Starlight - Chapter 5+6

 

Chapter EXILE

How long it was since Starlight had spoken her own language, l seemed so

long ago that first her brother had been conscripted into the army finding that

I was controlled already by the power of the Babylonians, it was not until they had been forced to leave their own land and taken on that long trek away to Babylon that she had at last had to accept that she must settle down and make her home here in Susa, yes, the great city of Susa.

What a comfort it had been to her grandfather to see that the name he had given to this tiny squalling bundle of life, 'Starlight' had indeed been inspired by the Source of all life,

They had thought they could never have survived without her beloved brother, but though they had all done their best to keep him hidden from the authorities, the Babylonians were demanding more and more, draining the best of their young men to fight under their command,

Starlight, yes, even her parents had come to accept that was her name, stood now upright beside them, knowing she alone could, and indeed would be their strength in their old age.

She had continued to care for her grandfather, but when her brother had some t0 make his last farewell somehow the old man had realised that it was a closure on the hand that had bound their hearts toget.er,

 'Do not weep, Granddad,'
she sought to comfort the old man.

I do not weep for myself, beloved Starlight, for I have kindled a light in the hearts of you and your brother, and I pray it may never be quenched.'

He seemed to be sobbing quietly, but then he lay quietly. Was he sleeping? But no. He spoke strongly now.

'Come now, then, bring out the precious manuscripts and we will be able to dry our tears, for you are still here to care for me and while I am still able to listen to you reading to me these wonderful words of hope then we have courage.’

And so, in the gloom of that damp, dark cave the girl read clearly and strongly from the precious manuscripts which the prophet Ezekiel had been patiently writing, far away from his homeland in Judah, he too a prisoner of hope.

Meanwhile, Starlight faithfully tended to her parents, then groped her way through the gloomy caves and shared the gruel that was all they had left to share,

CH. 7 HOPE IN A STRANGE LAND

But those were days long gone and it was only on one of those rare days when her brother had been brought to the city because of his prominent position now of authority in the Babylonian army and he would be able to spend a few hours visiting his sister, a matron now in a prestigious household and though they were both well used to conversing in the national language, her beloved brother insisted that they use their own mother tongue.

‘We must not forget our heart language. It is the language of our beloved Grandfather, in which he brought to us the promises of God, that God would bring us back and bless us. We must believe and be ready. Never give up believing.'

'Light of Dawn,’ his sister whispered. 'That is the name Grandfather gave you, isn't it?' With them speaking together the language of their childhood, the memories were flooding back. It was through her brother's wisdom and

protection that she had been protected during that long, terrible march through those long miles taking them at last to the markets of Babylon.

Now living in the great capital city with all its opulence those terrible times of privation back in Egypt were almost forgotten but now, her beloved brother beside her, the memories were flooding back,

How long will this last?' she had often wondered, feeling she had no opportunity or strength left to search for more grain to make a meal.

She remembered how a neighbour had crept out of her house to join her as she made her way to fetch fresh water from the well.

"Your parents are losing the will to live? She remembered how he had whispered to the girl who she still thought of as the Little Mouse, but he was to realise that she was a child no longer and in great need of protection. He knew the army had been looking around for young virgins, especially beautiful ones such as this one who was now a child no longer and despite the hardship of her life was now bursting into bloom and would be useful as of worth in trading with the enemy.

Her brother was enlisted in the army now but made sure that he came to visit his aged parents whenever he could. He had long refused to use the name they had given him, dedicating him to one of the Egyptian gods. Grandfather had named him 'Scribe of the Lord,' but his sister was never sure what she should call him, for the world was full of danger these days and the army seemed to be controlled by foreign powers.

It was after both Grandfather and her parents had been given the traditional burial that she had been sent for by her brother.

They embraced tenderly. 'Starlight' he called her. 'That is your name,' he affirmed, and no one can take it from you.'

'And you?' She questioned.

Her brother hesitated, for those long years of fear had made an impact, then confidently he came out with the name given by their beloved grandfather,

'Beni? Scribe of the Lord.'

He was quiet for a while and then at last he sighed. 'Can I ever fulfil that roll, Little Mouse?'

But now, though they had achieved positions of security in this foreign nation they both had a deep security in their own faith in this God in whom their own beloved Grandfather had taught them to trust.