Chapter 1: Waiting for the Messiah

Sarah woke to find her husband, Joshua, was not next to her. She was not sure what awoke her but she looked around in the faint morning light. She checked in the other bedroom where all the children were fast asleep. Though she was eager to look for Joshua, she resisted the urge to go outside her home and instead took time to pull the covers over little Martha.

Like always, she was sleeping without covers, away from her elder sister Naomi, who lay there cuddled by herself. Martha could catch a chill thought Sarah so tucked her back inside.

Before leaving the room, Sarah lovingly glanced at the other cot where her two sons slept blissfully, both cozy under the sheepskin covering. Then she stepped outside and looked around in the dawn. She saw the silhouette of Joshua sitting on a log looking at the vast meadows just outside their fencing. Their house was on an incline from where they could see for miles.

Sarah waited near the house, reluctant to disturb her husband who obviously wanted the solitude. But then he turned around, sensing her presence so she sat down next to him. Both sat in comfortable silence as the sun rose, colouring the sky in all the hues of red and gold.

Still watching the horizon, Joshua told his wife, "Sarah, I wonder when the messiah will come as promised to us. Sometimes I think, maybe, we will see him. I often feel we are on the threshold of something big. It had been years since Israel has seen a prophet and people have almost stopped waiting for the Messiah to come."

Still looking ahead, Joshua continued as if speaking to himself, "I feel it's time for God's promise to be fulfilled. I am a small man, just a shepherd not like the Pharisees who know about such things. But in God's eyes all of us are as important as the other."

Looking a little surprised but smiling, Sarah said, "I too have these feelings, like something huge is about to happen, not like a premonition but more like a pleasant phenomenon to look forward too.” Sarah was a devout woman who took care of the family and taught her four children the traditions of Jewish religion between chores. The morning quiet was broken when the sheep moved around and started bleating.

Sarah heard the cry of a child from the house and the spell that held the couple broke. She rushed inside to check. It was little David who was sitting up crying. “Hush baby, go back to sleep”, Sarah patted him. After David had gone back to sleep, Sarah got a pot from the kitchen. She had to get water from the well to prepare the morning meal and for washing.

Later she would wake up Naomi to help in the household chores. She smiled as she thought of Naomi, her eldest child who at fourteen had already entered puberty. Soon she would be old enough to marry.

How time flies, she thought. Just the other day, Naomi was dashing around the meadows, running after the sheep, shrieking as she ran, and now she is almost a grown up woman. Sarah remembered the many times that Naomi has scattered the sheep with her wild screams and sprints with arms spread wide. Now the girl was changing, growing more responsible as she grew up, though she still had the tomboy in her.

Sarah made a mental note of the things she needed to get done as she drew water from the well. She had to light the wood in the fireplace and prepared the bread. “Here take the milk”, said Joshua, “the sheep are not giving as much milk as they did earlier. I think a few of them are also pregnant.”

Sarah poured the milk into a pan to heat later. Sarah liked to ensure Joshua ate something before he went off with the sheep to the pastures so she always cooked something solid in the morning. She stopped for a minute to look around and admire the beauty of the place. The grass near their small coarse but cosy dwelling was all eaten bare by the couple of hundred sheep they owned so for miles near their house the land was bare. But it still looked green and was a beautiful sight.

Though there was a pleasant breeze blowing, Sarah’s nose picked up the overpowering smell of sheep as they flocked outside their enclosure. The sheep were hungry and ready to trample for miles in search of pasture. When she saw the sheep coming out of their enclosure, Sarah hurried inside the house with her third pail of water, she still had to heat the milk and bake the bread before Joshua left.

On her way to the kitchen, Sarah peeked inside the bedroom and called out, “Wake up Naomi, its morning. Your father has been up for hours. He might leave early. Come on, sleepy head, wake up”, said Sarah.

“Wash up and come to the kitchen as soon as you can, I need you to help”.

Inside the kitchen Sarah kneaded the flour for the bread. As the wood burned to a nice glow and the smoke reduced after the initial burst, Sarah put the milk pan to heat just as Naomi entered the kitchen, rubbing her sleepy eyes.

Smiling at her lovely daughter, Sarah said, “Come on girl, get me the iron pan, I want to get the bread ready before your father leaves. I just wish he would eat properly. He could do with a little meat on his bones.”

But Naomi’s body was still in sleep mode. She mumbled, “Oh mama, you worry unnecessarily, papa is fine. Anyway, what did you ask for, I didn't hear you”.

Giving her daughter a faintly annoyed look, Sarah repeated, “Iron pan, I want to cook the bread.” So fetching the thick iron pan, Naomi said,“Here you are, don’t get angry so early in the morning.” But Sarah was not angry; she was just feigning anger to get Naomi moving.

Mother and daughter made the bread together as Sarah hummed an old tune and Naomi joined her mother in the song with her sweet voice. Preparing to serve her father, Naomi poured the hot milk in an earthen cup and got a plate ready to put the bread as soon as it was baked. Both looked up as soon as they heard Joshua calling from outside.

“Sarah, I am leaving, today I want to reach before the other shepherds so that our sheep get the best of the grass”, shouted Joshua, in his strong clear voice. His voice did not sound harsh like so many other shepherds whose voices had become gruff with all the shouting they did.

Before he could leave, Naomi rushed outside. “Wait papa, I have milk and bread ready. I will fetch it in a minute.” She ran and was back with the milk in one hand and the plate with the hot loaf of bread in the other. Joshua smiled at his daughter who was growing up so fast. He sat on the log as Naomi placed the cup and the plate on the wooden table in the centre. It served as a place where the family often sat down to talk and sometimes to eat as well.

Both sat together as Naomi watched her father. He was not such a handsome man but he had the gentle looks of a kind man who was pleasant enough to look at without being striking. Joshua ate his simple meal without a fuss and without wasting time.

He got up, patted his daughter on her head and said, “Be a good girl and help your mother. Also ask Rueben to check with the weaver. The sheep have grown their wool again”.

“So soon?”

“Yes, we need to shave them before the summer sets in or the sheep with fret in the hot weather. I want to know when he wants us to deliver the wool”, said Joshua.

Before leaving, Joshua called Sarah out and gave her a light hug. He waved at them and began herded the sheep towards the meadows. Naomi watched her father as they left. As they got further away the overwhelming smell of sheep began to fade. While she was still standing gazing around, she heard someone moving behind her and guessed that her brother, Rueben had woken up. Normally he woke up along with her but today he had overslept and she had let him sleep a little more. After all Rueben was just twelve but he took himself far too seriously, she thought.

Young Rueben took upon himself the role of the man of the house whenever his father was out tending the sheep. Lately, Rueben had also started to help his father. He took up odd jobs for some extra money. He also went to the synagogue to learn Jewish customs and traditions which were required of all Jewish men.

“Good morning sister. Is that papa leaving?” he asked.

“Yes, he was up early. Mama told me he woke up when it was still dark. Papa told me that you need to go to Bethlehem to ask Obed, the weaver whether he wants wool. We have to shave the sheep before summer sets in”.

Continuing, Naomi said, “Why don’t you go before noon to avoid the heat of the day so that you can return before sunset”.

Rueben went to the wash place near the well to freshen up. After he finished he wiped his face. “I can also fetch some molasses for old man Simon. He told me to get some a couple of days ago but I waited till I had to go to the town for some other work.”

Rueben said, “I will ask mama if she wants me to buy something for the house. Hey both David and Martha are still asleep. Let me wake them up. The sun is already high up.”

Rueben walked towards the kitchen in the back of the house. His mother was in the process of baking more bread. He could smell the aroma of freshly baked bread. He asked his mother, “Do you want me to get you anything from Bethlehem? I am going there to ask Obed uncle when he would like us to deliver the wool. I will also get molasses for old man Simon.”

Turning to leave, he said, “I will wake up David and Martha and get them to wash up. By then I guess food will be ready”.

Sarah replied, “Ok, but don’t delay as the bread is almost done and it is always better to eat when it is still hot.”

Rueben went to the bedroom. He tried to wake up his younger siblings, “Wake up sleepy heads, the sun is shining bright and mama is making fresh bread.” When they did not stir, he shook Martha, and playfully told her, “Sis, you are always saying you will get up when it is still dark but here you are busy sleeping.”

When she still did not awake, he teased, “Look! The sun has risen so high. Aren’t you all grown up now? You must get up early.Now open your eyes.”

He also shook David but instead of waiting for him to get up, he picked him up and walked outside. Martha sat on the bed, rubbing her eyes. Rueben put his brother down besides the well and started washing his face even though David has his eyes shut tight while standing up. But Rueben knew his little brother was just being stubborn and would wake up when he splashed water on his face. David always got very angry when Rueben woke him up that way.

Martha also washed up and was ready for a cup of milk. Sarah served both him and David hot milk and bread and also gave them a dollop of butter. She called out for Naomi who was cleaning the rooms.

Rueben got dressed and was ready to leave for the village. Sarah asked him to get some flour, oil and also molasses. Rueben took along his stick, which was normal for people to carry in those days, but for a boy of twelve, it did look silly. Sarah looked at Rueben carrying his stick and she smiled indulgently. She said, “Be careful on the way and do not waste time. Return straight after finishing all the work. I want you back before its dark, do you understand?”

Rueben smiled, “Don’t worry mama, I am a big boy. I will do all the work and return safely.”

All the other children also came out to bid Rueben farewell as he walked away. When he was a few yards away, Naomi called out, “Rueben please check whether my friend, Hannah is back from her uncle’s place. It has been days and she has still not returned.”
Rueben said, “Ok sis, I will do that”.