I wanted to dive into the cloud covering bar Levi but I felt immobilized and as though my six feet were firmly glued to the menorah. What was going on in there? My curiosity was pushing against its limits. Though I had never seen it before, the cloud was strongly familiar. Why? Think; think----. Wait; hadn't God manifested himself to the ancients as a pillar of cloud to lead them by day in the desert? Of course; you knew that, Noah. But, old boy, you can't be faulted for being confused. After all, how often have you been in the presence of God before? Well, everyday, sort of, as a matter of fact. Yes, that's true but------. Stop! Quit arguing with yourself before your brain turns to porridge. Maybe if you'd noticed bar Levi's slippers were out from under the cloud you wouldn't have become so befuddled.
"Tell me, son of Levi, do the rich, the powerful and the leaders of my people treat them well? Do they have compassion for the weak, the sick, the elderly, the poor, the children and those on the fringes of society?
"You know, Lord."
"I am quite aware of what I know. I'm asking for your observations."
"My observations lead me to say there is little or no compassion forthcoming from those in control. They desire recognition in the marketplace and the Temple and hearing their name praised is precious to their ears. How they love being pointed out on the streets as someone of importance. They expect the highest seats at feast tables and they never tire of seeking after this world's goods."
"Just as I have noticed. Do you think I may require too much from my children?"
"No, Lord," bar Levi replied. "Your prophet Micah said, 'He has shown you, O man, what is good: And what does the Lord require of you but to do justly, to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God?' If we do these things we keep the covenant and the Law."
"Yet," the Lord said with a sigh, "Israel has apparently found that doing these three things consistently is much too difficult for them. To do them requires change and personal sacrifice. This they are not willing to do. In the first place it requires an admission that they need to change. They would be insulted at the suggestion that anything in their lives is wrong. They would say they 'are children of Abraham' as though that entitled them to do as they pleased.
They have not heeded my prophets. Time after time Israel has called out to me in their distress. When I answered and delivered them they promised to obey Me but instead they soon drifted off into idol worship and concerns for their own affairs."
"But," bar Levi said. "When Messiah comes all that will change for the better. They will finally become the people who will be worthy of you. The people will welcome Messiah with praise and adoration. Love, peace and compassion will abound throughout the world. Each person, to the farthest edges of society, will have significance in the eyes of his neighbor because they will know they are all equal in the sight of God and are all loved equally by You."
For several minutes, but what seemed an hour to bar Levi, there was no response to his glowing forecast. He felt his enthusiasm slowly fading as a sense of foreboding took its place. It was not to be. Then the Lord spoke
"You are to say no more to your colleagues or to Noah about Jesus," the Lord said. "Jesus will declare himself in due time. Eventually, Noah will play his part; minor and seemingly insignificant though it will be. In the meantime, though he has memorized the Scriptures, guide him in depth through the writings of Moses and the other prophets. Do not force-feed him. Let him arrive at his own conclusions.
Until just before Noah's death, he has been loaned a mind, will and emotions. In other words: a soul. Now he has a voice and, generally, those of his kind who have heard him speak, want nothing to do with him. He is different and other flies, without understanding, become frightened, angered or threatened by his strange utterances. The majority are indifferent, they ignore him and go about their lives as usual. Noah is not defeated in his loneliness and rejection. He soon realized where his abilities came from and submitted himself to Me and dedicated himself to learning My ways. I am more pleased with that than all burnt offerings and the works of ten thousand who cry 'Lord, Lord,' but who have yet to seek and abide in My ways. Nurture Noah. One year from now I want him to be studying the Messiah prophecies of Isaiah."
"I hear and will obey, Lord," bar Levi said.
From my perch on the menorah I saw the cloud suddenly evaporate. Al bar Levi stood, his back to me, head lowered. After a moment or two he raised his head, slid his feet back into his slippers and turned toward me. I was not prepared for the sight of the golden glow covering his face and his brilliantly shining eyes. I almost lost my grip on the candelabra.
"Noah," bar Levi said in a voice saturated with awe. "I've been in the very presence of God."
Overcome by bar Levi's appearance and the powerful holy aura still in the room I blurted out: "What did He look like?"
"I only heard His voice. Otherwise I would be stretched out dead on the floor."
"How foolish of me," I said sheepishly. "I knew that." I felt like kicking myself with all six of my legs. "Can you share anything He said?"
"Yes. You are to diligently study the scriptures with my guidance Together, we shall extract the full meaning of God's words."
"I'm ready."
"In all fairness you should know that, when the time comes, you will be bereft of your extraordinary
abilities. You will die as an ordinary fly," bar Levi said, a hint of sadness in his voice.
"I am not the least bit dissuaded," I replied. "Nor do I have any regrets. I understand who I am in God. He knows me by name and He cares about me individually. What more could I ask from the gift of life He has given me? I rejoice in the certainty that I am part of God's plan."
"Noah; you have more wisdom in your tiny body than in most of Israel," bar Levi said quietly.
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