Here’s a
cool story I learned recently. There was a man who was devoted to God and his
ways. This man was so devoted to God and his ways that he followed the law of
God even when the government and others close to him told him to stop. Even
though he is devoted to God he ends up going blind when bird droppings fall
into his eyes. He prays that God would take him away. At the same time a woman named
Sarah is introduced. She has been married seven times but each time on the couple’s
wedding night an evil spirit comes and kills the husband. She is made fun of by
those close to her and she prays that God would allow her to die. Both of these
prayers come before God and he decides to move on their behalf.
The father commands
his son to go to a foreign land (where Sarah happens to be) and collect some possessions
before he passes away. The son does so and is accompanied by what he believes
is a relative but is really an angel of God. On the first night of their
journey they camp by a lake where a fish attacks the son. The angel tells him
not to throw the fish away but rather take the heart, liver and gall of the
fish. The heart and liver can ward off evil spirits and the gall can restore
sight. Eventually the son meets Sarah, falls in love with her and they get
married. He then burns the fish heart and liver which wards off the evil spirit
and she is free. They eventually travel back to the son’s hometown where he
greets his blind father, puts the gall on his eyes and he is healed. The family
rejoices over the son’s marriage and the fathers healing.
The son’s
family throws a party for the son and his new bride. During the party the
traveling companion of the son (really an angel) finally reveals his true
identity to the father and son. They are shocked by this announcement and when
the angel leaves, they praise God for all that he has done for them.
Pretty
crazy story. However the meaning behind the story is really inspirational. The
father and the women Sarah both have troubles and both pray to God. God hears
both of their prayers but rather than answer them the way they want he sends an
angel who fulfills the purpose of God, to bring healing and restoration to both
individuals.
The story
is known as the Book of Tobit, a Jewish story told around 225-175 BC. (The
story is found in the Apocrypha which can be found in Bibles just not in many
protestant Bibles). The story was told as a reminder during a time when Israel faced
difficulties after their return from Exile. They had hoped they would become a sovereign
state and would rebuild the temple but that had not happened. The question the
people began to ask was where is God during this time? Does he hear our
prayers? Why hasn’t God allowed us to be free? This story is a reminder to
Israel that God does hear their prayers and is with them even though they might
not see him at work.
How many
times have you asked these same questions? I know the Bible teaches many of the
same lessons; God will never leave us and he always hears our prayers. But sometimes
an outside source speaks to biblical ideas and brings a new and fresh
perspective. The Book of Tobit is that for me. I am reminded through this story
that God hears my prayer and that even though I might not see God he is there
with me and he really is at work.
So maybe
you are asking the same questions that the people of Israel did. Maybe you are experiencing
some difficult times in your life and you know that God is with you and hears
your prayers but you need a reminder. Take comfort in God’s word. And maybe even
find comfort in an unlikely source, the story of Tobit.
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