On the twenty-fourth day of the eleventh month, the month of Shebat, in the second year of Darius, the word of the LORD came to the prophet Zechariah son of Berechiah son of Iddo; and Zechariah said, In the night I saw a man riding on a red horse! He was standing among the myrtle trees in the glen; and behind him were red, sorrel, and white horses. Then I said, “What are these, my lord?” The angel who talked with me said to me, “I will show you what they are.” So the man who was standing among the myrtle trees answered, “They are those whom the LORD has sent to patrol the earth.” Then they spoke to the angel of the LORD who was standing among the myrtle trees, “We have patrolled the earth, and lo, the whole earth remains at peace.” Then the angel of the LORD said, “O LORD of hosts, how long will you withhold mercy from Jerusalem and the cities of Judah, with which you have been angry these seventy years?” Then the LORD replied with gracious and comforting words to the angel who talked with me. So the angel who talked with me said to me, Proclaim this message: Thus says the LORD of hosts; I am very jealous for Jerusalem and for Zion. And I am extremely angry with the nations that are at ease; for while I was only a little angry, they made the disaster worse. Therefore, thus says the LORD, I have returned to Jerusalem with compassion; my house shall be built in it, says the LORD of hosts, and the measuring line shall be stretched out over Jerusalem. Proclaim further: Thus says the LORD of hosts: My cities shall again overflow with prosperity; the LORD will again comfort Zion and again choose Jerusalem. Zechariah 1:7-17
Dear Elizabeth,
We have had some exciting days of late. Joseph is living in our house all the time and there has been much back and forth about the authorities. The men talk about the hardships of living in occupied territory and the demands this foreign government makes on our people. This has been our home for countless generations and yet we have no say over it. Joseph and Papa have gone to the government offices several times to plead our case, but the local Roman man will not hear our case. He finally told Joseph that if we did not go to Bethlehem very soon, we could both be put into jail. He didn't care that I was with child and told Joseph that he should have kept his hands off me! Papa and Joseph came back home so angry and so broken. I reminded them, when they finally calmed down, that the Creator had sent this child, and the Creator will certainly keep us safe. I couldn't believe I said that because I don't feel that confident!
Anyway, we are making hasty preparations. Papa has found us a burro who can carry me and supplies as we go. Making is crazy in the kitchen, cooking breads and cakes and drying fruits and meats. Papa has also been reaching out to distant family and friends to ask for them to accommodate us along the road. Our family in Bethlehem have no room but they assured us that there are plenty of inns in town. Joseph has set aside money for that, and he and Papa are pouring over maps to find a good route that is not main highways. They both fear reprisal from local folks, so we will mostly travel at night.
I pray for you comfort and safety in your last days before delivery. And, I ask you for your prayers for my peace as well. God is doing a new thing with us, I know. Yet carrying the new work of the Creator is tremendously challenging! We will continue to be comfort and support to one another.
Much love,
Mary
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