In the Tombs- An Allegory

She was so full of fear that she preferred to live her life alone than face the pain of rejection and abandonment. She dug her heels in and resisted God because of past disappointments that she had faced. All she had was broken hopes and dreams. Like the man in the tomb, she sat among the littered graveside, scraping her wounds with broken shards of discarded pottery.  Than Y'Shua asked her to trust Him. No person had ever experienced such fear and trepidation.  But one day, after calming her fears and healing her sore wounds, Y'Shua asked her to love someone more deeply wound than she was.

How could He ask such a thing- to leave the quiet of the garden tomb to enter a hell of screeching demons- to involve herself  in a bitter tale of woe? Holding her hands over her ears to keep the screams and moans at bay, she entered the dark dungeon that was literally a cave.  Y'Shua gently removed her hands  from her ears as she cowered beneath the frightful sounds "You must fully feel the misery of this place to love its inhabitant. She countered - "I thought you were bringing someone to love me?" " What is this nightmare?" she questioned. 

Then she saw a person hobbled with chains linked to the cave's walls, covered in thick debris, smut, and soot. The stench that emanated from this human collection of skin and bone was at the least malodorous, and his eyes literally leaped from their sockets. She kneeled before it- still  trembling and disbelieving. She turned to Y'Shua - to question what was the bitter tale of woe in which he had involved her.

But He was gone.

The thing, huddled closer to her and reached out his skeletal hands towards her.  Its touch so light and gentle for a maniac. With no water, she began to wash, with the very tears, from her eyes and water from her lips. Each touch seeming to caress the thing's very soul and his innermost being trembled. Many days continued hence. Suddenly, Y'Shua appeared behind her- hands outstretched. Use this- in the goblet- my blood is poured.Take and drink "

As she and the monster partook of  the communion, a beautiful prince emerged. His shackles fell off, a crown upon his head, and leather shoes in his feet. sinew, muscle, and tendon were held together. He stood erect and powerful. She had been dirtied in the whole process, and  now she was ashamed of her appearance. She held her head down - reproachful of herself. But the prince lifted her chin and looked into her eyes and her very heart rumbled. His words soothed her heart, "For this act of love, God himself anoints you with the oil of beauty for ashes - the oil of joy for mourning."

When he took her hand, to lift her, the rags fell into a heap at her feet. A golden crown appeared on her head. And brilliant raiment- white and gold was around her. A scepter was in her right hand and golden slippers were on her feet.

Y'Shua's voice boomed,  "What you have done to the least of these, you have done to me."
The walls suddenly fell away from the cave, and the fragrant air of the country rushed in.

Hepzibah - Married and Beulah-my Delight in her are her new names. The prince who was a pauper, the grotto a living hill, this story of a nightmare. But God knew its true meaning.