A LITTLE CLOUD ON THE HORIZON
by
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If you enjoy this short story, please search for Mr. Cormany's collection of Bible stories called "Beyond the Veil" by Tom Cormany.
“Jacob, wake up.”
Jacob heard the voice of his mother. But, he was so tired. He didn’t sleep well last night. Maybe if he pretended...
“Jacob!”
Now, it was the voice of his father, Ephraim. This was different. Jacob might have been able to keep on sleeping for a little while, if it had been his mother. Not with his dad. His dad was fair—but strict.
“No,” he thought, “I’d better get up.” Ten-year-old Jacob rolled over and sat up. He started to get out of bed when his dad cleared his throat. Jacob looked over and his dad simply raised one eyebrow. Ephraim did not have to say a word—Jacob knew. After all, his dad had been teaching him for more than a year now. He should have known he couldn’t skip with his dad watching.
Closing his eyes he said the prayer upon rising. “Thanks I offer to You, living and eternal King, for You have mercifully restored my soul within me; Your faithfulness is great.”
The initial prayer completed, Jacob rose from his bed, and conscious of his father’s eyes upon him, completed his morning ritual. He was getting better at it. He only noticed two mistakes this morning. He was sure, though, that his father noticed. His father may be a shepherd, but he was considered both a righteous man by his neighbors, as well as a sharp one.
“Not bad, Jacob. Pretty soon you won’t make any mistakes.”
Coming from his father, that was high praise. He supposed it was because he was the first-born that his dad was so hard on him. He looked over to where his two younger sisters—Rachel and Deborah—and his younger brother Caleb still lay sleeping. Inwardly, he sighed. Sometimes he wished he had an older brother or sister. Maybe his life would be a little easier. Then again, maybe not. At least he got out of the house now. The others were still inside helping Mom keep house.
He walked over to the table for breakfast. As usual, his dad broke the bread and then blessed it. When the prayer was done, Jacob began to eat. His mother had set out bread and cheese, along with some fruit. He did not realize how hungry he was and began to devour his food.
“Slow down, Jacob,” said his father with a smile. “There is enough for you without eating so fast your stomach will ache. Besides, your brother and sisters are still asleep.
Jacob slowed the pace of his eating. He had been finished for only a minute or two when he heard the rooster outside announcing the beginning of another day.
“Time to get to work,” announced his father as he got up from the table. “Come on, Jacob. I'll meet you at the stable.” Ephraim grabbed his cloak and went out the door.
“You'd best be going,” said his mother. She kissed him affectionately, mumbling something about her being proud of her big man, and shooed him out the door.
Outside, Jacob wrapped his cloak around him. Even though he knew the day would be hot, the morning was a little cool. That was to be expected. Unfortunately, not only would it be hot again – it would be dry. No surprise there. Jacob could not remember the last time it had rained. His dad said it had been more than three years and something about a curse on Israel because of the king's idolatry.
He really didn't understand it all. He left that for his dad. What he did know is that most of their neighbors no longer worshiped Yahweh – the God of Israel. Instead, they had followed the king's example and had begun worshiping Ba'al.
Not his father. His father was adamant. “God said to worship no other gods. That's good enough for me,” he would say. Still, curse or no curse, it was dry. Theirs was the only spring still flowing on this part of Mount Carmel, and even it was not flowing as strongly as it had once. One of their neighbors also used the spring, but most of the rest had moved to somewhere that had water.
All of this crossed Jacob's mind as he walked out to the stable. There, his father was waiting for him in the gloomy darkness. Even though it was getting lighter, the sun had yet to break the horizon. He could hear the tinkling of the bells on the goats as they moved restlessly in their pen. Overhead, on the roof, the rooster crowed again.
“Jacob, today, I want you to take the goats up the slope near the top of Mount Carmel. We haven't grazed there for awhile and God-willing, there will be enough for the goats to graze on. You will still be in sight of the house – almost,” said his father, seeing the surprised look on Jacob's face. This was the first time he was going alone so far. “I've got some repairs to do here. Here's my horn if there is trouble. I'm sending the dogs with you too. I know you can do this. I trust you,” he continued as he ruffled Jacob's hair affectionately. “Ah, here's your mother.”
Jacob turned. He hadn't even heard her come out of the house. In her hands she was carrying a bag. “Here you go, dear. I've packed some bread and cheese for you, and there's a water skin in here as well.” She hung the bag over his shoulders, and gave him a brief hug. As she pulled back, Jacob thought he could see tears welling in her eyes.
“Now Ruth,” said his dad, “you know I wouldn't send him off if I didn't think he could handle it. He'll be just fine. He has to grow up sometime.
“I know, it's just that it seems like only yesterday...” began his mother, but then, little Caleb started crying inside the house.
“Go on, you've still got three that are little.” Jacob could see his dad smile as he said it.
His mother gave him a second hug and hurried back inside.
“I'll help you get on the way,” said his dad.
Together, the two of them gathered up the small herd of goats and Jacob prepared to start on his way up the mountain. By this time, the sun had peeked over the horizon. As it did so, it flashed off of something shiny on the slope below them. It looked like someone was coming up the road.
The road ran from the military garrison at Megiddo to the top of Mount Carmel. It was not a very heavily traveled road, but it also was not unusual to see a squad of soldiers on it from time to time. There was an outpost on the top of the Mount.
Jacob pointed out the flashes to his dad. Together, they stared at it for several minutes. The flashes turned out to be a long line of men marching up the road. It appeared that a gilded chariot was leading the way, followed by soldiers, a large group of priests, then more soldiers. All told, there were hundreds of people. More than Jacob had ever seen on the road.
“What is it, Father? What's happening?” asked Jacob.
“I don't know, Son,” replied his father. “I think you had better stick around for a bit until I know what's going on.” Together, they watched the column approach them. The road passed near enough to their home that they would be able to tell what this was all about. Slowly, the procession drew nearer.
“It's the king!” whispered Ephraim to himself in awe. He had seen King Ahab once, a few years ago, but that was from a distance.
“What?” Jacob wasn't sure he had heard his father correctly.
“I believe the chariot in front is King Ahab,” his father replied a little louder. “I wonder what's going on. There's no talk of war that I've heard of. Besides, that looks like a bunch of priests behind him.”
“Priests?” asked Jacob. He felt like he was only able to ask one-worded questions, his mind was racing so fast.
“Yes, priests of Ba'al, it looks like,” said his father. Then his father did something unexpected – he spat to one side in disgust. Jacob was surprised at the l
ook of anger on his dad's face. It wasn't just anger, it was something else, too. He thought he heard his father mutter under his breath something about “filthy idolaters,” but he wasn't sure.
By this time, his mother and siblings had come out of the house, drawn by the barking of the dogs. Fortunately, the dogs were tied up at the moment. Jacob heard his dad explaining what was going on to his mother. Silently, the six of them stood there and watched everyone march by. Near the end, they saw two bulls being herded by the priests.
“It looks like they are going all the way to the top of the mountain,” commented his mother as the last of the long column of men passed by. “Ephraim, Jacob...,” began his mother, stopping as her husband quietly laid his hand on her shoulder.
“Son, I know I told you I was going to let you go alone today. However, I don't know what this is all about, so I've changed my mind. We are going together. If nothing is wrong, then either I'll come back down, or I'll let you go alone tomorrow,” said his dad.
“I understand,” replied Jacob.
As the last man passed out of sight, his mother turned and went back into the house. His father surprised him once again as the door closed behind her. “I've changed my mind again. I confess, I'm curious. We're going to leave the goats here for now and just you and I are going up the mountain. Let me