Rising Darkness (22 page)

“Lucifer was quite right,” Kara sneered. “Rehoboam’s ridiculous headstrong manner will drive this with little effort on my part.”

“Poor Israel! The dream ends,” said Shawa. “And the rot begins.”

“You are wrong, Shawa,” Kara corrected. “The rot may begin now, but the dream ended at Eden!”

Chronicles of the Host

Samaria, 879 B.C.

The demons watched as the Baalists concluded their worship, dancing a lewd and sensual processional around the Asherah pole in the center. Next to it was the altar to Baal, still smoldering from a sacrificed animal that had been dedicated to the god of the Canaanites. The priest blew a horn signaling that the rite was completed, and the worshipers gathered their things and left.

“AWAY FROM HERE!” came a fierce voice.

Michael the archangel landed in the center of the high place, and the demons scattered with loud shrieks as if they were a nest of hornets disturbed by a rock. The demons left, cursing Michael and complaining about their right to be there.

Crispin landed beside Michael, as did Serus and Dheer. Crispin examined the scene where only moments before the men had engaged in all manner of carnality with the high place prostitutes, both male and female, as acts of worship.

“Shawa, I believe, is the angel who is running Baal for Lucifer,” observed Crispin, as the last of the humans disappeared down the stone path. “He is doing a splendid job, I must say.”

“Why must humans always degrade in matters of worship?” asked Serus, disgusted by what he saw. “Dheer—when you were assigned to Samson, you saw that even he who was called of God slipped into this…this trap of idolatry.”

Dheer could only nod in assent.

“Humans will always degrade if they are not properly aligned with the truth of the Most High,” said Crispin. “You know that. These poor lost Baalists are products of the sensual world that their forebears created by their disobedience in Eden.”

“Crispin, I have no doubt that this is the case with ordinary humans,” said Serus. “But I speak of the people of God—the covenant people of Israel. They are even now led by a king and queen who allow and even encourage such behavior!”

Crispin surveyed the carnage of the worship—the smoldering evidence of sacrifice, the spirit and odor of human lust that still hung in the air. Michael turned to hear Crispin’s answer as well, so the teacher sat next to the altar of Baal and began to speak.

“Why do humans do such things?” asked Crispin. “I cannot answer that any more than I can answer why angels do such things. Don’t forget that before Eden there was the rebellion in Heaven. The first sin did not begin with humans but with angels. The issue is not one of human or angel but of free will to do as one wishes.”

“But what does Baal offer these humans that they cannot find in the Most High?” asked Dheer.

“You were in Ashdod, Dheer,” said Crispin. “You saw the worship of Dagon. You witnessed the manipulation by the priests of Dagon to work the people up into a ritualistic frenzy. I tell you—humans need to be led and they desire to be led from something or somebody greater than themselves. So they seek out such gods as suit them and, inevitably, deceive them in the bargain.”

“But what does Baal give them in return for their worship?” insisted Serus.

“Peace of mind,” said Crispin. “Short-lived to be sure, and in the end destructive. You must not forget that the people of Canaan—and this includes the Lord’s own people—are very much tied to the land. This land must produce. Milk and honey does not simply happen. It is seen as a blessing of the Most High, or in this case, of the gods of Canaan. Baal is a god of the earth and he must be satisfied in these carnal charades so that the fertility of the ground is assured. Baalism is security for a very insecure people.”

Michael shook his head in disgust.

“Then Lucifer has won, good teacher,” he said. “For the kings of Israel have given themselves over to this god of the earth.”

“You mean they have given themselves over to the manipulations of fallen angels,” reminded Crispin. “Remember, Michael, that there are no gods of this world apart from the fallen and dark angels who supply such gods through their mystical representations in the minds of men. Deluding men into thinking they are sorcerers and diviners while secretly creating the illusions themselves. It’s a rotten business, Michael, but far from over.”

“You mean the Seed can still emerge from this wreckage?” asked Serus. “God would still send the one to crush the head of the serpent after all this?”

“Our Lord is not a fool, but He is longsuffering. And He is honorable. He has made a promise and He will keep it—even to His disadvantage. The time might come when it will cost Him a great deal more than even we can understand to keep His promise.”

As the group pondered these things, Gabriel landed with some news. Michael greeted his brother angel, whom he had not seen in some time.

“The Lord has sent a man filled with His power and Spirit to contest the idolatry in Israel,” he said. “He is a Tishbite from Gilead by the name of Elijah.”

“Elijah,” said Crispin smiling. “The name means ‘the Lord is my God.’ I like him already.” The others laughed.

“Where is he now? What is he to do?” came the questions.

“He is on his way to Ahab,” said Gabriel. “And Serus—you and I shall accompany him on his mission.”

“Thank you, my lord,” said Serus.

“As he is a prophet—a messenger to the people—the Lord ordered that I should watch over his ministry. And I believe you have earned the privilege by having overcome a bit of idolatry in your own past,” Gabriel finished, winking at the angel.

“It’s true,” said Serus. “To my shame I almost threw in with Lucifer.”

“Ah, but at the last you made the right choice,” said Michael.

“Yes indeed,” said Crispin, “and now you can go and see if Ahab will make the right choice!”

“We will leave immediately,” said Gabriel. “He has just been presented at court.”

The two angels bid their friends farewell and disappeared. Michael sighed as he looked over the unholy place of worship in which he, Dheer, and Crispin stood.

“Perhaps one day we shall have a king in Israel who will destroy these places rather than build them,” he said.

“Perhaps,” said Crispin. “But just to let them know how the wind has changed with Elijah here…”

He touched the Asherah pole, snapping it in two with a brilliant pulse of light. The top half fell to the ground with a thud.

“May it ever be with all such places,” he said, as they all vanished.

Ahab’s palace at Samaria was a luxurious and magnificent complex. The walls in the main reception area as well as the king’s chambers were inlaid with ivory. On the walls were glorious reliefs and inlays of flowers and animals, many of which showed a definite Egyptian influence. In deference to his wife, Jezebel, Ahab also made sure that there were Phoenician elements throughout the palace as well.

Apart from the physical beauty of the place, there was a definite sense of kingly authority. For all of his personal flaws, Ahab was a capable ruler who used his power to keep Israel’s external enemies at bay. Unfortunately, the subtle enemies that were gnawing at him from within were the greater threat.

Gabriel and Serus walked alongside Elijah as he climbed the few stairs that led to the entry of Ahab’s palace. The prophet drew strange looks from the guards as he approached the main protocol. Serus and Gabriel also drew strange looks—unwelcome looks—and howling jeers from the many demons who hung about the palace.

“There is a very strong spirit of control in this place,” said Gabriel, sensing the spiritual condition of Ahab’s home. “Control and religious idolatry. Such shameful strongholds to be at the king’s residence!”

“Away from here, Gabriel,” came a voice from the throng. “You are not welcome here. And take the traitor Serus with you!”

The howl increased as they proceeded through a hallway where Elijah was greeted by an aide to the king. The aide said that he would announce the prophet and that Elijah was to wait in the hallway until he returned.

“Welcome to Samaria,” came the familiar voice of Shawa.

“Ah, Shawa,” said Serus. “Or is it Dagon? No, that was before Dagon was humbled. I believe it is Baal that you are assuming now?”

“Careful, traitor,” said Shawa sharply. “You are on unholy ground now.”

“Where is Kara?” asked Gabriel. “Surely his ambition does not give you free reign in Samaria.”

“I have authority in Samaria,” said Shawa defensively. “I am the true power behind the king. I have Ahab’s mind and Jezebel’s heart. And your prophet is finished before he even begins here. We have prophets—hundreds of them!”

“Ah yes,” said Gabriel, looking at the Baalist inlays in the ivory. “I have heard of your school of prophets for Baal. They are centered at Mount Carmel, are they not?”

“Carmel is only one of the sacred sites,” sniffed Shawa. “And they are a particular favorite of the queen.” He smiled an angry smile. “It won’t be long, Archangel, until the prophets of Baal are the only voice heard in Israel. And then you can find another nation to plant your accursed Seed!”

“The Seed is planted, Shawa,” said Gabriel. “Far too deeply for you to ever be able to get to it!”

Before Shawa could answer, the steward returned and asked Elijah to follow him in to see Ahab. Shawa raced ahead to stand by the king. By the time Gabriel and Serus arrived with Elijah in Ahab’s elaborate reception room, Shawa was standing next to the king. Kara was there as well.

“Ah Gabriel,” said Kara. “What a pleasant surprise. And you brought along a prophet and a traitor—neither of which will do you any good.”

Gabriel ignored Kara’s jibe and listened as Ahab spoke.

Ahab was a man of about 40, slender and regal in appearance. He carried kingly authority well on the outside, though he was ruled by his wife, Jezebel, from within. He stood to greet Elijah and offered him food or drink. Elijah declined the offer and began to speak.

“Ahab, the Lord made you king over Israel so that you might be a keeper of His covenant, not a destroyer of it,” he began. “Yet you have tempted the Lord through your allowance of high places and abominable places of worship for the Baals. You have married an idolatrous woman who, out of her own purse, has created a school of such false prophets.”