The Heavenly Oak, page 17
“Be a man!” Jacob yelled at his son.
Tentatively, Andrew began to follow.
Fear overtook him. Andrew tried to retreat back up the steep gulch. He kicked his donkey in the ribs and pulled the reins to the left. The donkey began to turn and the rocks slipped under them.
The weight of the packs, coupled with the steep incline, proved too much for the animal. Andrew leaped from the donkey as it toppled onto its side. Andrew smashed against a large ledge. He clawed his way up to the safety of the rock shelf. When he looked down, he saw an avalanche of boulders and pack animals cascading down the ravine.
The dust settled at the bottom of the hill. His donkey had survived and was getting on its feet. Andrew saw his father crushed in the midst of the rubble, lodged under his own donkey.
“Father!” he cried out. Andrew jumped off the ledge. He landed on the loose shale and tumbled down the hill. He clawed at the rocks, trying desperately to get to his father. The last rock he pulled away was bathed in blood. His father’s skull had been crushed.
Andrew dropped the rock and screamed at the heavens. For hours he sat next to his father, rocking back and forth. Waves of grief and fear hit him over and over again. He knew what awaited him when he returned home.
He rummaged through the leather bags that were strapped to the donkey. There were provisions for the trip and a purse filled with coins.
Andrew buried his father with rocks, then mounted the surviving mule and headed for Jerusalem . . .
“I didn’t know what else to do. I felt so trapped,” Andrew said, as he looked up from his book. “I stole my father’s money to survive. I was just a stupid child.”
The Comforter said, “The money belonged to the family. Rebecca and Timothy could have used that money to provide for the rest of your siblings.”
Andrew felt guilty that he had not returned the money to his mother. “I was afraid to go home. My brother had promised to enslave us.”
“You had no faith in your mother. She is a wise woman. Her strength and understanding of Timothy would have manifested itself,” the Father said. He gestured to the book. Andrew continued reading.
The seventeen-year-old Andrew entered Jerusalem as a scared and grieving child. His sheltered life at home was over. He knew he would have to rely on himself to survive. As Andrew walked through the streets of Jerusalem, he felt a mixture of fear and excitement. For the first time in his life he was free to do what he liked. He no longer had to be a tent maker. He wondered what he wanted to become. Andrew dreamed of ways to spend all that money in his father’s purse. The things the city had to offer overwhelmed him. His father talked only of the market. Jacob had never told his sons of the other opportunities that await a visitor to the city.
There were places he could go and drink all the wine he wanted. They had women there that would be very affectionate as long as he kept spending money. He noticed that as long as he spent money, he had many friends.
Within six weeks, his riotous living had taken his donkey and all his father’s money. Andrew was destitute. He recalled his father speaking of his many loyal customers. One name was always at the top of that list: Benjamin, a very wealthy merchant. Andrew’s family had created many tents for him. Andrew knew his father had gained his trust. This gave Andrew an idea.
The market was just as his father had described, a large courtyard filled with tents and tables. The smell of spices and perfumes filled the air. The sound of chattering negotiations and wind chimes surrounded him. Andrew asked many people if they had seen the famously rich merchant named Benjamin. He finally made his way to an elderly woman selling her pottery. The midday sun was beating down. The old woman shaded her eyes as she looked up at Andrew.
“Benjamin just purchased a vase from me. He is in town all week buying things for his new home,” she said, squinting at the young inquisitor.
“Thank you so much,” Andrew said.
He rushed back into the crowds. His father had described Benjamin’s appearance over the years. He was a squatty man who always dressed in bright colors. He wore a lot of gold bracelets and necklaces. Andrew thought he could probably spot him in the crowd. While milling through the last aisle of tents and tables, he saw him.
Benjamin was looking at rugs. His graying hair and beard were neatly combed. He was dressed in a bright red robe with a wide gold belt wrapped around his abundant middle. His smiling face was inviting as he perused the many rugs on display. He had four servants following him. They were carrying baskets filled with his purchases.
Andrew cupped his hands, hoping to be heard over the crowd.
“Benjamin!” he hollered.
The rotund man spun around. His gold bracelets jingled on his wrists.
“Yes? It is I,” he said.
Andrew stood up straight and cleared his throat. “I am Timothy, firstborn son of Jacob of Nain. My father wishes to extend his apologies. I know you have been expecting him.”
Benjamin tilted his head. He stared at the boy for a long while.
Andrew’s knees shook under his robe.
“What has happened to Jacob?” Benjamin asked.
Andrew shifted his feet. He looked Benjamin in the eye and approached him. “My father’s business is expanding. He has many new customers. He wanted to be here in person, but since his business is demanding of his time, he couldn't get away. So, he has sent his firstborn son to meet our most valued customer.”
With that bit of flattery, Andrew bowed.
Benjamin smiled broadly.
“Jacob has told me of his family, and especially of his firstborn son, Timothy. How do I know you are who you claim to be?”
Andrew swallowed hard. He flashed Benjamin his best smile. “My father told me of your shrewd business sense. Last year we were honored to produce for you the blue-and-white-striped tent with gold fringes. We embroidered your name above the front entrance. It was one of our most beautiful creations.”
He hoped his firsthand knowledge of the tent would be enough.
Suddenly Benjamin reared his head back and laughed. “Timothy! Son of Jacob!” proclaimed the rich merchant. He held out his arms.
Andrew followed his lead and ran and hugged Benjamin. “It is truly a great honor to finally meet you,” said Andrew.
Benjamin appeared truly happy to meet him.
“Your family has given me great deals on some beautifully crafted tents. The pleasure is mine,” he said.
Andrew stepped back to get a good look at Benjamin. His father had always said that in order to gain a person’s trust, you must look them in the eye.
“My father has instructed me to find you. Our family would be honored to produce another tent for you. I understand you have just completed your new home. Perhaps you will need a tent for a party,” Andrew said, with his most mature sounding voice.
Benjamin stroked his beard while Andrew continued selling his idea.
“It will be made of the finest materials. Quality and perfection will be sewn into every stitch,” Andrew bragged.
Benjamin broke out in a belly laugh. “You are your father’s boy! Jacob could always sell me on his new ideas.”
Andrew’s pulse quickened. He asked Benjamin for the standard down payment in order to buy materials. Benjamin gladly handed over the money and described in detail how he envisioned his new tent.
The portly man frowned. “Aren’t you going to make any notes?”
Andrew knew he never intended to make the tent, but quickly replied, “My father has taught me well. I will remember,” he said.
Andrew promised Benjamin a delivery date. They shook hands, and Andrew disappeared in the crowd.
Over the next few months, Andrew repeated the same ruse many times. In his father’s parchments were lists of customers. Andrew made promises to them he never intended to keep. The young boy kept spending the money as fast as it came in. The delivery dates on the tents came and went.
“That is how the stealing began,” the Father said.
Andrew looked up from the book. “I was hungry and desperate. I only did that to survive.”
The Comforter lifted a brow and patted him on the shoulder. “You were desperate for wine and prostitutes.”
Andrew was speechless.
“Keep reading, son,” the Father said.
Andrew reluctantly turned back to his book.
Thirty
Andrew had paid a week’s rent on a large room facing the market square. He had just spent three days throwing a party for anyone who would join him. When the wine and food ran out, the party died. One of the guests at the party worked for Benjamin, the merchant. He informed his boss where Andrew was staying. As the front door was being kicked down, Andrew quickly escaped to the rooftop. The reputation of the firstborn son of Jacob was officially ruined, and there were many angry customers wanting to find him.
Over the next year, Andrew’s life continued to unravel. His career went from market square swindler to petty thief. He broke into homes to steal jewelry and food. He learned to spend time around large crowds, stealing from purses and carts. He was constantly vigilant. He lived in the shadows of the city. He learned to survey a crowd from an alley or rooftop. He could usually spot his prey. He would wait until they were distracted, and then he would strike.
One day, as he sat crouched on a rooftop, he gasped at whom he saw in the crowd. Timothy, firstborn of Jacob the tent maker, rode his mule into the market square. Andrew ducked behind the small wall that surrounded the top of the building. His thoughts raced. He wondered if his twin brother was looking for him. Andrew got up the courage to peek over the wall. He looked down on the bustling crowd. His older brother was dismounting the mule. Andrew held his breath as his brother now stood directly beneath him. Timothy was approaching a stout white-haired man with gold jewelry around his neck.
Timothy yelled over the crowd, “Benjamin! I am Timothy, son of Jacob, from the town of Nain. I would love to talk to you about our fine tents!”
Benjamin swirled around.
He pointed at Timothy and screamed, “Seize him!”
Andrew watched as four large servants dropped their baskets and pounced on Timothy. Benjamin slowly walked forward as the servants knocked Timothy to the ground.
Benjamin looked down at the young man lying in the dirt.
“I have searched for you, boy!” he said.
Timothy looked confused. He struggled to get away from the grip of the servants.
“Get him up!” Benjamin yelled.
The servants pulled Timothy to his feet. Benjamin grabbed his hair and pulled his head up.
“Why does Jacob continue to try to steal from me? There are others who have fallen victim to your lies. I curse myself for ever trusting your family.”
Timothy gasped. He tried to explain. “That must be my twin brother, Andrew. We thought he had died alongside our father.”
Benjamin grabbed Timothy by the collar and spit in his face. “You have lied to me for the last time. Your father owes me money. I will take his firstborn son as my slave until you have worked off your debt. When I am done with you, there are many more who will want restitution.”
Timothy’s hands and feet were tied. He was tossed into the back of a horse-drawn cart. Benjamin instructed his servants to take him home and chain him in one of his barns. The horses pulled the cart through the crowd. Timothy was pleading and struggling to get free.
Andrew watched in horror as his innocent brother was bound and hauled away by Benjamin’s servant . . .
“You could have stepped down from that rooftop and saved your brother,” the Father said.
Andrew looked up from the book.
“My brother is an evil man. He wanted to enslave our entire family. He got what he deserved!” Andrew said.
“That is for me to decide, my son,” the Father said.
He looked Andrew in the eye and said, “You are the one who stole. You are the one who lied. Your brother’s threats were only words. He only told you those things because he knew he wasn’t ready to take over the business. He thought you were much smarter than he was. Keeping you scared and resentful was his way of controlling you.”
“Timothy thought I was smarter than he was?” Andrew asked.
“Yes. He didn’t believe he was worthy of the rights of the firstborn,” the Father explained. “Your father was very insistent that Timothy take care of the business. He constantly reminded him of his responsibilities to the family. Timothy cried himself to sleep every night. He lashed out at you out of fear, not evil,” the Father said.
“Your selfishness and resentment brought you the life you created for yourself,” the Comforter said.
Andrew couldn’t speak as he realized that his resentment over being the second twin had been a source of bitterness his entire life.
Andrew cleared his throat. “The truth is, I wanted my father to shower me with all that attention. I knew I was only a few minutes younger than Timothy. Those few minutes meant everything.”
Andrew returned to his tattered book.
The image on the page was of another crowd in Jerusalem. It had been over a year since his brother had become Benjamin’s slave. The other powerful men that Andrew had swindled wanted Benjamin’s slave dead. They were angry that Benjamin had found the thief first. They pleaded with him to give them their revenge.
There was a young rabbi in and around Jerusalem that had been gaining a following. Andrew followed him, hoping to steal from his followers. He heard the young man speaking as he slithered through the crowds looking for his next prey. The young teacher’s voice mesmerized his listeners. Andrew knew this man was not a charlatan. His words seemed sincere, and his message was simple.
The temple had become another marketplace in Jerusalem. Affluent merchants and landowners would come to buy and sell. The large crowds attracted Andrew. He waited in the shadows at the entrance of the temple. His head covered, he sat near the stone steps. He noticed Benjamin’s entourage coming up the stairs. He hid behind a pillar and watched his brother and two other slaves pass. He recognized seven other merchants and their slaves. All these men wanted him dead. He pondered leaving, but his greed got the best of him. He hadn’t been caught and was feeling invincible.
The young rabbi with the new following broke through the crowd. He had a look of determination on his face as he rushed up the steps. Andrew knew this magnetic man would create a distraction. He was about to follow him into the temple when he heard a commotion. The young Jewish leader was yelling and tipping over tables, driving everyone from the temple.
Angry merchants poured out of the front entrance. Tables and merchandise went toppling down the front steps. The Nazarene stood on the front steps and scooped up a pile of coins in his hands. He lifted them over his head and yelled, “You make a marketplace out of my Father’s house!”
He threw the coins down the steps. He then walked down the steps. The crowd parted.
This was just the distraction Andrew had been waiting for. The thief dashed out onto the steps and began scooping up the coins.
Timothy saw his younger brother stuffing coins into his pockets. He pointed at the steps and shouted, “Benjamin! My brother is the one you seek!”
Benjamin looked up and saw Andrew. The other merchants and landowners turned their attention to the top of the steps. A large crowd rushed up the stairs. Andrew tried to retreat but was surrounded.
Benjamin made his way through the crowd. He saw the quivering young man clutching silver coins to his chest. The other wealthy businessmen began chanting. “Kill him!”
Benjamin was surprised at the resemblance he had to his brother. He turned to Timothy. “You spoke the truth. You are released from bondage. Go back to Nain and take care of your mother and sisters.”
The wealthy merchant handed Timothy a leather pouch filled with coins. Timothy and Andrew looked at one another. Timothy bowed to Benjamin, took the leather pouch and retreated down the steps.
Benjamin announced, “We will have an opportunity to accuse this swine in public. There will be a reckoning for his thievery!”
“The trial lasted less than fifteen minutes,” Andrew said.
“You had a lot of people angry with you,” said the Comforter.
Andrew felt sick. The futility of living a selfish existence had been laid out before him. “What a waste I have been,” he mumbled. He slumped against the tree and closed the book in disgust.
“Nothing I create is a waste,” said the Father. “There were many wasted opportunities. There was much wasted time. The total reliance on yourself for answers resulted in wasteful actions. These are truths about you. This does not mean you were a waste. I still remember the day the idea of you came to me. I was so excited to create all it means to be you. I had many plans for your life. I laid up many blessings for you.”
“What do you mean, you laid up blessings for me?” Andrew asked.
The Father stood. Looking down, He spoke to the Comforter. “We will meet you at the eastern gate.”
The Comforter nodded in agreement.
Andrew slowly rose, not knowing what was next.
The Father reached out and grabbed Andrew’s hands. “Let me show you a glimpse of your blessings.”
Andrew could feel the Father’s words transport them. The tree on the hill vanished, and now they stood in the center of a massive granite building. Giant pillars went upward for miles. Large stone bins surrounded him on all sides. They were a hundred times taller than any building he had ever seen. At the bottom of each of them was a large wooden door. Rows of these containers stretched to infinity in all directions.
“Where are we?” Andrew’s voice echoed through the overwhelming structure.
The Father smiled and raised his arms. “These are the storehouses of heaven. In each, I have stored up blessings for each of my children. Some choose paths that don’t allow me to open their doors. Some of these storehouses won’t be opened until they arrive home,” the Father explained.
Andrew stood in awe. “Do I have one?”
