0235 AM (3525 BCE) – SETH
Seth walked slowly up the steep grade toward where he knew the garden had now stood for a generation. The ground along which he was now walking was coarse and sandy. Very little growing along the dry, dusty path was green. Looking in the distance, Seth could see large, deep ruts in the ground, cut by the constant stream of wastewater flowing down, away from the garden. Abba had the garden watered from a great mist and waters of the deep. In the ruts, green life prevailed and flourished. But even then, that life now consisted of mostly weeds and thistles.
Seth shifted the torch he was carrying to his other hand, and adjusted the ropes pulling taut against his shoulders, which were made for the sledge he was pulling behind him. The sledge was filled with wood and other supplies for the offering, and it was heavy. Sweat poured down Seth’s brow as the summit was reached, very near the end of the road, but still a ways away from the garden’s entrance. The road, of course, led to the garden and was built slowly over the years as he, along with his father Adam, and his many other brothers and sisters, came to call upon the name of Abba, and would bring offerings burnt in the fire upon the altar. Their many trips, by so many, compressed and hardened the clay into a smooth and gently sloping grade.
Week by week, over the last generation of existence, each person and family and tribe would come bearing their first fruits, as a gift to Abba, the Creator of all creation. Week by week, the great stone altar would grow in size, a few stones at a time. Week by week, the blood of the firstborn animals would drain away, joining the runoff from the Garden. And week by week, grains and fruits would be waved and burned up to honor Abba in thanks and adoration for his provisions to them of life and light and ground and water, all of which to produce food and livestock and families.
And week by week, all would come and see the messenger of Abba barring the way to the garden and the tree of life, with a flaming sword that more than made anyone think twice about approaching. Seth looked up at the fearsome messenger, who looked back with a blank indifference, as the flames of the sword cast various shadows that danced around the various trees and grounds surrounding the very imposing messenger.
Seth sighed.
Week by week and year by year, this ritual and tradition went on, but where was Abba? Oh, the stories Adam told of the walks in the cool of the evening, when Abba would talk about living and music and working metals and gardening and even how to make rope …
Seth looked away, trying to stifle a desire for that which he could never have. He turned back to the stone table loaded with the wood from the sledge. He took two lambs that were just born, the first to open their mother’s wombs. They were highly valued life in that very lifeless region. But Seth chose to follow in the traditions of his father.
Seth had to be the example since the incident with Cain. But Seth did not want to think of such things. What good would it do? Abel was lost to them, and wasn’t Cain also? Besides, he had many other brothers and sisters, not to mention his own wife and their children. No, Seth decided, he just needed to concern himself with his own clan, his own tribe, if only to make sure they stayed true to the ways of Abba and the traditions of Adam. Besides, hadn’t Cain brought enough grief on his own clan as it was?
Seth slaughtered the lambs with his very sharp flint knife. His stomach churned at the waste, but his heart leapt with the sacrifice made to Abba. Then again, they were not his to begin with, were they? They already belonged to Abba. He was just returning what he couldn’t keep in hopes of receiving something he couldn’t lose. But what was that? Seth looked back at the two animals. He watched the life drain from their eyes. Such eyes. Odd-shaped. Not like man. But somehow, they looked at Seth with a kind of desperation as if to whisper, “save us.” But he could not save them.
Tears forced themselves from hard, tired eyes, as Seth laid their broken bodies reverently upon the stacked wood. With a blessing to Abba, Seth touched the torch to the wood. The flames started small, but soon burned ever more greedily, forcing Seth to back further and further away. Seth watched the fire, his attention completely consumed in almost a trance-like state, with even the surrounding daylight almost blotted out by the smoke and fire and light and heat.
A man gently walked up from behind Seth and stood quietly next to him. For minutes, they just stood and watched in silence. Seth glanced at the man and then back at the fire.
Seth half expected Adam to be standing there, but it wasn’t Adam. However, the man did appear to be old, older than Adam even. This surprised Seth a bit. He did not recognize the man.
Finally, the man spoke, “Yeladi,” he said, which means, “my child.”
Seth looked up confused, as he was the child of Adam. Everybody knew that. He was granted to Adam and Eve as a replacement for Abel. Why would this man call him his child? Unless … Seth looked at the man again and spoke, “Are you … Abba?”
The man responded with a voice full of love and acceptance and dignity and wisdom, “Yes, I am.”
Seth turned back to the fire. He was suddenly nervous, and even a little afraid. Abba spoke again, “Do not be afraid. You have come faithfully for many years, following in the example of your father for many years, calling upon my name for many, many years. So, today, here I am. Ask me whatever is on your heart. Petition me whatever your heart desires.”
Seth turned slightly to better look at the man, and the man, smiling, also turned to look at Seth. Their eyes met, but Seth had to look away. It was too overwhelming.
“I…,” Seth started, looking back up to meet the eyes of his maker, “I feel lost, tired. Adam speaks so highly of you. It’s just, there is a burden I am carrying, but I do not know what it is. Some kind of torch to light some kind of fire, but I do not know what or how or who. I love life. What can I compare it to? I see animals born, and it’s a wonder. I see them die, and I weep. Adam spoke of rebellion and showed me the bloodied lamb skins you gave them to cover them. And I just don’t know what I am to do. I am over a hundred years old, and I feel like I am running out of time!”
“I understand,” Abba replied, “and that is why I came. You have many siblings, and many of them also do not understand. You must teach them. Some will listen, others will not. You are anointed, as your father was, to carry the seed. This seed will one day be planted and will yield a garden that will cover all of creation. But until then, this seed must be protected and passed on.”
“But how? I mean, how can I protect this seed?”
“Simply by being faithful. Keep my commands. Be fruitful and multiply, fill the land. Teach your siblings to live and to live well – to seek my truth. Do what is right. Adam ate from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. For now, let that be enough. Listen for my quiet voice, whispering in your soul. My spirit will overshadow you and guide you if you will listen. Listen and obey me, Abba, your creator, and me alone, and teach your children to teach their children. Talk about it when you lie down and when you rise in the morning, when you sit for meals, and when you plow your fields, and when you tend your own gardens and vineyards and orchards. Let it be a sign on your forehead in all you think about and let it be a sign on your hand in everything you do. Love me and treat life with dignity and respect. Do this, and all will be well with you and with your children.”
Seth closed his eyes and took a deep breath. Exhaling sharply, Seth looked again at Abba, this time with clarity and determination, “Ok. I think I can do that.”
Suddenly a huge wind enveloped them both, like a flock of a million birds swarming them, but there were no birds. The coals on the altar glowed brightly in response to the wind, the coals finally bursting into flame. Then, just as suddenly, the wind was gone, as was Abba. But Seth’s mind was clear, and he could see all the words Abba had spoken. They danced in his mind like a comforting quilt and wrapped him in warmth and boldness.
Seth turned around and grabbed the rope to the sledge. He wrestled with the sledge and finally got it turned around. It felt tremendously light. In fact, he felt tremendously light as well. The trip back felt surprisingly easy. Seth had truly left his entire burden back at the altar. He looked forward to holding his wife in his arms, along with their new baby boy, Enoch.
Used with permission by the Author. Find the complete work online: Complete Works of Mack Samuels
