Josiah - Love and Purpose: Josiah, #2

Dedication

The subtitle of this book, Love and Purpose, contains two words that describe what my beautiful wife, June Marie Bassett, has brought to my life.  To those who know me well, it is no surprise that I confess that I am a flawed, even broken man.  When I entered this world, there were many that celebrated with my parents.  I was their firstborn.  I was given my father’s name, and with it, a legacy.  On the other hand, there were some who were quite unhappy with my birth.  They chose to reject me, even before I was born.  Ah, but family is a complicated organism.

Throughout my adult life, this mixed reception haunted me.  Admittedly, I was not always aware of it.  When something is a part of your entire life, you are truly not aware of it.  You accept it as normal, no matter how much discomfort and pain it may cause.

The greatest gift that June has given me is to accept me as I am.  She has seen the darkness inside of me and the light.  She has stood by in my anger and in my loving moments.  When others have run away, she stood firm and resolute in her love for me.

She is my game-changer.  It frightens me to think of where I might be now, if it were not for her love in my life.  To her, my June, I am eternally grateful.  She has brought me hope and helped me to be a hope to others.

Thank you, June!  You are God’s second greatest gift to me, the first being my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

David Bassett

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Chapter 1 – A Strange Choice

The feel of the day was very inviting.  The sun was beginning to angle its way toward the western horizon.  While it had it been quite warm earlier, now it seemed as if that warmth was serving to embrace and strengthen Josiah’s soul.  He hoped that Jonas would feel this, too.

A cool desert breeze was gently blowing.  While the sun’s fading heat was beginning to evaporate, it was being replaced by the caressing movement of an easterly wind.  This had been Josiah’s favorite time of the day that he had so many times shared with his wife.  How he missed her, especially now.

Not only was she a beautiful woman, she was a beautifully spirited wife.  She encouraged Josiah in even the smallest tasks.  When he had taken his trips, like the one with Judas and Eli, she would be supportive and care for everything while he was gone.

He could not think of her without also thinking of his mother.  Both women were strong in their faith but it was their intimate spiritual relationships with Jehovah that made the deepest impacts on him.  He felt he had been taught to understand and to love God by masters of love.

Right now, though, Josiah was a man on a mission from God.  He knew this and willingly, in fact joyfully, embraced the calling of this particular assignment.

Josiah had a passion to lead his grandson into the truth about Jehovah and the Way.  This passion was unlike his passion to share with anyone else.  He did not fully understand that it was God, Himself, who had so deeply engrained this passion within him.  He thought that maybe it was just grandfatherly instincts that were guiding him.

Even at that very moment, God was working to assist and equip Josiah.  It was God who was arranging for the comfort of the day.  The very breath of God was providing a gentle, yet energizing, east wind.  At His hand, the clouds had raced off to the south, freeing the rays of the sun to wash Josiah’s body and spirit with strength, as well as courage.

Because of this, Josiah had chosen to not head directly back to his home from the well.  Even though the water jug was heavy from the full weight of the water, the strength he was receiving made the jug feel light.  Not sensing the burden of the water jug allowed him to continue to give his full attention to Jonas.  The weight had not become a deterrent to him, like it normally would.

Undistracted and focused, he continued to share his story with Jonas.

During the entire walk, back to the house, Jonas was hanging on every word from his grandfather.  He had not once interrupted with a question but listened intently.  He was captivated, especially at the thought that this was all true.

I hope you do not mind that I took a longer walk back home, Josiah said.

No, not at all, grandfather.  In fact, I did not really notice until you mentioned it.

Good, that means that I am not boring you with my story.

I really like your story, grandfather.  I am not bored at all.  I would really like to hear more, Jonas said with a raise in his voice.

Even his entire body language could not hide that he did indeed want to hear more.  It was as if every bit of him was anxious to hear more.

As they approached his home, Josiah was finding himself encouraged by Jonas’ reactions.  While he knew that he needed to share with him, Josiah was always a bit concerned that Jonas would have no interest in the things of God.  After all, he was still a very young boy, and boys his age are rarely concerned with such, well, serious matters.

Yet he could tell just by looking at Jonas that he was indeed being drawn towards God.  There was a level of attentiveness in him that could only be explained by the nature of their conversation and by God’s hand on him.

Today, he had no interest in entertaining Jonas.  Often when they spent time together, Josiah would be very intentional in attempting to make their time together enjoyable and fun for his grandson.  But not today.

Josiah had learned through the years to recognize the signs of God’s hand on someone.  They often became deeply affected, looking for answers and solutions that were beyond their current understanding.

God would be instilling them with vision that was new and challenging to them.  Most of the time, he witnessed an individual moved in more dramatic ways than they had ever experienced.  Except for those few instances of great resistance, he often saw people in this state become completely changed.

This was what he saw happening to Jonas.

What Josiah could not see was the spiritual battle that was raging around him at that moment.  Up until this point there had been only a skirmish between the angels of heaven and the demons of hell.  This mission of Josiah’s caused these opposing forces to engage violently with one another.

It was not until it became obvious, at least in the spiritual world, that he was succeeding, that the leader of hell himself, took notice.  Satan became gravely concerned, enough to dispatch more of his demonic host.  This was one battle he could ill afford to lose.

With the arrival of these reinforcements, the very presence of God seemed to dim.  It was true that whenever Satan sent more strength against a godly one the presence of these additional demons seemed to initially dominate in the moment.

The key to spiritual success was not in the presence of God, for He was always present.  The actual key was in the focus and spiritual purity of the person Satan was attacking.  In this case, Josiah was the definite target of Satan’s venomous attack.

Let’s set the water jug down here by the door, Josiah said

He suddenly felt winded.  He leaned against the doorpost of his home with his left hand while his right hand rested on his hip.  His brow furrowed as waves of fatigue washed over his entire body.

It puzzled him, how suddenly he felt this fatigue.  God had given him such strength up to this point, so, he reasoned correctly, that something spiritually had changed.

My Lord, he began a silent prayer, let me not fail on this mission.  As important as it is to me, I know that it is many more times over important to you.  Give me the strength that I need to be your servant who succeeds in your work.  Your will be done.

It was if a sonic boom had gone off in the spiritual world.  Josiah’s pure heart had expressed the ultimate of human desires, ‘Jehovah’s will be done’.

This statement had the ability to disarm and diffuse the works and attacks of Satan because it contained very powerful words.  These words were bitter to the Evil One.  To defer one’s life, all their ambitions, goals, possessions, and priorities to God and His will was tantamount to leaving the Enemy to attack God Himself.  This single statement had the power to completely align one with God.

As suddenly as the wave of fatigue hit his body, a surge of strength enveloped him.  It was not simply an energy boost but it was a commanding and enduring strength.  It was the strength that has no human source, only that of the divine.

Thank you, Master, Josiah concluded his prayer.

Jonas silently watched this transformation occur for his grandfather.  In but a few brief moments he saw the countenance of grandfather go from a frightening level of fragility to a level of strength Jonas had never seen before in this man that he loved.

While it caught him off guard, Jonas knew in his heart that God was working in his grandfather.  He did not understand how, or even why, he just knew it to be true.

Josiah reached for the door.

Let’s go back inside.  I am sure that you would like to have the chance to drink some of this fine water that we have carried home.  It would be nice to receive the fruit of your labor.

Josiah smiled as he looked at his grandson.  There was something in Jonas’ face that seemed new to Josiah.  There was a look of recognition; maybe it was maturity that rested not just on his face but in his entire appearance.  Josiah was beginning to understand why God had pressed upon him so strongly the mission of sharing with Jonas.

As he opened the door they each grabbed a handle of the water pot and carried it into the small home together.  Slowly they set it down along the wall, near the small table with the water basin sitting on top.

Despite their ongoing conversation while carrying the water pot that could have easily distracted them, they had done a very good job.  Not a single drop had spilled.

On a lower shelf of that small table Josiah pulled out two small wooden drinking cups.  Carefully he dipped the first cup in the water, filling it nearly to the brim.  He held the cup over the water pot so that all the drippings fell back into the water pot.

Though his hands wavered a bit he was still able to place the cup on the larger table in the center of the room without spilling any of the water.  It surprised him how suddenly skillful he felt as the supernatural strength supported him.

Josiah pulled out the chair near the cup he had just placed on the table.  Looking over he noticed that Jonas was standing near the doorway, clearly staying out of his grandfather’s way.

Jonas’ primary purpose in standing aside was to show respect.  After what he seen just before they entered the home, he wanted to be able to best watch his grandfather.  Jonas was beginning to realize that he was seeing God in his grandfather.  He was hoping to see more of God.

Come, sit and enjoy the water, Josiah said to Jonas.

Then he motioned with his right hand for Jonas to sit.  Though he was oblivious to Jonas’ immediate insight, Josiah felt the need to stay on task so he provided his grandson physical direction before any more spiritual direction.

Jonas had been so enthralled first with his grandfather’s story and then with the events just outside the door that he had completely forgotten about the water.  Though he had watched his grandfather fill the cup for him, his mind was captivated with thoughts of God and his grandfather.

He could sense that something more was going on here than a casual or normal visit with his grandfather.  Something was happening to him, something that was very deep inside.  Whatever it was it was new and attractive to him.

Jonas could not understand what was happening inside of him.  His spirit was growing closer and more deeply in love with Jehovah.  Though he consciously felt it was feelings for his grandfather, because of his own physical and spiritual youthfulness, it was his own openness to the loving presence of God that he felt.

Jonas, are you alright?  Josiah asked.

It was apparent that Jonas was not focused on drinking the water, or even resting from their walk.  Josiah was concerned because he was suddenly uncertain what his grandson was thinking or feeling and his actions were not giving Josiah any obvious clue.

Grandfather, can I ask you a question? Jonas asked.

There was a definite seriousness in his tone.  His young brow crinkled just a bit as he waited to for his grandfather’s response.

Why, yes, Jonas, you can ask me anything.

I have heard stories of a host of angels appearing to shepherds and that their message was proclaiming the birth of the Messiah.  And I have always enjoyed the stories.  The thought of meeting angels sounds like a wonderful thing.

An almost impish-like smile crossed his face.  He suddenly felt very child-like as he recalled hearing those stories as a much younger boy.

Then this smile turned to a serious, questioning look. He refocused on his question at hand.

But I need to ask you something and I do not want to hurt your feelings.

Jonas, you know that I love you.  I will do my best to answer any question you have.  There is not a question that you might ask that will hurt my feelings, I assure you.

Josiah suddenly felt what seemed to be the very hand of God on his shoulder.  This touch he sensed, gave him a surge of confidence, spiritual confidence.

Taking a deep breath to steady his thoughts and his voice, Jonas continued. 

"I do believe in the Lord’s angels and that they exist.  I also believe that they have come and spoken to our forefathers whenever God chooses to have them deliver His message instead of delivering