As Sure as the Dawn (44 page)

“Theophilus!” she gasped when Atretes finally let her take a breath.

“Say yes, Rizpah,” Theophilus said, amused. “There’s one thing you should’ve learned a long time ago about this man. Once he makes up his mind, it takes an act of God to change it!”

Atretes held her at arm’s length, his expression somber as he searched her face. “Why do you hesitate?”

“What brought you to this pass?”

“What brought me? Your
death
opened my eyes. I need you, not just because of Caleb, but for myself.”

She couldn’t look in his eyes without weakening. Closing them, she prayed wildly, her heart crying out to the Lord.
Is this what you want for us? Or is it our own flesh yearning?

It is not good for a man to be alone.

The words came so softly to mind she thought someone had whispered them.

She felt Atretes’ fingertips touching her throat tenderly and shivered. Opening her eyes, she looked into his and saw a softness and vulnerability she had never guessed existed. It wasn’t just desire that drove him to this decision. He loved her. Truly loved her.

Lord God, don’t let me be a stumbling block. Don’t let
him
be one. Help me light his way. You know how my tongue gets away with me.

Again, the soft whisper came.

Trust in me with all your heart and lean not on your own ~understanding.

She took his hand. “Not for Caleb only, Atretes, but for myself, I will marry you,” she said. Tears filled her eyes when she saw joy leap into his. Did she really matter so much to him? She had never thought it possible for this hard, violent man to have such tender feelings and deep needs.

More the fool I, Lord. Will I ever see him through your eyes and with your heart?

Theophilus came out of the spring and walked toward them. When he reached them, he held out his hands to them both. Atretes took his right, Rizpah his left.

“Lord God, we stand before you this day to join Atretes and Rizpah in marriage. Be with us, Jesus, in the making of these bonds.” He looked at Atretes. “In a Christian marriage, Atretes, the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the church, he himself being the Savior of the body. But as the church is subject to Christ, so you will be subject to Christ, and so also Rizpah will be subject to you in everything. Love her, just as Christ also loves you and gave himself up for you. Sacrificially, willing even to die for her. Love her as you love your own body. Sustain and protect her in all circumstances.”

“I will.”

Theophilus looked at Rizpah and smiled. “Be subject to Atretes, beloved. Be subject to him as to the Lord. And respect him as your husband.”

“I will.”

Caleb stood in the middle of their small circle, looking up at them as Theophilus brought his mother’s and father’s hands together over the child’s head.

Atretes clasped Rizpah’s hand possessively. Theophilus put one hand over theirs, and another beneath. “Be subject to one another in fear of Christ. There is neither male nor female; for you are one in Christ Jesus, called to live according to God’s will and not your own. Remember our Lord Jesus Christ who died on the cross for us and arose on the third day. Our God is patient and kind. He is never jealous nor boasts nor is arrogant. Jesus never sought his own nor was provoked nor took into account a wrong suffered. The Lord never rejoices in unrighteousness. Christ Jesus bore all things and endured all things for our sake. His love never fails.

“Therefore, beloved, remember and follow in his way. Walk as children of light. Cleave to one another. Submit to one another in the love of Christ, and live in a way pleasing to Jesus Christ our Lord.”

Releasing their hands, he asked them to kneel before God, then did so with them. Quiet and wide-eyed, Caleb hugged Rizpah’s side as Theophilus laid one hand upon her head, the other on Atretes’.

“Lord God, creator of all things, creator of this man and woman, I ask your blessing upon them as they go forth as man and wife.”

“Please, Lord,” Rizpah said softly, head bowed.

“May they raise up their son Caleb to praise your name.”

“We will do so,” Atretes vowed.

“Put angels around them and protect them from the enemy who will come against them and try to drive them apart.”

“Please protect us, Lord,” Rizpah murmured.

“Give them children to raise up in your name.”

“Sons and daughters,” Atretes said boldly, and heat filled Rizpah’s face and body.

Theophilus grinned and then went on. “Lord Jesus, may Atretes and Rizpah serve you with gladness and come into your presence daily with thanksgiving, knowing you alone are God. You have made them in your image and have a divine purpose for their lives. You are their shield and their strength. May they never lean on their own understanding, Lord, but trust in you, acknowledging you in all their ways, so that you will make their paths straight.”

“May we please you, Lord,” Rizpah said.

“Lord Jesus,” Theophilus said, “in whatever circumstances may arise, may your infinite grace and mercy be extended to others through each of them. Amen.”

“Amen!” Atretes said and stood, drawing Rizpah up beside him. His blue eyes were alight and he was shaking. Heat poured into her cheeks. She was afraid he was going to haul her into his arms and start kissing her right in front of Theophilus again.

Instead, he lowered his head to kiss both her hands, then released her. “You should wash the blood out of your tunic,” he said and hunkered down before his son. “Come on, boy. You need a bath.” Lifting him, he stood and tossed the child high in the air. Caleb squealed with thrilled laughter. Atretes caught him and ran into the spring, while Rizpah stared dumbfounded after him. Disappointment and relief warred within her. She would never understand the man. Never!

“Tell Atretes I’ll make camp and keep watch,” Theophilus said, as he hefted the men’s gear onto his back.

She glanced at him, embarrassed that she had forgotten his presence. He grinned wryly. “It’s been quite a day.”

“Thank you,” she said, quick tears of gratitude filling her eyes. She flung her arms around his neck and kissed his cheek. “Thank you for praying for me,” she said hoarsely, unable to say more.

Dropping his burdens, he held her briefly. “I’ve been praying for both of you for a long, long time.” As she settled before him, he patted her cheek as he would that of a daughter. “Your husband gave you a command to wash your tunic.”

“And I will obey,” she said, eyes shining. She took one of his hands in both of hers. “I love you, Theophilus, and thank God you’re my brother. What would have happened . . .” her voice trailed off.

“Go, beloved. Your husband is waiting.”

Blinking back tears, she smiled and turned away.

Theophilus shouldered the provisions and watched her walk down to the spring where Atretes played with Caleb. She waded in, and Atretes came to meet her. Bending down, he kissed her.

As he watched, Theophilus felt an inexplicable loneliness. There were times when his solitary life chafed, like now, when he felt cut off from Rizpah and Atretes because of the holy bond that would change their relationship to one of intimacy. He had watched these two burn for one another from Ephesus to Germania and prayed they wouldn’t be drawn into sin. God knew their natures and their needs. He had given them their desires and made provision for them. They were married.

For himself, soldiers weren’t allowed to take wives. The restriction had rubbed on occasion. Before he had been saved by Jesus, he had burned and given in to sin. Women had been a primary pleasure in his life.

All that had changed when he had become a Christian.

Now that he was retired from the army, life would be different. He could take a wife, but he didn’t think it was in God’s plan for him. The desire to do so had actually diminished. Twenty-five of his forty years had been spent fighting battles and building roads, from Rome to Germania to Ionia. He had few years left upon this earth. Those years he did have, he wanted to dedicate to the Lord.

But there were times . . .

Atretes set his son upon his shoulders and bent to kiss Rizpah again. Theophilus watched and felt a swift and unexpected pang of envy. She was a remarkable young woman. It was clear from her response that they would have little difficulty adjusting to one another. Atretes’ life had been hard and bleak till now, but God would give him joy through her.

“Lord, bless them with a quiver full of children,” he said. Turning away, Theophilus walked up the hill to lay the camp and prepare a meal.

Hours later, Theophilus saw Atretes and Rizpah walking between the scented spruce and fir toward him. Caleb was sleeping against Rizpah’s shoulder, Atretes’ arm was about her waist. Theophilus had never seen them so relaxed with one another and knew God had blessed their afternoon together. When Rizpah looked up at Atretes and said something to him, he stopped and touched her hair lightly. She lifted her chin, and he kissed her, his hand gliding from her shoulder down her arm in a tender and natural gesture of possession.

Theophilus looked away, sorry to have intruded on such a private moment.

They approached the fire almost reluctantly. He glanced up and smiled in greeting. “Help yourself to the rabbits.” He knew Rizpah would be self-conscious and tried to put them both at ease. “There’s plenty of bean stew in the pot and berries in that small basin.”

Atretes removed his arm from around her shoulders and took his son. Theophilus looked at her and saw her color rise. Atretes put Caleb down amidst the packs and covered him with a blanket. “Sit,” he said when he saw Rizpah still standing at the edge of the firelight. As she came forward, Atretes glanced at Theophilus. He gestured for him to eat.

Squatting down, Atretes removed one of the three roasted rabbits from the spit and put it on a wooden plate. He spooned bean, lentil, and corn mush beside it. “Sit over here,” he said to Rizpah and, when she obeyed, he handed it to her. He brushed her cheek lightly and then served himself. When she bowed her head to pray, Atretes watched her and waited until she finished.

Atretes was as ravenous for food as he had been for Rizpah all afternoon. He ate quickly, tossing bones into the fire. He finished the rabbit before Rizpah was half finished with hers.

“You can have the other one on the spit, Atretes,” Theophilus told him, amused. He had never seen Atretes so hungry. “I’ve already eaten.”

Atretes raised his brow at Rizpah. She nodded. “There’s plenty here for me and Caleb when he awakens.”

“I’ll hunt tomorrow,” Atretes told Theophilus as he slid the last roasted rabbit from the branch spit. “There are plenty of deer.”

Theophilus laughed despite his resolve not to do so. It would seem married life demanded added nourishment, but he curbed the temptation to remark on it. Atretes might appreciate manly humor, but Rizpah would be even more embarrassed. He leaned back, making himself comfortable against his pack. “I thought you were in a hurry to find your people.”

“We wait,” Atretes said decisively and flung a leg bone into the fire. “We stay here until you tell me everything you know about Jesus Christ.”

Theophilus could not have been more pleased by Atretes’ demand, but he was a soldier and bent to the practical. “What about the Mattiaci?”

“We’re on high ground,” Atretes said, not the least concerned.

“They attacked once. They could attack again.”

“They attack an enemy in a low clearing like the one we were in today. You wounded two. I killed four. They won’t come looking for us.” He tossed the last of the bones into the fire. “The Mattiaci are cowards.”

Atretes dismissed further discussion of tribal disputes with a return to his earlier demand. “Tell me about Jesus. Hadassah told me of his crucifixion and resurrection. I thought he was weak. Now, I know better. He is the true God, but I have questions. You say God sent Jesus. Yet you say Jesus is God. Explain.”

“Jesus is God, Atretes. God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit, who dwells within you now, all are
one.”

“How is that possible?”

“Some things are too wonderful for man to understand,” Theophilus said, spreading his hands and wishing Atretes had asked an easier question. “I’m a simple soldier for Christ and as clear an understanding as I have is that there is God the Father, awesome and unreachable because sin came into the world. And there is Jesus Christ, God the Son, sent to atone for sin and remove the veil from the Holy of Holies so we can go before the Almighty and have an intimate relationship with him as Adam and Eve had in the Garden of Eden.”