A Race to the Top:

            Before mornings light, Joshua’s followers gathered in their section of Sanctuary and prayed for the person who would suffer from Stan’s wrath. Each person prayed that their friend would have the patience to suffer and not bring dishonor to Joshua nor to God. No one wanted to endure the suffering but understood that someone would have to bear the rage of Stan. So, they joined hands and walked together into the place of judgment.

            Stan’s followers wandered in later, smirking, pointing, and laughing. This different behavior made Joshua’s followers nervous. The meeting started earlier than the previous week, and Stan stood on the podium. “Joshua’s followers don’t seem to accept the law, so, we designed a new test for these criminals. Deborah, please step up on the platform.”

            Deborah didn’t know what to make of this change, but she walked slowly up the steps to her assigned spot of judgment. “Deborah, you must choose another follower. If you don’t choose someone else, you will suffer both punishments; and I know that you won’t survive that.”

            Deborah looked confused, “I must choose someone else—for what punishment?”

            “You’ll find out afterwards. Until then, choose!”

            Deborah didn’t want to choose anyone and would have rather taken the punishment herself. As Deborah looked down, she saw Josiah. The words came out almost without her will, “I choose Josiah.”

            “Josiah, step up on the platform!” 

            So, Josiah walked onto the platform and gave Deborah a hug. As he did, he whispered in her ear, “I understand. Don’t feel responsible. I was praying you would choose me. We’re all going to suffer more incredible indignities before the end.”

            Stan told Josiah to stand on a specific place in the center of the platform and Jezebel grabbed Deborah holding her firmly. “I decided that since you don’t follow the rules, you will be lifted up in a net and beaten by the citizens of Sanctuary.” Before Josiah or Deborah could move, Stan pulled a lever and a net surrounded Josiah lifting him up. The citizens who followed Stan took this opportunity to beat the helpless Josiah. Inside the net, Josiah simply rolled into a ball to protect himself and tried to absorb the beating. Joshua’s followers tried to intercede, but Stan’s mob looked like animals attacking a helpless, lame lamb. The beating seemed to last for eternity, but Stan called out, “Stop!” and the mob pulled back. When the net was let down, Josiah lay crumpled and bloody.

            Deborah now felt completely responsible for Josiah’s condition; however, her torture was just beginning. “You also choose to go on the mountain, and so you too will suffer.” Stan announced. Jezebel ripped off a sheet covering a pile of dung and compost. “You will have to climb up to the top of the mountain. Since you violated the law, the citizens of Sanctuary may throw any rock that is smaller than a man’s fist to prevent you from reaching the top. The longer it takes you to get to the top, the more my group will enjoy it. So, let the games begin!”

            Deborah started to climb and slipped down on the murky mess. She felt a large rock hit her arm from Jezebel. “Just letting you know how it will feel.” She realized this punishment was to let the other citizens judge her harshly for her faith. She started climbing, praying for the citizens’ salvation. As she prayed through the trial, she seemed to be able to rise a little higher. The more she prayed; the more objects seemed to provide her with a grip. Innumerable rocks hit her; but as she prayed, she rose higher. Some citizens weren’t as accurate at throwing, so once she rose to a higher level the pain diminished.

            Once Deborah reached the top, she realized this week’s suffering was over. She slid down the pile and ran to Josiah just as the other followers reached the two. Many people brought water buckets, bandages, and ointments. While Stan’s followers were beating the two followers, their friends were preparing for ways to help them heal. The men carried Josiah, and the women supported Deborah to their homes.

            When the men got to Josiah’s home, they found that Joshua was already there. They lay Josiah on the floor, and Joshua started to clean the wounds. First, he took the water and washed Josiah’s feet, then he carefully removed the clothing, washed the wounds, and put his oil on the sores.

            Kylie was doing the same thing with Deborah in Puah’s home. Puah had many ointments, but Kylie washed the wounds, used Joshua’s oil on the wounds and bandaged the injuries.

            The followers let Deborah and Josiah rest while they met outside. Rizpah was infuriated. “Deborah has not done anything to anyone here, and this is how they treat her? She deserved better than that!”

            Joshua looked at Rizpah. “Deborah didn’t deserve that beating, and Josiah has done nothing evil to anyone.”

            Puah sobbed. Joshua looked at his bewildered children. He explained that their suffering, until now, has been somewhat easier to bear. People suffered, but a shield protected them from the rage of Stan and his followers. “Now things are becoming real, and tangible suffering means dealing with the physical pain and fear. To say that Deborah and Josiah don’t deserve suffering means that you are able to judge what they deserve and their true core of goodness. We all assume that because they are nice to us that they don’t deserve difficult, painful times; but we all have sorrows. We’ve grown through the rough times in areas that wouldn’t have developed except through the difficult times. Deborah and Josiah’s witness showed Stan’s followers the quality of their character. It displayed the value of their faith and served to help others make their permanent choice about eternal judgment. Josiah’s and Deborah’s suffering were a witness that there is something more important to them than their comfort and even their life for everyone in Sanctuary, and that became a powerful declaration to the weak in faith. There are those who will be changed permanently by the demonstration of the endurance today,” Joshua assured his followers “and none of you will ever die from the painful suffering they would experience in Sanctuary. You were not meant for the wrath to come.^[1]”

            It took a week for Josiah and Deborah to recover, and the other followers covered for them. Dinah worked longer hours than ever before and did her work and Deborah’s duties. Puah did Josiah’s work. However, they kept remembering Joshua’s promise that they would not die from the punishments and would serve as a witness to others. In the back of each person’s mind were the obvious questions. What would be the next torture Stan would have for them? Would any one of them fall away by staying in Sanctuary and giving into the need for security and safety?

            During the day, each follower during their daily events prayed for Josiah, Deborah and for the other followers’ faithfulness. Stan’s followers mocked the followers during the days that Josiah and Deborah were incapacitated. After five days, Deborah and Josiah walked out from their homes healed and able to walk. By the end of the week, Josiah and Deborah joined the followers in prayer. They both told their story and thanked the others for giving them the time to recover. During the week, each follower walked in and prayed, offered food and water to Deborah and Josiah which gave them peace to continue in healing. It was only because everyone helped Josiah and Deborah that they recovered so quickly.