest. They give us a quick glance but are as quiet as mice.
With a nudge my boys are awake. Awkwardly, I clutch our bags with one hand and hold my youngest son’s hand in the other. The oldest jumps to the sidewalk and I descend the steps behind him. A familiar voice startles me. Oh, so many things about home had slipped from my heart.
“How was it?” A simple enough question from our town legend, Bobby Short.
Pausing, I can offer no simple truth answer. Any details I might offer would go right over Bobby’s simplistic head. So, I just reply, “it was an adventure.” He accepts my response, as he accepts everyone’s responses. He had surely asked each passenger the same question as they stepped from the bus, even the Amish children. Bobby has reached legendary status in our area; he had always been a simple boy, whose parents gladly turned him loose on the town. Early every morning since he was a child, he was a feature on the main street. One of his favorite pastimes included waiting at the bus stop to greet newcomers.
It is the opening scene from my new movie. After so many miles on wrong roads, I determine what I had always wanted was some of what my Mom has. To love and be loved by God and my children.
When we go AWOL during spiritual warfare, God welcomes us back with open arms.
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100089479638519
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IZH3M6ezhqk
https://braveknightwriters.com/blog/53-Congolese-Refugees-and-Envision-Cleveland
Below I draw a quote from a story in the Cleveland Plain Dealer, Metro section, April 2018, By Brian Albright. “In recent years ethnic strife and war has claimed more than 5 million lives, either as a direct result of fighting or because of disease and malnutrition. The conflicts have been particularly brutal, marked by mass rapes, abductions, forced recruiting, use of child soldiers and sexual violence.”
The Congo region of Africa has been unstable with ethnic strife since gaining its independence from the Dutch in 1960. Many of the refugees arrived in Cleveland around 2016-17. 1355 Congolese arrived in Ohio while 84, 994 resettled nationwide. One refugee said in the Congo you may find a way to survive, but since coming to America he feels he has a chance to live. Desperation can be a great motivator, even though it requires courage to overcome situations.
Most people of any ethnic or racial background simply desire to live, love, eat, and create families. A trade or craft supports a family. Handouts destroy the human spirit as much as any other attack (such offerings should be viewed as temporary support). Much of the Congolese community desire to contribute toward success, but human spiritual frailty and an easy support system can allow evil ways to surface. A revenue flow must be linked to accountability to have successful results.
The organization Envision Cleveland works to address community safety, stability, and skills issues by securing properties identified by the city as crack houses and turning them into garden spaces. Some properties are now converted into play areas for children, while the gardens have picnic tables and raised beds for growing vegetables.
Just as our military veterans suffer from PTSD, these same issues can affect civilian refugees from war-torn areas. Envision addresses the issues by offering the community a career center where interested men and women can learn a trade. Rehabilitation of the community, individuals, and families is a must to battle alcoholism and drug addiction.
My arrival in the Congolese community came before sunrise on a Saturday, none of the other missionaries were there yet. When not familiar with the area, one must maintain an alert posture. Several figures stumbled about, and it was obvious they weren’t on their way to work. Most of the homes in the area consist of rental properties in poor repair. Waiting in a gas station parking lot, great relief came in the form of a man emerging from a van at the gas pumps. It was Tall Paul, the mission leader, who must stand 6 foot 8 inches, and with a hefty build. Inside the van were three additional mission volunteers. Reflecting on my own uncertain feelings, I imagined how a refugee must feel, plucked out of Africa and dropped into a strange neighborhood in Cleveland. Surely a better situation, but nothing familiar.
Our mission work started with collecting trash, beer bottles, cans, papers, all while on guard for needles. To me this is a sign of great disrespect for our efforts and a method evil uses to shut down the human spirit (all part of spiritual warfare).
With daylight, a vehicle with church families arrived to pull weeds and refresh the raised beds. The children had a picnic table full of snacks, and at one point gathered for a story-time break in a corner of the garden. In the battle of spirits, setting a good example and praying for others to follow is good ammunition. The battle can’t be won by force. Victory is a decision, a choice each individual must make.
Disclaimer: "The views expressed in this blog are those of the author (Brave Knight Writers) and not necessarily those of the Envision Cleveland Organization, any of their other volunteers, or staff.”
https://www.amazon.com/Above-Beyond-silence-William-Wright/dp/B0C1J5DGJY#customerReviews
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IZH3M6ezhqk
Merry Christmas
Reviewed in the United States on December 13, 2023
https://braveknightwriters.com/blog/54-Fear-Not-Use-Your-Talent
Jesus spoke a parable according to Matthew 25: 14-30 which has popped up in our circles several times in last few weeks. One such place was on page 176 in Unshakeable: Facing Your Giants in God’s Strength: a 90-day journey in faith. A book brought to you by The Word for You Today. Pondering the passage as written in my Life Application Study Bible New International Version, I came to some conclusions about several key elements.
Of course, the main theme as spelled out in my Bible’s interpretation is the Lord’s departure and his return as stated in Matthew 25:21. The failure of one of the servants in Matthew 25: 24-30 is caused by fear and an unwillingness to serve. In Matthew 25: 29-30 the rewards received by those not living in fear, who work and invest their blessings are said to increase, while those who live in fear will exist with weeping and gnashing of teeth. These elements jump off the page, the message is clear. So, try to envision elements which exist between the lines. We are taught to fear God, he is all powerful and the creator of all things, this makes it necessary to delve into the emotion of fear and understand the difference between survival fear and crippling fear. It takes courage to sort out the cause and effect of fear. What a paradox. God wants us to have courage, fear not, and yet fear. Our courage is a gift from the Lord that we can nurture and increase.
God tells us to invest. He rewards those who do his work and invest their talents. What does investment entail? Investment requires risk versus return assessment and takes many forms; economic, emotional, intellectual, and even time. This parable doesn’t address what obstacles were faced while the master was gone. Did any investments fail? We know by the end of the story, two of the servants succeed in increasing the blessings of the Lord, but this can’t be the entire story, can it? How many of us have courageously invested in things which failed to provide a return? Many invest and work at a marriage, invest in their children, grandchildren, a home, or financial instruments, only to receive nothing or even are robbed in return. What of those who lost out by betrayal of a spouse, ungrateful children and grandchildren, or a home whose value has fallen?
The other element I ponder is the master leaves and returns. Jesus left, but the Holy Spirit is wherever invited. God is beside us as we toil and struggle. The one who was afraid also didn’t believe, for he thought, like Adam and Eve, he could hide from God. The Master had reason for only giving this servant one talent, he already knew his heart. He entrusted one with five talents— a good start— but the man also worked, we don’t know what losses he encountered and yet recovered. Same as with the servant given two talents, I am sure God watched how each handled their losses as much as their gains.
One factor to consider is the more you have, the more you could lose. This element has the potential to generate great fear. In the end, how we respond to our troubles should weigh as much as what we gained, but there are no rewards for the coward.
God blesses us, so share blessings, work them, and use your talents without fear of loss.
Talent is an interesting word. In Jesus’ time, a talent was the equivalent of 15 years’ salary. In the ancient world of Greece and Rome, to possess five-talents would equate to being a millionaire in our times.
Do your God-given talents indicate you are a millionaire? Yes. Have you unearthed those talents?
These are some of my thoughts. I don’t offer any answers, other than find courage and serve the Lord, for everything comes from Him and belongs to Him. The words of the failed servant, condemn him, “…harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed.”
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