TAMAR - Episode 13

“You look so young, how do your husband die?” I asked Rhonda.

“Well, I’m not too young”, she replied smiling. “..But, I’ve lived long enough to know the constant evil that happens in this world. I’m just blessed with young stature. I got married when I was twenty-one, and I’m now thirty-two years old. I was married for almost two years before my husband died. He went to work without any complaint or ill health, that was after we observed our morning prayer that very day. Unfortunately, he didn’t return the same: they brought back his corpse to me, with the news that he was found dead by the road side. No one knew what happened to him, and no one wanted to help me to bring his killers to book. The reason was just because he was a commoner and was hated by most people, after they discovered he was a Christian. He was building for the second district. I only suspected it was probably because he was a Christian, When bad people got to know, they plotted to kill him. Our marriage was not up to two years, I was pregnant with our first child, who was just four months in the womb, I later suffered a miscarriage due to the shock of my husband’s death. I was so lonely after his death, until the midwife brought the twins to me. They became my biggest blessing, and now I have another whom I’ve named Jon. I named the twins Mia and May, and I wish to boldly give them Christian names but I have to be wise… I can’t risk their lives for anything, but I still worship God in my closet, with the children the Lord has given to me…

Jon will grow to know God just like his two sisters, I don’t care to know the circumstances of their birth. There’s so much evil in this land, and one just has to be prayerful and careful… The midwife is one of the remaining good women around here, I know what she does is risky, but I pray everyday for God’s protection over her. She has rescued so many babies, and given them out to women who need them, she still manages to give us shillings, for our upkeep.

You said your name is Tamar and that it was your mistress that gave birth to Jon and wanted him to be disposed as if he’s a waste product. Just look at that sweet baby… How could she bear such evil in her heart for such an innocent child? Which normal human would give birth to such a sweet and precious baby, and want to throw him away? Well, everything works together for our good. The word of God becomes light when it says “Sing, o barren woman, you who has never given birth, break into loud and joyful song, you who have never conceived or experienced labour, because more are the children of the desolate woman than of the one who has a husband, says the Lord…”

“I’m encouraged Rhonda, and I’m happy to know you’re a true believer. I’ll come around some other time to check on you and the children that the Lord has blessed you with, and also bring some thing for upkeep. Be of good cheers, because God is a husband to the widows, He’ll take care of you and yours always.”

We hugged and I also held little Jon in my arms for sometime. I hugged Mia and May warmly before bidding them good bye.

I journeyed to Lord Reese’s big estate. It was a long walk but I didn’t feel the stress or distance because my heart was so filled with joy after meeting with Rhonda.

When I finally got home, it was night already. I took my bath and put my things inside. I prayed most part of the night and by the morning I was up as I went in search of Abel later.

I saw Abel at the fountain. He rose up on seeing me, and he opened his arms wide with an attractive smile, and I held him in warm embrace.
I felt so secured, I was so happy to see him again which caused me to drop few tears right there in his arm. Abel had built me into a fearless woman for God, and I wished I could always be close to him because I thought of him everyday and wondered what he was doing.
One thing was certain: he was always praying.

We were both silent as I sobbed quietly in his arms.
I had seen evil in this land yet God had always protected his people as he promised.
Abel loosened up as Vim approached from his chamber, Abel smiled and tried to wipe off tears from my eyes with the back of his hand, yet he never uttered a word.
Vim stood close to us and I quickly turned and greeted him.

“My kind greetings to you my lord, I’m glad to see you.” I said to him as I bowed slightly.

“I’m delighted to see you in good health Tamar. The last time I came to see Zity, I was told you took ill. I can see you are feeling better now… How is my sister and her husband, Adolfo? The death of the baby is hard on every one, even mother and father. Did Zity permit you to come here?”

“Yes my lord, she did. She asked me to come and help out in attending to Lord Reese, your father, whom we learnt was ill. How is he faring now?” I asked.

“Well… Not any better as at the last time I checked. Abel, I can see a warm smile on your face. Tamar is back, and you two can’t get enough of each other, I’m…glad.”

He looked at me and smiled before walking away. I reciprocated the smile.

Vim had maintained his cheerfulness and kindness, which I admired mostly about him now.
He had truly grown to be like his father in height and body weight. He’s the younger version of his father, who despite getting old, still maintained his good looks and remained huge in size.

I sat down with Abel as we began to discuss quietly.

“Hope all has been well with you Abel. You’ve lost weight. Haven’t you been eating well? I have missed you so much…” I said.

“I will eat more now that you are around. I’m so happy to see you again, Tamar. I also missed you but I knew you where right in God’s palm, which means you were safe. I’ve been praying and fasting for you. I saw trouble lurking around you in my dream and I started praying fervently for you. I see great trouble repeatedly lurking dangerously around you. I didn’t know what it was, all I was shown was just you trying to rescue a baby from a burning house, and I saw you again with the baby running and crying. I saw as a woman took the baby from you and she was happy… I saw children around her. Then God revealed another thing to me… Adolfo will be with another woman not Zity, another who will gladden his heart and lead him to the light…”

“Wow…wow, Abel, you’ve gone so deep with your relationship with God, I wish I was like you, I wish I had attained that height in my faith. I’m still a baby who is learning how to crawl, everything you said can only be revealed to you by God himself. I pray that I wy get to your level of relationship with God. But, did God reveal another thing; like a merchant’s wife, or the person Adolfo will eventually settle down with? Did you see any other thing?” I asked anxiously.

“All I saw I have spoken, nothing else was shown. I was always praying for you Tamar, because you seemed to be in the middle of it all. My strong relationship with God did not just start yesterday, it started a very long time ago. I denied myself to the world to be claimed by God. It wasn’t easy but God made it easy. I sold it all out to God, withholding nothing from Him. Don’t panic my dear, God wants to be in a close relationship with all his children, and you’re there already. Do not waver in your walk with Him, because I can see God using you to do great and mighty things. There’s more to come Tamar, don’t relax yet. Pray… Keep praying… Tribulation will still come, there will be adversity and unpleasant situations, but be of good cheer, keep the faith, for it’s only having a strong faith in God that will save you. Your calling is higher than mine, you were chosen by God for a greater purpose, I was only asked to guide you through and build you up in Him so that you willnot waver, and that’s what I will do. Do not be afraid because God’s angels are all around you, they’re here right now. You may not see them but they are like the wind, blowing cool air in our direction.”

I became quiet as I began to think of all that Abel had said.
“You make me scared when you talk about tribulation and adversity which are yet to come. I have had enough troubles, I don’t want to see more, I’m tired Abel. Can you ask God to take every other trouble away? My life is filled with so many already, I don’t want more…”

“We have one God, and one intercessor. You equally have access to Him just like I do. Talk to your father, God is your father. tell Him all your worries, do not be scared or feel dejected, just know that God has called you by your name, you are his workmanship. He will make you stronger than what you are right now. Even in the face of tribulation, he will be right there with you.”

“I believe, may it be according to his will and not mine…” I replied.

“I’m glad that you’re here in good health, Tamar. I don’t need to ask about Zity or the baby whom everyone believed died immediately after birth. The baby is alive, right? And he’s in the custody of a woman who has no husband but all I see is happy children all around her. It sounds crazy but God has never lied. I love you Tamar, not with the love of the world, but with love of Christ. Do not be afraid, I will always be here for you, I will intercede in prayer on your behalf, everyday and that is a promise..”

As soon as Abel mentioned for the first time that he loved me, my heart double skipped. It was the very first time I heard him or anyone say that out, despite knowing that Abel cared for me and the love he has is not of the world but of Christ. I cared deeply for him too. I have loved him and scared to admit it because Abel didn’t like the worldly kind of love, and I sincerely didn’t know the kind of love I felt in my heart for him, but I thought of him everyday, and imagined God speaking to him to marry me. We will get married and build a Godly home.

I mustered courage to speak to him about my feelings.
Who knows probably God has spoken to him that I’m probably the woman for him and he maybe waiting for more revelation on that.
I wish my thoughts are real.

“Abel, I want to be the woman God will choose for you to settle with, someday. I’ve always loved you and wish…wish…hmmm.
I paused and continued
“…Did God ever reveal who you are going to marry in your dream, I mean…like somebody like me, a Christian girl. Did he ever show you or you still do not know God’s plan on that? We’re the only two believers around here, it’s only normal for you to claim back your freedom and we’ll be married. Zity said she’ll give me my freedom if I ever want to get married; I know Lord Reese loves you and the entire household, but God may have other plan which is also in His word when He said we should go into the world and multiply. You told me the last time that it’s not good to be unequally yoked with an unbeliever, so I looked around and saw that we’re meant to be, probably that was why God brought us together, for that reason so tha…”

Abel interrupted me at this point.

“You’ve said enough Tamar; do not use the scripture to your favour, when it suits only you. And let’s not be ahead of God, or to think like the worldly people. If we do, we’ll only be inviting sin, and the devil is ever ready to ignite such. Remember, God’s word says that the devil is roaming around the earth looking for whom to devour and we’re a good target for him. Our enemies are watching and waiting for any weakness for them to destroy us. Marriage, like I told you before is not a ticket to heaven. If your right eye causes you to sin pluck it off, it’s better to enter into heaven with one eye than to be destroyed with the two, it’s an illustration from the word. God is not asking you to pluck off your eyes but to restrain from whatever you think that gives you worldly pleasure. Whatever that will make you run this race and at the end God will say to you, “go away, for I know you not” should be avoided. Remember those who look to him for help will be radiant with joy, no shadow of shame will darken their faces.

Tamar, God did not show me anything about marriage, and I’m not worried, never was and never will be. If He says it’s you, Tamar,I will be glad to embrace you as my wife and build a Godly family with you, but, if God says it’s one unbeliever out there, or a pagan on the street serving different gods, so be it. I will reform her to be a Godly woman, and she will come to know the only true God. I’m following God’s leading, anywhere he leads me, I will go. Focus your mind on Him and do not be distracted with marriage or anything.

God is love and in Him, you’ll find solace. There’s a battle ahead, not a physical war that you can see, it’s a battle that requires you going on your knees and praying to God to intervene. I’m not perfect, but I walk in His own perfection, in His grace that He has made possible for all, through his son Jesus Christ. You have work to do here Tamar, that’s why God brought you back. I will always be praying for you and God will help you to know all you need to know when the time comes…”

I smiled with a nod, and I realized I was truly thinking ahead of God.
I never asked Him what His will was for me, I was only fantasizing about marriage, having children, and being with Abel. I forgot that God himself instituted marriage before the beginning of the world, when he made man, Adam and out of his ribs came his companion, a woman, Eve.

God knows the best for me more than I do.
I quickly repented of my unknown sin as Abel made me realize I was on the wrong path of thought. I’m always glad to have Abel lead and correct me.
God is ever merciful to His children.

Later that day, I went to Lady Phin and knelt in greeting. She was happy to see me, and we talked about few things, mostly about Zity and the baby, before I left.

On the third day, Lady Phin called me again and led me to Lord Reese’s Chamber. He was critically ill.
Lady Phin told me they had tried different thing on him, even Obia volunteered to use her magical power, but he never got well, instead the master got worse. He always battled with an unknown spirit in his dream, he hardly sley at night as a result of the fear.

Renowned physicians kept coming and he never improved.
I wondered why Abel didn’t do anything, and immediately I thought of that, a word dropped in my heart, “God works in a way we do not understand.”

I sat beside him, and although it wasn’t allowed, I took the master’s hands boldly and he turned his face and looked at me.

He managed to curve his lips into a faint smile, Lady Phin stood behind me.
I bowed my head without uttering a word; I just shut my eyes, and prayed loudly in my mind, rebuking the enemy so that it would flee from him.
I prayed for a divine healing on him with the Lord’s word that says “He took our sicknesses and bore in himself our disease…and by his stripes we are healed…”

I prayed so loudly in my heart that all I wanted to do was scream as I felt the power of God.
After the prayer, I left him and returned to the out house.
I met Vim as I was leaving and he stopped me by the exit door. All he did as usual was to look at me without saying a word before I bowed and left.

The following morning, I was told that Lady phin was calling me and when I went, she thanked me, telling me that Lord Reese slept throughout the night after several weeks of battling in his sleep and that he was feeling a bit better, unlike before.

The tormented spirit that usually comes to attack him in his dream didn’t return all through the night.

She was grateful to me and I returned all the glory to God who made it possible.