Isaac the Warrior Part 1

Isaac the Warrior Part 2

Isaac the Warrior Part 3

We spent much time in council debating the best way to overthrow Shim from his throne. We preferred to do that with as little bloodshed as possible. Too many lives were already lost; we did not want to lose any more of our loved ones. We discussed gathering the hidden weapons and fighting our way to Shim and his associates. The problem was that we did not have armor and Shim’s guards and army had the armor to protect their vital organs. We feared we would lose too many of our people and our chances of conquering Shim would be slim.

We knew we needed to focus on Shim’s weaknesses. From what Paco and other guards told us, there were many who were dissatisfied with Shim and wanted to rebel against him. That inner resistance could be powerful leverage, but the difficulty for us knowing who we could trust. We were still careful of what we told guards to came to us in secret because we were uncertain if any of them were sent by Shim.

One guard who came regularly who we knew we could trust, reminded us of how Shim like to celebrate and throw elaborate banquets for his guests. The banquets always included wine and women. The guard suggested that someone give Shim the idea to host a banquet for all the guards and taskmasters that watched over our people, to celebrate their successes. My father inquired more about this idea. Soon, we were all discussing all the possibilities that could come from this. We actually felt the Lord’s spirit as we discussed plans for our freedom.

Paco was the one who presented the idea to Shim. At first Shim strongly opposed the idea, which Paco expected. Shim did not want to take any chances of our people trying to escape. Paco assured him that there would still be guards to watch over our people. In fact, Paco would choose the best guards to watch over us that night. Also, they could create a curfew for that night, all in captivity would have to be in their huts at sundown; anyone caught outside their hut would be taken for execution. Paco reminded Shim that the guards felt wearied and the banquet would help their morale and strengthen their desire to protect him. Shim, knowing that some of his guards and army were unhappy, said he would consider the idea.

Paco reported to us about his meeting with Shim. We all prayed for the softening of Shim’s heart. We prayed mightily in our minds and hearts. We felt peace and assurance that a way would be opened for us to escape our bondage.

Shim finally agreed to host the banquet. He decided to make it a grand affair; after all, he and his associates had the wealth to treat their guards like royalty. Most of the guards were invited to attend, except those Paco entrusted to guard us; guards Paco handpicked. Guards we felt we could trust. Guards who secretly expressed displeasure with Shim. Guards who outwardly expressed absolute loyalty to Shim, yet were ready to defect.

As the preparations for the feast were being made, we also prepared. We carefully retrieved as many of our hidden weapons as we could. We knew the guards we could trust, so we retrieved as many as we could while under their watchful eyes. We carefully hid the weapons in our tents and huts so they would not be found. Some guards secretly brought us weapons as well.

Esther, our healer, came to my father and the prophet and told them she had a vision about a plant that would put anyone who partook of the juice of the plant to sleep without any negative or permanent effects. She said that they could easy collect enough of this plant, extract the juices from it, then have someone put it in the wine for the feast. It would take about one hour for the juice to take effect. We considered that a blessing from Heaven! If this worked, it would mean we would be able to capture Shim and his men with very little bloodshed!

Following the directions from her vision, Esther collected the plant, boiled it, then strained it. She asked for a couple volunteers to try it out. She assured that the effects of the plant would not cause long-lasting or permanent effects. I volunteered. I felt I would be fine and we really needed to see what the plant did. Three others also volunteered.

Before partaking of any of the juice, we inwardly prayed for protection. Others in our village, who knew about the plant prayed for us. When the sun was high in the sky, Esther put a drop of the juice in some weak wine and we drank it. We went about our day, however staying close to our homes, we felt really good. After about 45 minutes, the results of the juice began to affect us. I gradually became exceptionally sleepy, and it was just past mid-day. I hardly ever felt tired in the middle of the day. I tried talking with my wife, but soon was not able to focus. I went into my bedchamber, laid down on my mat and fell asleep. The others fell asleep about the same time.

Thankfully, the day we tried the juice was a day where some who were guarding us were sympathetic to our cause and were actually helping us. They kept watch over us, sending the other guards to other places in our village.

The next morning, shortly before the sun rose, I finally woke up. Actually, I felt very well rested and felt like I could take on the world! It was an exhilarating feeling. The others who tested the juice felt the same way. We were grateful that the results of the juice were positive and would work with Shim and those who attended his banquet. We wondered what the effects would be if taken with strong wine, but decided not to test that as we did not want to become drunk. We trusted Esther’s vision that the juice would put Shim and his followers into a nice, deep, sound sleep.

Our plans of escape were coming together. We told Paco about the juice and discussed different ways to get it into the wine for the banquet. Paco told us about one of the winemakers who was annoyed with Shim and who was a bit too open about his displeasures with the government. Paco felt that this man could be trusted to make the wine stronger than usual and then to put the juice into the wine. Rather than talk to the winemaker himself, Paco found a trusted guard and who knew the winemaker personally. He asked the guard to give him just enough information to find out if he would be willing to help, not too much information in case the winemaker talked too much.

The guard reported to Shim that the winemaker was more than happy to create stronger wine for the banquet and to put the juice in it. The winemaker was sworn to secrecy, with the little information he was given, since there were many who were still very loyal to Shim.

(To be continued…)

Esther was a beautiful Jaredite woman with fair skin, light brown hair, and green eyes. Esther married young and bore 5 children, all of whom grew to adulthood and blessed her with many grandchildren. She lived during the time of Isaac (Isaac the Warrior Part 1) and Shim. Her husband fought and was severely injured in the battle when Shim took over the government. As a powerful healer, Esther helped many warriors heal from their wounds, including her husband and the king.

Shim, also wounded from the battle, heard of Esther’s healing abilities and sent for her. Esther was angry at him for causing so much bloodshed and death and the captivity of thousands of her people—and feared for her safety knowing Shim’s penchant for beautiful women. Although she did not want to go to Shim and definitely did not want to heal him—she was given a blessing of protection from the king and the prophet. She did go to Shim, used herbs, energy, and the power of God to heal his wounds and the wounds of many of his warriors.

During the time Esther lived in captivity, life was hard. Shim and his people took at least half of their flocks, herds, and crops for themselves, not leaving them much to live on. However, because of their faithfulness and obedience, the Lord strengthened them and blessed their lives so their afflictions seemed light, easy to bear. The people, their crops, herds, and flocks were multiplied with Heaven’s help. They did not require as much food to obtain the nutrition that they needed. They were strong and healthy. They were flooded with new revelations and new technologies to be used when it was time to reclaim their freedom.

After holding them in captivity for just a few months, Shim decided that he did not want to try control and manage the thousands of people he held in captivity, even though he obtained food and clothing from them; he wanted them gone, dead. He did not want to give them a chance of ever coming together to defeat him and remove him from his throne. He sent his guards to poison their only source of water. The captive Jaredites lived in a barren place, so their only water supply was vital to their survival.

Thankfully, only a few people actually drank the poisonous water; once a few of the people saw the effects of those who drank the water, no one else was allowed to drink or even touch the water. The prophet immediately learned what happened and began to pray in his heart and mind for those affected by the poison. Word spread fast and soon all in captivity prayed in their hearts and minds for the survival of their friends and for their water.

Esther and another healer were immediately called to help those who were dying from the poison. Shim’s guards attempted to prevent Esther from using her herbs initially. Miraculously, they changed their minds and allowed her to administer the herbs to those affected by the poison; they thought there was no way they would survive the effects of the poison. Because of Esther’s knowledge of herbs, energy, and the prayers of the faithful, she reversed the effects of the poison causing it to become beneficial for those who were affected. Unbelievably, those inflicted with the poison enjoyed better health and lived longer and healthier than most of the other Jaredites.

Once Shim discovered what happened, he was livid. He sent guards to capture Esther; however one of her daughters, a dreamer, was warned in a vivid dream that they were coming to take her mom. She woke Esther and her husband and told her that she needed to leave. Esther’s initial reaction was fear since Shim’s guards were everywhere, even at night. Her daughter told her that in her dream, all the guards were asleep. Esther, filled with faith, quickly left the village under the cloak of a dark, moonless night, and hid in a known, well-concealed cave. This cave was only known to a few people and had been purposely set up as a hiding place. It was well-stocked with food, water and weapons.

Sadly, the guards took their anger out on her family and others in the village; many were beaten and whipped that day. Esther felt the beatings from her hiding place in the cave, especially the beatings and abuses of her family. It tore her heart apart, knowing it happened because of her, because she left. She desperately wanted to go back to the village and turn herself over to Shim, knowing the atrocities that would happen to her; she just wanted the beatings and abuses to stop and she wanted to protect her family.

As Esther was about to leave the cave, Jesus came to her in a vision and told her that it was Him that sent her to the cave and He wanted her to stay in the protection of the cave until it was time to go back. Jesus told her that He would help her heal her family and all those who were injured from the beatings. He also gave her instructions how to heal the water supply, even from a distance, so the people would have all the water they needed. Jesus also told her that she would be needed for future events and that was why He preserved her life. It was a very sweet experience for Esther as she saw Jesus Christ and felt his love for her, her family, and her people.

Esther remained in the cave for about one week, when her husband secretly came to her and told her it was safe to come back.

Esther was also a beautiful weaver. She wove beautiful fabric to clothe the people. Her fabric was always sought after by many Jaredites. Even Shim and his associates came to her to acquire fabric. Of course, she didn’t receive compensation from them, they simply demanded the fabric; but she was blessed in other ways. She and her family always had their needs taken care of.

One day, the daughter of one of Shim’s closest advisors was suddenly taken very ill; almost on the verge of dying. Shim’s advisor and his wife were grief-stricken and were trying everything they knew to help her. They summoned their healer, but he was unable to help their daughter. One of the guards reminded the advisor about Esther and her healing powers. However, Shim would not allow them to seek Esther or take the girl to her. The parents, out of desperation, disobeyed Shim’s orders and took their daughter to Esther, knowing there could be severe consequences. Using the gift of her healing hands and herbs, Esther healed the girl within minutes. The parents were astonished and very grateful.

As the family traveled back to their home, they were met by Shim and his guards and told they were no longer welcome in their village. As far as Shim was concerned, the advisor was a traitor and was cast out of his court and their village. They went back to Esther and the people in captivity and were welcomed with open arms. They felt love and acceptance, a greater love and acceptance than they had felt since Shim took control of the government. They lived joyfully in captivity with the righteous Jaredites until the time of their deliverance.

The faith the Jaredites expressed in captivity was astonishing! Because of their faith, they were richly blessed. Shim and his followers abused these people by trying to prevent them from praying, worshipping together, and paying tithing, among other things to show their reverence to God, but this group of people prayed in their hearts, discretely worshipped as families, built each other up when they saw each other while working out in the fields, tending the flocks, or working on the other trades that they did.

While Esther and her husband enjoyed their children and the beginning of grandchildren while in captivity, her husband quietly passed away. Although Esther was a healer, she was not able to save her husband, as his time on earth was complete and he was needed in the spirit world. Esther deeply missed her husband, but gratefully continued her mission of helping others, and helping others heal.

When Madeline was about 5 years old, her cousin’s dog had a litter of five puppies. Madeline loved animals and could hardly wait to see the puppies.

When she finally was able to visit the puppies, she noticed that one of the puppies was smaller than the others and did not seem as active and alert as the others. It was a little girl, black with some white spots. Madeline picked up the little puppy and put it by her mother so she could eat. The other puppies immediately tried to crowd out the small puppy, but Madeline moved them away so the small puppy could eat and receive needed nourishment.

Madeline immediately fell in love with that puppy and asked her mother if she could keep the puppy. Madeline’s aunt warned her that the puppy may not survive, but she could have the puppy if she did. Madeline’s mother agreed.

Madeline immediately took charge of the puppy, even at her young age. She spent much of her time at her cousin’s home tending the puppy. She made sure that the puppy was able to nurse from her mother. At times, she needed to move the other puppies so hers would have an unobstructed ability to eat. The puppy quickly began to gain strength and size; though not as big as the others.

Madeline decided upon the name Rocky for her puppy; because she was tough like rocks and her black coat with white spots reminded her of one of her favorite rocks.

Once Rocky was able to walk and get around, she followed Madeline everywhere she went. When it was time for her to go home, Rocky would cry and not eat until Madeline came back the next morning. When Rocky saw Madeline, she would run as fast as her ponderous puppy legs would allow her to run! Then Madeline would be sure her puppy ate from her momma.

Finally, the day came when Madeline could bring her puppy home! Everyone was excited, especially Madeline’s aunt! She was grateful that the puppies were weaned and going to their new forever homes. Her father gave Rocky a beautiful leather collar with three small pink crystals embedded into the leather, one that he had specially made for Rocky. Madeline squealed with delight when she saw the collar! She put it on Rocky; Rocky seemed pleased and felt like she was all grown up.

Rocky continued to follow Madeline wherever she went. When she needed to go to her classes and church, she had to tie Rocky to a long rope; she wasn’t allowed in classes and church and was still too young to be wandering by herself. Rocky was ecstatic whenever Madeline came home; she would jump all over Madeline and lick her face! As Rocky grew older and was trained, she was trusted to wait outside of Madeline’s classes until she was done. Rocky would lay outside the hut where Madeline attended class and eagerly greet her when she came outside.

As Rocky grew older and became full-grown, she was still smaller than the rest of the litter; nevertheless, her feistiness made up for her lack of size. Rocky was Madeline’s self-proclaimed protector and would stand between Madeline and anyone she did not know. One day while Madeline and Rocky were walking through a field of grass and flowers, Rocky suddenly tugged on the back of Madeline’s tunic and promptly pulled her back. Madeline was shocked that Rocky would do that and was about to scold her; then, she heard it. The scary sound of a rattlesnake rattle. The snake laid curled up directly in front of Madeline. If Rocky had not pulled her back, she would have walked right onto the snake. Madeline and Rocky quickly and quietly walked backwards, watching the snake as they stealthily moved. Once they were several feet away, they ran back home. Madeline told her parents what Rocky did. Rocky received many extra hugs and treats for saving Madeline from the snake.

When Rocky was about two years old, Madeline noticed her belly getting larger and realized that Rocky would be having her own puppies! Madeline was excited! She ran to tell all her family and friends. Knowing what a good dog Rocky was, several expressed interest in having one of Rocky’s puppies.

The anticipated day finally came. Rocky went into labor. It was a very hard labor. Something was wrong. Madeline had seen enough animals born to know that Rocky struggled. She began to panic and her mother sent for the animal healer. Once the healer came, she helped Rocky give birth to the first puppy. The puppy did not breath. Rocky licked and licked her, but he would not breathe. The healer worked on the puppy, but he would not breathe. Madeline cried! Seeing the lifeless puppy tore her apart. Then the next puppy was born. The healer gave the puppy to Rocky to clean up. Happy tears of joy flowed from Madeline as the puppy began crying. Rocky also perked up as she seemed to happily clean her puppy. Then, one more puppy came; this one delivered much easier than the other two. This puppy came out crying! Madeline and her family were excited! Two cute little puppies, both black with white spots, just like their momma!

Rocky was an amazing momma dog. She watched over her puppies with her protective eye. She played with them as they opened their eyes and became more mobile. She had plenty of milk for the two puppies so they quickly grew strong and healthy. The time soon came when the puppies were weaned and needed to go to new homes. Madeline was sad not to have the puppies around all the time, but was grateful that her cousin took one puppy and a good friend of hers took the other puppy. She and Rocky could visit them whenever they wanted.

Because of the difficulties in the births, sadly, Rocky was never able to have anymore puppies.

Rocky continued to be Madeline’s best friend as she grew into adulthood. Rocky was especially concerned when young men began to visit Madeline. She would quietly growl at the young men, eying them warily. It became well-known that to court Madeline, you would need the approval of her dog!

Rocky was getting old and slowing down, but that did not stop her from continuing to always be with Madeline and to be her protector. One day, a handsome young man with dark hair and eyes came to visit Madeline. This was someone Rocky had not met or seen before. Madeline expected Rocky to do the usual growl, but this time, Rocky licked the young man. Madeline was shocked! The young man was also surprised as he had heard about Rocky! Rocky immediately gave her approval for this young man to court Madeline. Shortly after that, the young man and Madeline were betrothed, then married.

It seemed that Rocky knew that Madeline now had someone to love her and protect her. It wasn’t long after their marriage that Rocky became ill and passed away. Madeline was heartbroken. Rocky had been at Madeline’s side for years. Rocky was her best friend, her protector.

After a time of grieving, Madeline had her own child, a baby girl. Then, Madeline discovered that one of Rocky’s grand puppies just gave birth to a litter of six puppies! Madeline, with her husband and new baby girl, went to look at the puppies. There was one little girl who looked just like Rocky. Madeline knew this puppy was for her and her new family.

This puppy, although different in personality and larger than Rocky, grew to be a strong family protector and provided Madeline’s family with endless joy!

Isaac the Warrior Part 1

Isaac the Warrior Part 2

Shim wanted my 6 year old daughter, Mieka. She was a beautiful young girl and how I loved her! She had long, dark wavy hair. Her eyes were a bright brown color. She was average sized for her age, and uncommonly stunning. There was no way I was going to let them take her! I had already lost my wife and two of my children, and promised my wife as she was dying that I would take care of our family. Shim sent his guards, including one of my own brothers, to retrieve Mieka. With all the pleading of my soul, I begged my brother and the guards to take me instead.

Shim’s men attacked me, whipped me, beat me, and left me for dead; but miraculously they left Mieka alone. One of my sons, hearing a loud commotion, ran to me only to find me unconscious, and Shim’s guards surrounding me and Mieka. He sprinted to get help from his grandfather and uncles. My heartrate was very slow and still, it appeared that I had died from the beating. The guards were determined not to let my father take my body, wanting to assure my death; however, my father convinced the guards that I already died, and against Shim’s orders, they allowed him to take me to the healer’s tent.

Of course, the guards followed us, laughing and mocking that I could possibly be healed; to them, I was already dead. My father ached to give me a blessing but could not do that with the presence of Shim’s guards, instead, he prayed for me and blessed me in his heart and mind; so did all the others who were in the room. Many gathered outside the tent, also praying in their hearts and minds for my recovery.

During my father’s prayer, the power of God came into the room so intensely that the guards were overcome with something similar to a haze. They became disoriented; they could not see or hear clearly. Once my father realized what happened to the guards, he placed his tender hands on my damaged head and gave me a blessing; a blessing of healing, full recovery, and protection for my daughter.

It took several weeks, but I miraculously healed. The healer used many different herbs and healing methods to heal me, all through the healing power of Jesus Christ. Most of the scars disappeared, but one remained on my left forearm. I believe that was left as a reminder of Jesus Christ, my ultimate healer. Shim’s guards were stunned at my recovery. Somehow, I know with help from God, they did not try to take my life again, or attempt to abduct or abuse Mieka in anyway.

Several months after my attack and about four years into our captivity, my father and I noticed that many of Shim’s guards were becoming relatively lazy. They did not seem to have the same intensity that they did when we were first taken captive. Many drank wine and stronger mixes of wine which caused extreme drunkenness. Their drunkenness, at times, caused them to be more cruel, but usually made them passive.

Occasionally, one of Shim’s guards, as he made his rounds around our settlement, would enter into my parents’ tent, on the pretense that he was inspecting them, to secretly speak to my father. He told my father that if he was caught, he would be hung, so he was extremely careful. This guard was actually one of my older brothers, Paco, known as one of the most brutal of Shim’s guards. He was involved in my beating and wanted to leave me for dead. During his time as one of Shim’s guards, he beat and whipped many others. He raped some of our wives and daughters. He was vicious. How could we even think about trusting him. I couldn’t believe that my father would even let him into his tent; how could he?

During the visits, Paco expressed to my father his extreme sorrow for the beatings, the rapes, and all the abuse and terror that he caused our people. He now knew it was wrong; he strayed so far from what my parents taught him. He did not expect us to forgive him but wanted us to listen to him. He told my father that when he allowed the guards to beat me, he honestly didn’t think they would beat and whip me until I was practically dead; and he felt powerless to stop them. He also told us that he was the reason they did not take Mieka; he had a daughter about the same age as her and looked very much like. Shim wanted Paco’s daughter, but he would not allow that to happen. Someone told Shim that I had a daughter that looked very similar to Paco’s daughter, so Shim sent Paco to abduct Mieka. Paco told my father that he just could not take her. He said that when he looked upon her, he saw his own daughter’s eyes in Mieka’s eyes; her eyes haunted him. The other guards were upset with him and took their frustration out on me, which unfortunately, Paco allowed.

Paco revealed that he was in the healer’s tent that I was brought into after the beating, although he tried to keep his head covered so he would not be noticed. My father told him that he knew he was there and that in his prayer for me, he also pled for Paco. Paco felt the haze that came after my father prayed. He felt powerless, almost paralyzed. He knew that the power of God came into the room to heal me. Paco felt the power tell him that he needed to change his life; but slowly, as Shim needed to believe that he was still loyal to him. He felt the power tell him that he needed to help my father regain the throne. He felt the power begin to heal him.

More than once when Paco was talking with my father in his tent, another one of Shim’s guards came in. Just so the other guards would believe that Paco was loyal to Shim, Paco would powerfully pushed my mother into my father, or on the ground, causing her to cry out in pain. My mother knew why he did that, but my father was angry.

During Paco’s visits, he communicated problems Shim experienced governing his people. Although Shim still had great wealth, he did not treat his people well. He was always angry and took his anger out on others. He stole from those who originally supported him. He had several wives and concubines; if they didn’t fulfill his desires, he would beat them and thought nothing of it. Many who started to question their loyalty to Shim and some who desired to rise up in rebellion against him. However, there were still many more supporters of Shim. Those who were displeased with the way he governed the people took great care to whom they chose to talk to. Any negative talk against Shim would result in immediate death and Shim had spies everywhere.

As the weeks and months progressed, more and more of Shim’s guards privately came to my father telling him more about Shim and his problems. None of them knew that others had come to my father, especially that Paco had come. We still did not trust the guards and were concerned that some may actually still be loyal to Shim, coming to us to find defectors.

Finally, the day came when my father knew that he needed to inform his council that Shim’s guards were visiting him. He cautiously talked to the members of his council, letting them know what he learned from the guards, to learn their opinions about the situation, and to ask them to pray so they would know what needed to be done. He told his council members that he trusted Paco, despite his despicable past. After much prayer and fasting we decided that it was time to remove Shim from his throne.

(To be continued…)