Chapter – 10 ‘Yosef makes a Discovery’
The chopper was just about to land at the mini base camp commanded by Major Cox. Sargent Valentine and Chaplin Yosef would be flying back to the HQ base camp soon, with the prisoner, before going stateside. Life out on the front lines, in battle areas was hard; most men had never been through something like it unless they had already served prior to this mission. Yosef had once been to a Boy Scout camp and had not showered except for the day prior to going home; this tour in the war zone had been weeks.
By now all of the troops in company 538 had heard the Chaplin had new orders to leave; he had become a friend and counselor to many of them and he would be missed.
Two hours later the Major had the prisoner, Valentine, and the Chaplin standing by for the flight. This was bittersweet for Yosef. He hated the war but he had become close to many of the young warriors; he wasn’t aware of the reasons behind his new assignment as he prepared to step up on the chopper.
Two days later both men were boarding a plane that would take them home to America. Once in flight the two men sat next to each other. There were another twenty soldiers also flying back to the states for one reason or another. It appeared like most of the soldiers were relieved they were leaving and would be home soon.
Valentine told the Chaplin that he and the Lord were doing ok, once again. “I’m most likely going to be flying to Israel for a civilian job. Tel Aviv is where my future employer is located and I will be going to old historic locations looking for history to be unfolded anew.” They talked for a while about some of the old biblical cities that no longer existed on the maps. He told Yosef he would be visiting his family and his former mother-in-law before departing. “She wants to talk with me. I think she has Jewish ancestors somewhere back in her linage.”
Somehow the conversation got around to Yosef and his family. Yosef’s twin sister was in Tel Aviv working as a Christian Missionary; she now worked for Gospel Missions. This was her first assignment and had hoped that she could lead hundreds of lost souls to the SAVIOR. It didn’t quite go as she had expected. Many of the lost Jews had a ‘hard heart’ as it was called. Most were of the old Mosaic faith or none at all. He told Valentine that her name was Rebekah Gorsech if he ever ran across her. Valentine nodded but did not reply.
Once landed, both were assigned to the same base but different barracks. It would take Valentine a week to be discharged; then he would be spending some time with family. Yosef would be two weeks. The recruiter was working on him to reenlist as a regular soldier. Yosef turned him down and eventually made his way back to Brooklyn and a family gathering.
Grandpa was fairly wealthy and as they sat on the porch and talked, Yosef was told that his sister and he would get the majority of his wealth. “Your father and uncle have made a sizable savings so they do not need my money. I don’t think Reuben cares about my money but there will be some just in case.” As they visited, Yosef remembered the picture of the wife and mother-in-law of Valentines. “Pops, have you ever heard the name Mar’yam Shuster? I was thinking at one time you had mentioned a name like that.” The old fella opened his eyes wide and told him that was the name of his sister’s daughter who had left home years ago. “Something fishy happened but it has been a mystery to the family.” Yosef asked, “Didn’t you have a picture of her in your box at one time?” His response was, “Yes and I still have it.”
The picture was found and Yosef studied it for some time until he told his grandpa that he had come across her present home address; it was in his notebook. “I have made quite a discovery; I was stationed with her daughter’s husband just before I came home.” The old gentleman, with excitement, told Yosef that Ruthie had not seen Mar’yam for thirty years and probably no one in the family knew she had a daughter unless it was Daniel, the oldest of Ruth’s sons. “Ruthie was married to a Shuster for just a few years before he died. She married Clem when the young’uns were still toddlers. Daniel, if he knew, is tight lipped; so no one ever heard what had become of her.”
At that very moment, in another city, Jaye Valentine was hearing his mother-in-law tell him of her family and an event that had changed her life. “I was a senior in high school; my best friend’s brother and I had met for one-night of experimentation. Mar’yam paused with a tear streaming down her cheek, “It was wrong and I’ve asked myself ‘why oh why’ a hundred times. Rex and I were overheard leaving his room by his dad and when I found out that a baby was inside me, his dad gave me money to leave town, have my baby, and bring no shame to my family. For thirty years now he has been putting money in my bank account. He was in the back row of Rachel’s and your wedding with tears running down his face. A good man; maybe my earthly guardian angel.”
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Does God arrange or cause unusual things to happen to some mortals?
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Can one event change a life?
How about the CROSS & SALVATION
Attached
Gen. 6: 8 But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord. 9 These are the records of the generations of Noah. Noah was a righteous man, blameless in his time; Noah walked with God.
Can a person be chosen to serve God who is serving in the Army?
Genesis 12: 2 And I will make you a great nation [Israel], And I will bless you, And make your name great; And so you shall be a blessing; 3 And I will bless those who bless you, And the one who curses you I will curse. And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed.” [God to Abraham]
1 Samuel 16: 1 Now the Lord said to Samuel, “How long will you grieve over Saul, since I have rejected him from being king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil and go; I will send you to Jesse the Bethlehemite, for I have selected a king for Myself among his sons.” [It was not the oldest son, but the youngest; David]
Is it time for Valentine to stop grieving?
Acts 9: 4 and he fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” 5 And he said, “Who are You, Lord?” And He said, “I am Jesus whom you are persecuting, 6 but get up and enter the city, and it will be told you what you must do.” ….15 But the Lord said to Ananias, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of Mine, to bear My name before the Gentiles and kings and the sons of Israel; etc..
[Ananias was chosen to talk, with Saul, who was chosen to teach the Gentile nations about Christ]
A few events where God choose a person..#!
Noah found favor w/God Gen 6:8-9 the Flood = 7:1-8:22 – Covenant 9:1-9:29
Gen.6:2 who were the ‘sons of God’? – Angels [fallen] from heaven?
Abram of Ur chosen Gen 12:1-16
Abraham promised a son Gen 15:4 Hagar’s son was conceived Gen 16:4
Isaac the younger got the blessing Gen. 25:11 21:12
Joseph, the 11th son Gen 41:38-49
Moses Ex.2:1-10 the baby Ex.14:16 Moses given power. Vs 21 & 26
David is chosen of God 1 Samuel 16:1-12
Paul is chosen Acts 9:1-5
DG