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Authors: D. Brian Shafer
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remember, it was an act of faith that brought Serus to Michael,” chimed in Sangius, who also was once in Lucifer’s circle. “He, like I, realized the shameful pride that was ensnaring Lucifer’s mind and heart.”
“Traitors come easily in Heaven,” said Kara.
“You are quite the proof of that, Kara,” said Crispin offhandedly.
Michael and Sangius laughed aloud.
“Just listen to Joshua,” said Kara, ignoring Crispin’s jibe. Imitating Joshua in contemptible tones, wringing his hands, Kara pleaded aloud, “ ‘O Lord, why have You deserted us? If only we had stayed on the other side of the Jordan!’ How pitiful!” He looked at Michael with venom and added, “Such faith will never win a war that is determined by faith.”
Before Michael could respond to Kara, the Tent of Meeting was suddenly visited by a rushing noise that roared through the land. Every angel recognized the approach of the Presence of God. Kara and his angels fell back, shielding their eyes from the brilliant light that began filling the area around the tent. Although unseen by any humans, the Presence of the Most High completely lit up the camp as He prepared to speak to Joshua from the Ark.
Kara quickly ordered his angels back, many of whom not only fell back but scattered like frightened animals. Rugio managed a low growl at Michael before he also pulled back with Kara and the others. The holy angels ignored their adversaries and bowed their heads to the Lord, all of them wondering what was going to happen.
“Joshua.”
Joshua stopped in mid-sentence and became silent. The elders who were with him also were silent. Joshua looked back at them, and they immediately understood that the Lord had spoken to him, although they had heard nothing. They fell to their faces in great fear. Joshua looked back at the Ark.
“Joshua. Rise up! Why have you fallen on your face?”
Joshua realized that the Lord indeed was speaking to him and at first could not even move, much less speak. He slowly rose up, although the elders remained on the ground, prostrate.
“Israel has sinned. They have broken faith with Me by taking some things that were devoted to destruction. They have even hidden the things in their tent.”
Joshua could sense a great shame rising up inside of his heart. He dared not look at the Ark. He thought back to the many times Moses had encountered the faithlessness of the people he was leading.
“Therefore, this is what you are to do…
”
Chronicles of the Host
Judgment at Ai
Just as the Lord had spoken to Joshua, one man had committed a grievous sin against the Lord and against His own people. The Most High would show Joshua through the lot the man who had defiled the nation and the covenant. All the eyes of Israel anxiously awaited the outcome as tent by tent, tribe by tribe, family by family, the verdict was rendered.
We angels wondered if, when confronted with his sin, the man Achan would try to hide as did A’dam, and as humans seem to want to do, or if he would admit his sin and confess before the camp. As it turned out, Achan, when confronted by Joshua, did in fact confess his greed. The evidence of his sin was brought before the assembly. We watched as the judgment of the Lord fell upon Achan and his family, and they were stoned to death outside the camp.
C HAPTER 5
“Even deliverers are corruptible.”
Bethlehem, 4 B.C.
“Why is he so bitter?” asked Bakka, who stood near the group of shepherds outside Bethlehem. “Why won’t he simply enter into fellowship with his brother shepherds?”
Gabriel, who was watching the growing number of holy angels gather on the hillside overlooking Bethlehem, shook his head.
“That is part of your mission,” he said. “I told you that something momentous will happen here tonight. Your assignment with the man Daniel is a small part of that event.”
“Yes, I have seen many angels arriving,” admitted Bakka. “But what have they, or whatever is to happen here
“Traitors come easily in Heaven,” said Kara.
“You are quite the proof of that, Kara,” said Crispin offhandedly.
Michael and Sangius laughed aloud.
“Just listen to Joshua,” said Kara, ignoring Crispin’s jibe. Imitating Joshua in contemptible tones, wringing his hands, Kara pleaded aloud, “ ‘O Lord, why have You deserted us? If only we had stayed on the other side of the Jordan!’ How pitiful!” He looked at Michael with venom and added, “Such faith will never win a war that is determined by faith.”
Before Michael could respond to Kara, the Tent of Meeting was suddenly visited by a rushing noise that roared through the land. Every angel recognized the approach of the Presence of God. Kara and his angels fell back, shielding their eyes from the brilliant light that began filling the area around the tent. Although unseen by any humans, the Presence of the Most High completely lit up the camp as He prepared to speak to Joshua from the Ark.
Kara quickly ordered his angels back, many of whom not only fell back but scattered like frightened animals. Rugio managed a low growl at Michael before he also pulled back with Kara and the others. The holy angels ignored their adversaries and bowed their heads to the Lord, all of them wondering what was going to happen.
“Joshua.”
Joshua stopped in mid-sentence and became silent. The elders who were with him also were silent. Joshua looked back at them, and they immediately understood that the Lord had spoken to him, although they had heard nothing. They fell to their faces in great fear. Joshua looked back at the Ark.
“Joshua. Rise up! Why have you fallen on your face?”
Joshua realized that the Lord indeed was speaking to him and at first could not even move, much less speak. He slowly rose up, although the elders remained on the ground, prostrate.
“Israel has sinned. They have broken faith with Me by taking some things that were devoted to destruction. They have even hidden the things in their tent.”
Joshua could sense a great shame rising up inside of his heart. He dared not look at the Ark. He thought back to the many times Moses had encountered the faithlessness of the people he was leading.
“Therefore, this is what you are to do…
”
Chronicles of the Host
Judgment at Ai
Just as the Lord had spoken to Joshua, one man had committed a grievous sin against the Lord and against His own people. The Most High would show Joshua through the lot the man who had defiled the nation and the covenant. All the eyes of Israel anxiously awaited the outcome as tent by tent, tribe by tribe, family by family, the verdict was rendered.
We angels wondered if, when confronted with his sin, the man Achan would try to hide as did A’dam, and as humans seem to want to do, or if he would admit his sin and confess before the camp. As it turned out, Achan, when confronted by Joshua, did in fact confess his greed. The evidence of his sin was brought before the assembly. We watched as the judgment of the Lord fell upon Achan and his family, and they were stoned to death outside the camp.
C HAPTER 5
“Even deliverers are corruptible.”
Bethlehem, 4 B.C.
“Why is he so bitter?” asked Bakka, who stood near the group of shepherds outside Bethlehem. “Why won’t he simply enter into fellowship with his brother shepherds?”
Gabriel, who was watching the growing number of holy angels gather on the hillside overlooking Bethlehem, shook his head.
“That is part of your mission,” he said. “I told you that something momentous will happen here tonight. Your assignment with the man Daniel is a small part of that event.”
“Yes, I have seen many angels arriving,” admitted Bakka. “But what have they, or whatever is to happen here
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