The Seed of Abraham
Interlude
Since being lost at sea, and arriving in this misted realm, I have encountered many strange creatures and peculiar events. Of all the things I have experienced though, the idolatry is most significant here. The people do not see what they have been fooled into - and still they are proud of their ignorance. Even violently. It is embarrassing, but still I pray for their salvation.
It brings to mind the cults to Baals and Asherahs throughout the history of my earth. False gods with no breath of life: only killing, stealing, and destroying. I see many such cult behaviors in this land now. Baals are often depicted as a great bull, and the worship often centered around his mighty form and fertility. It is often described as 'prostituting' to Baal, or other such idols- becoming full of the filth and uncleanliness of their fornications. Asherahs were female idols.
Yet they would not listen to their judges, but they played the harlot with other gods, and bowed down to them. They turned quickly from the way in which their fathers walked, in obeying the commandments of the Lord; they did not do so.
There are many of these cultists, in the courts of kings and queens no less, but there is nothing to fear from the false workers. In the bible lies the account of a true prophet of God, Elijah, challenging an entire court of Baal and Asherah cultists to a contest:
Whose God would strike their offering with fire from heaven?
The prophet Elijah gave them every advantage available, but since he was alone, he would go second. 850 cultists gathered (400 of Asherah, the rest of Baal) to make good the offering to their gods. But no fire would come. They danced, sang, and when that failed to work they began with their other ways- of cutting themselves and screaming like the possessed, and still no fire. The prophet could not help but mock them, until his turn came the next day. He set 12 stones, one for each of the tribes of Israel; God's people, and made an altar in the Lord's name atop the mountain. Then he told those gathered to collect 4 jugs of water, and pour it on the wood. He asked this three times. When all was set, he said:
"Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known this day You are God in Israel and I am your servant, and that I have done all these things at your Word. Hear me, O Lord, hear me, that this people may know that You are the Lord God, and that You have turned their hearts back to You again." Then the fire of the Lord fell and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood and the stones and the dust, and it licked up the water that was in the trench. And when the people saw it they fell on their faces; and they said,
"The Lord, He is God! The Lord, He is God!" And Elijah said,
"Seize the prophets of Baal! Do not let one of them escape!" And every
one was put to the sword. I do not believe any number would have changed their fate.
That was the Old Testament, but we are bound by the law of the New Testament, and so are called to peace...
A snake can shed their skin, but never escape their sin. For their is
no repentance without the shedding of
blood. This is a law of the Old Testament, but Jesus shed His divine blood to cover for our sins and create a New Law; in that if we but believe in His name, we are inheritors of His salvation. We are covered by His blood, with eternal life. We yet suffer scoffing and mockery and abuse, but we are forewarned of such things. We are ready-
for what harm is iron to steel? So be of good cheer, and make better your offering. I expect fire.