The Warfare of Suffering:

            When the week finally ended, the followers gathered at the mountain’s base and discovered three major changes. First, instead of ascending the mountain, Joshua joined them and explained that today’s work would take place at the base of the mountain. He clarified the goals and modified tasks after they ate. Second, all their tools were piled next to bags filled with shorn wool, plant leaves, and barks from the trees. Third, Peninnah and Michal joined the followers. Everyone looked at Joshua. “Let them join us. There is a purpose for everything that happens,^[1] though we don’t understand at the time. ‘Come, let them join our group.’”

            Joshua put a blanket down, and everyone sat down. Joshua placed the food in the center. Joshua and the followers prayed the blessings over the food and ate. Joshua reminded them of the lesson from last week about grace, compassion, and mercy. He explained why Abigail, Puah, and Rizpah were attacked. “These three ladies stood up for what was right, which will always lead to an attack. When these women suffered so admirably, they witnessed to Peninnah and Michal. Always remember their suffering brought these two believers to our group. Their suffering will bring multitudes to God’s Kingdom.”

            “Abigail, Puah, and Rizpah’s witness showed all in Sanctuary that there is something stronger than the tempest of Stan’s assault and suffering, stealing some of Stan’s power. They also proved to all people that the greatest good isn’t the absence of pain but embodying the character of God.^[2] They withstood the withering assault, which made two other people more empathetic.”

            Everyone noticed that Michal had a shawl covering over her head. When she removed it, everyone was stunned to see that Michal cut her hair. “I thought that all Stan was doing was wrong, and my hair will grow back. It was the least I could do….”

            Joshua said, “Your gift isn’t a dishonor to you but a witness to your empathy and love for another—through Abigail’s humiliation, you put yourself into her position and provided what you had to restore her honor. You didn’t think of your needs, but you considered easing another’s shame.

            Each of you will know the pain of suffering and the transformation from evil to the redeemed. You must resist the pressures of others, fake teachings, selfishness, anger, and bitterness. However, if you resist the pressure, God Himself will reward you for your endurance. Every marathon runner prepares for a race, but only one earns the prize.^[3]  Suffering is a discipline that God and human parents use to purify the sin from your character and humble us so God can raise us to places we could have never imagined. God shows His Love through people like Puah.”

            Joshua told Abigail, Puah, and Rizpah, “You showed everyone that the greatest good isn’t the absence of pain but endurance through the sorrow. As you endured your grief so publicly, you strengthened many others, including Rizpah, to endure to the end. You allowed others to comfort you afterward. That is why hospitals and charities were created, and doctors were called to serve others. Each day a medical person serves someone else, they do the work of God—even if they don’t recognize God. Through Puah’s witness, Rizpah had the strength to endure the humiliation and pain.

            “Each of you needs to realize that the pain and anguish is for a set time and will not last forever, though often it seems endless. God is in charge and will not let the enemy have power over His own, but He has a specific purpose in each suffering. Once that goal is achieved—that test will not happen again.

            Joshua asked everyone to hold hands, close their eyes, and pray. As they did, each person saw a glimpse of Heaven. They saw the future of a life without any suffering and simply the most amazing beauty created by God. After a few moments, the view dimmed. “That is what awaits all who love God and are willing to endure to the end.”

            Daniel knew his past and the future. “We will have more tests, won’t we?”

            Joshua nodded. “All followers have more tests as a witness to their endurance. God specifically designed each person’s tests to help that person develop his or her endurance.^[4] If you endure the tests, you will be given a crown^[5]  and a robe of unimaginable beauty.^[6] You will be granted authority^[7] over more than any of you can imagine now. You will restore to God a people who worship Him only and receive His blessings for eternity.

            “While Heaven is the future for all true believers, we have work on Earth,” Joshua said. “I’m going to ask the men to carve a small cave in the base of this mountain. We will need an ample shelf to place a long, large object and a huge round stone to cover the opening. We must complete this by today, so the men must work as hard on carving this cave as they worked on the terraces, rooms, and shelving above. I need to talk to Peninnah and Michal before I join you. I’m going to ask the women to create many large, woven garments which will be stored on the mountaintop. Finally, I will need the most fragrant of ointments prepared. We must prepare for a dark time that will test everyone’s loyalty. Remember, the darkness will pass, and the beauty of the light will shine again.”

            Joshua pulled Michal and Peninnah aside and whispered to them. Everyone wondered what he said, but nobody dared to listen in. Michal and Peninnah looked disappointed, but they nodded and hugged Joshua at the end. Then, they joined the women, preparing to weave the most beautiful cloth and coverings. Everyone seemed to know that there was something different about today’s work. They worked as a unified whole, accepting Peninnah and Michal like they had been there from the beginning. Kylie and the other women gathered the shorn wool they had gathered before from the sheep and started to clean, prepare, brush, twist, and wind it to prepare the wool for weaving.

            At about noon, Joshua called everyone for lunch. They sat on the beach where Kylie and Joshua had talked so often, felt the gentle breeze, smelled the fragrant aromas from the freshly prepared ointments, and heard the repeated sound of the gentle water lapping on the beach. “This beauty is nothing compared to the magnificence of Heaven. If you endure the testing and suffering to come, you will live in Heaven. There is one choice you may make which will make it impossible to grant anyone access to Heaven.”

            Everyone stared in surprise. Something even God can’t do? Joshua continued, “Some will live through severe testing and be ordered to take a mark of possession. If you choose to take that mark, you have made your selection. And even God can’t take away someone’s choice. Some decisions are permanent, and that one choice means you worship the god of this world and will not worship the One True God^[8]. The choice is yours, and the consequences will be forever.”

            Everyone wondered if they would be the ones to be forced to choose. “If you resist the demands, you will truly suffer, but this is what you turn down.” Joshua took out a globe, and as everyone stared into the sphere, they saw Heaven’s beauty radiating from the Earth to the furthest reaches of space. Everyone understood the consequences of their choice: take the mark, and there will be no Heaven. Refuse the mark, and there will be suffering and testing.

            After lunch, the men worked more on the cave, and the women prepared the cloth and the ointments. As they worked, they shared what they had seen, and everyone saw something different. Because each person had different Earthly gifts, they were shown different Heavenly qualities. As each person spoke of their view, their enthusiasm for Heaven grew. With their focus on Heaven, they worked with more strength, precision, and energy.

            By the end of the day, they constructed a beautiful cave with a very strong, large shelf. Hannah took the ointments to her home, and the other women carried the woolen articles with them to their houses. The men rolled a huge round rock over the cave’s entryway. As the sun set, a tired group gathered under the sun, prayed, and sang songs worshiping The One, True, and Living God.