Joël Muller - Esther and Other Stories From the Bible: The Old Testament

This book is published by ditions Caramel.

Texts: Jol Muller

Artworks: Roger De Klerk

Edited by: Jean-Michel dOultremont et Galia Lami Dozo Van der Kar

Copyediting: Lela Bernard

The people had suffered many hardships: war, captivity, exile in foreign lands, and the cruelty of the invaders

To give back some courage to the people, priests told them tales filled with hope and life. Like the tale of Job. Job was a just and good man who led a peaceful life surrounded by his many children. He was rich and owned superb flocks until the day when Satan (the spirit of evil) told God You call Job your servant? If he loves you, it is thanks to your goodness! Take his goods away and he will curse you!

God answered the devil:
Try, we shall see.

Brutally, Job lost everything he had. His flocks were stolen, a storm destroyed his house and his children all died. Crushed in pain, Job did not complain and said, The Lord had given; the Lord has taken back, blessed be the name of the Lord! Satan went back to see God and hissed, If Job was ill, this time he would curse you!

God replied:
Try, but dont make him die

Some days later, Jobs entire body was covered with horrible spots from head to toes. Seeing him, people were afraid and chased him away. For only refuge, Job found a waste dump to live, but still would not curse God. His friends came to see him, persuaded that he must have sinned to meet with such fate God always punishes the bad and rewards the just. You must be a great sinner to suffer in this way!

Job was despaired and wondered why he had been born, why was God sending him all these woes. He spoke to God What have I done wrong?

The entire world abandons me! Yet, at the bottom of my heart, I love you My Lord, and I still hope.

God answered Job:
Look at the world and all that lives on earth. All these things that I created are beyond you. How can you understand where evil and suffering come from?

Job bowed before God You are the Highest and accepted to come and see me. From this day forward, I shall simply trust you and will no longer try to understand everything. God gave Job back twice as much as he had taken from him: a large family, a house and many herds. Thanks to God, Job was going to live a new life, a new happiness.

A man called Jonas lived a happy peaceful life, without minding anyone elses business. He enjoyed living in silence, observing nature and hated being disturbed by others. Jonas liked being alone. One day, He heard a calling from God Jonas, the inhabitants of the city of Nineveh are too evil! Go and tell them that their evilness and violence will finish them! Tell them that I know their hearts and see their sins!

But Jonas did not feel like obeying God and said, Why must I always be disturbed?

Please leave me alone! God insisted but Jonas refused to go to such a distant city of foreigners who did not even belong to the people of God! No I shall not go! he thought and he went to the docks. He went near the boats that were about to leave. He was told the various destinations and arranged to go on the opposite direction to Nineveh to escape God. But it is impossible to hide anything away from God, who sent a violent storm at sea. The ship where Jonas was hiding was shaken from all sides. He was about to drown. The terrified sailors did not understand where the storm was coming from. They decided to draw to know who is responsible for such disaster. Fate pointed Jonas who went up on the deck and said, I know its my fault, it always is. Throw me to the sea, the storm will die down and youll be saved!

The sailors lifted Jonas over the ship and plunged him in the waters. There, a surprising phenomenon took place: when Jonas had his legs in the water, the storm calmed down. But when the sailors lifted him out of the water, and his legs were no longer submerged, the storm raged once again. Jonas then told them Throw me in the sea or you will die drowning! After hesitating for a long while, the sailors finally agreed and let Jonas drown at the bottom of the water. A gigantic whirlpool took him to the bottom of the sea. Jonas was getting ready to die. It was all over.

When the sailors saw Jonas taken away by the waves, they started praying and ask forgiveness to Jonas God. As Jonas was about to touch the bottom of the sea, a huge whale swallowed him whole without harming him. Jonas stayed three days and three nights in the whales belly. He lamented, imploring God. His remorse and prayer pleased God, who ordered the whale to spit him out on land. Jonas slowly came to. He then thanked the Lord I was in danger of death and you came to get me. I called and you heard me! You sent me this whale to protect and save me!

Then, God called Jonas again and asked him to go to Nineveh, capital city of the Assyrian empire. This time, Jonas did not squabble and walked to the city. The journey lasted several days.

The inhabitants of Nineveh lived in sin: they had no respect for others, unfaithful, they stole, killed Jonas paced the streets of Nineveh. He claimed, In forty days, Nineveh will be destroyed! The inhabitants started being scared and took Jonas threat very seriously.

The king of Nineveh was very surprised but listened to Jonas, as he knew the bad reputation of the inhabitants of his country. Jonas shouted increasingly loudly Just another few days and everything will be destroyed because of your sins! God knows your wicked hearts. To show God that they regretted what they had done, the inhabitants started fasting, covered themselves in huge black bags and coated their bodies with ashes to repent and mourn their sins. The king covered himself with a bag. He left his throne and palace to sit on the ashes.

A huge dark cloud was approaching Nineveh. The wind started building up, becoming increasingly violent. Everyone trembled with fear and got down on their knees in the streets. The storm went over the city without making any casualties. The bags, hoods and ashes flew away with the wind. Sunlight and bright light came and lit up the sky. God had refrained from destroying Nineveh, as he had understood that the people regretted their past evil actions and asked forgiveness; the people thanked God and had a great feast. The people decided to do good deeds every day. Seeing this Jonas got very angry with God Why did you put me through this hardship to refrain from destroying the city? This is exactly why I refused to listen to you at first! I knew that you were a tender God who always forgives. You are slow to anger, filled with love and renounced punishment. Now I look ridiculous in this city! I want to die!