I had a serious problem.  Because I never paid much attention in church as a kid it was hard for me to remember key points of the Bible.  What I could recall were vague associations, but more clearly the famous stories.

For example, I knew the story of Moses and him bringing the Israelite’s out of Egypt.  The problem I have is that I cannot place it in time nor connect all the events preceding that.  I also knew that Abraham was the start of those people.  In between could be any number of years.

As I sat in front of Liu I knew two things.  First was my promise to Abraham to be with Isaac.  Secondly is that at some point that family would end up in Egypt.  I had no plans on going into Egypt to be a slave.  Liu could offer me something.

“Have you discovered the use of bronze?” I asked Liu.
“We are just now trying to adapt it to our uses.  Fu Xi is where we learned of it for he employs it against us constantly.” Liu replied.

“What if I could give you something stronger.  It is a material that can break bronze.  I do not have enough to supply armies.  Nevertheless, there is enough to arm men that can strike directly at Fu Xi and remove him.”  I offered.

For a moment light returned to Liu’s eyes.  He sat sipping his tea as he contemplated the idea.  In his letter to me that was sent to Isaac he had mentioned desiring to start a new life.  Clearly that new life was not here with us.

If I remembered properly, it would be the Shang dynasty which would replace the Xia after conquering them.  What I was witnessing was a natural part of history.  Yet I am left once again confused.

I remembered the conversation I had with Shem many years ago about the seeds which Noah had given me.  I had planted those seeds.  Later Shem told me those seeds were for what I knew to be Sequoia trees.  From my perspective of time, those trees existed long before I was sent here.

The question to be answered in my mind was which came first?  Me or the trees?  Sitting with Shem that day by his fire, I remember we laughed a bit but neither of us could understand nor know that answer.  So again, here I am in a similar quandary.

“I will accept on one condition.  You teach us to forge it and then train my leading men in your strategies of war.” Liu stated.
“I accept on one condition.  Inform Cheng Tang whom you serve to reserve good land and a home for me that will last for one thousand years.” I replied.

Realistically no one expects a home or land to remain for one thousand years.  The amount of time was irrelevant.  Rather it was the point that for as long as I am remembered by their people I could come and go as I please without issues.

Nathan looked at me a little suspiciously.  He knew I was up to something.  He and Jared were trading stares and Liu noticed.  I am not sure how Liu interpreted this, but it couldn’t have been bad.

“I accept” Liu stated.

I am glad he did.  At this camp was somewhere between five hundred to a thousand armed men ready for conflict.  I have no doubt on their journey here they would not be seen as an innocent caravan.  Nor did I hold illusions that their passage here was completely innocent.  You cannot move this many people without creating problems.

Lessons From Early Travels

The people of Liu most likely came from Ham’s line as well.  As time continued to go forward and the inability to test genetic markers, knowing a lineage can become challenging.  The degree of intermarriage between various cultures is critically understated.

What I did know was that the people Liu represented were one of the earlier migrations which predated Nimrod and the episode at Babel.  Meanwhile Fu Xi and his people migrated after the confusion at Babel.

What is unfolding in their lands is a story which takes place across the world.  Those who left Babel were more technologically advanced.  What takes place next is always what happens when a technologically superior people encounter one with less advancement.  They in one way or another enslave them or colonize them.

Fu Xi was not one of the more benevolent encounters.  He is a horrible individual that ruled by fear and terror.  Others who disbursed throughout the world at the same time did not always seek to destroy.  The story of those more advanced in Sundaland are an example.

Meanwhile the Aztecs would eventually become a similar story which made these early people their gods.  This is in part how the influence of Nimrod continued to spread throughout the world.  He brought the birth of paganism globally.  Fu Xi is merely the last of the truly darker characters in time.

My choice to help Liu was more than to save our own necks from being shanghaied back to China.  There was a genuine need their people faced that they did not have the means to deal with.

Uncovering The Past

We journeyed to where the Ark once rested.  I never thought I would return to this place again.  On this return the location appeared nothing like it once did.  The burn marks in the ground were erased.  The remnants of what did remain were long gone.

I remembered cold nights here in freezing storms with Noah’s sons.  Now it was blazing heat by day, very little to no vegetation, and a mountain that appeared half frozen above what would be its uppermost tree line.  The Earth itself had at last stabilized itself since the flood.

Nathan and Jared would lead Liu’s men to the cave where the ore from the Ark had been hidden.  I on the other hand had other plans.  I dismounted my horse and walked to where the Ark once rested.  There I sat on the ground and began to think on the past.

A short while later while looking at the surrounding landscape my head began pounding.  I laid back on the ground and began to stare into the blue sky.  Suddenly from no where darkness came, sounds drifted into the distance.  It was like being asleep while being awake.  I could hear nothing, see nothing, and feel nothing.

Echoes Across Time

I was frozen in terror.  I was trying to move but couldn’t.  Slowly my vision began to return albeit blurry at first.  Sound as well yet muffled and garbled at the beginning.  My head felt like it was put into a giant nutcracker and someone was squeezing it.

It was then that instantly all of that was gone.  Everything became so sharp and clear.  Sitting across from me was a man clothed in a way I had not seen in a very long time.  It reminded me of seeing Shem and the boys the first time.

The sky above me was so clear and the stars all twinkling.  The twinkle I witnessed was not due to normal atmospheric disruptions.  Rather it was like a shimmering.  It was as if there was a barrier in the sky between the Earth and space.

I then noticed that the stars did not look right.  The alignment seemed off.  I attempted to account for this, the only possibility was the axis of the Earth itself was different from what I knew.

“Hello Clay.” The man said.
“Who are you?” I asked.
“My name is Enoch.” He replied.
“Where am I?  Am I dead?” I asked half hopeful it was true.

He began to laugh.  It was then I recognized his size was comparable to that of what Noah was.  He also held that similar deep voice with a hearty laugh.

“No, you are not dead.  Breathe the air, touch the ground, feel the warmth of the fire.  You are very much alive.” He said.

“So, why am I here?” I felt like I was losing my mind again.
“Do you know the story of Cain?” He asked.
“Vaguely yes.  He killed his brother, didn’t he?”
“Yes, he did.  Do you know why?”
“No.” I replied.

“Clay, two offerings were made.  One from the ground, the other a sacrifice in blood.  One was rejected, the other pleased God.  Do you know which was rejected?” Enoch inquired.

“I would assume whichever one was Cain’s.” I stated.
He laughed once again staring at me in the eyes as if I was a curiosity.
“One is born from an effort of labor, the other a willing innocent sacrifice of life.” He said staring into my soul.

There was a very brief moment where he paused.  That pause seemed like an eternity though.  It was as if the Earth itself was standing still.  His gaze never wavered.

“You believe that you will never be good enough.  You think that you can not measure up.  What you believe is right.  You never will be.”  Enoch stated.
“Well, thank you for that vote of confidence.  It’s not really helping.” I replied.

“What effort do you have that can be given to a righteous God?” He asked.
“Apparently I am nothing.” I was starting to get angry.
“Then why not accept the only perfect sacrifice which was already made for you?”

Enoch’s last question pricked me.  I don’t know who this guy is, but I could tell that there was something about him that was different from Noah.  It was like an air of authority which wasn’t of this world.

“You wander through time like a vagabond.  You bear a mark across the lands while seeing the truth in front of your eyes.  You dangle on a thread ready to be cut while swinging between life and death.” He continued.

I had almost had enough.  I know I am confused.  I know that I am not perfect.  From early in life I was always forced into a box of choice.

“Enoch, tell me why God wants to force everyone to choose Him, or else?” I asked.

His gaze at me changed.  It wasn’t anger.  Rather, it was pity.  I realized then how dumb my question was.  That question was built on a lot of emotions instead of the realization of what I had been living through.

“The God who hung the worlds did so for His pleasure so that He could have you.  Yet here you are unable to see all that exists is already His, except you.  If you do not choose Him, then you must exist without Him and all that He possesses.”  Enoch replied.

He then looked into the fire.  His gaze on it was intent and meaningful.  It was then the statement came full circle.  If God possessed all things as His, and I do not choose Him, I am left with nothing.

“Everything He gives is a gift.  All good things are from Him.  Yet you must accept what is given Clay, it is not earned.”

He turned His head to look back at me.  Those eyes words just cannot capture.  My head began to swirl.  My body began to ache like it had electricity flowing through it.  The darkness came again.  No sound.  Then it was once again the blue sky.

I was laying on the ground looking up at the sky.  I could hear Nathan in the distance calling my name.  I shouted back for him.  He came running to my side.

“Clay!  Where were you?  Weve been looking for you for hours!”
“Apparently time traveling again.” I said.
“Come on, lets go.  We have the ore.” Nathan replied.

In the coming years we would spend time teaching Liu how to forge our iron.  While limited in supply it was enough to create a special group capable of giving them a chance to reach Fu Xi.  In addition to this, we would spend years training them.  We also took the opportunity to allow them to train and teach us.

It was a good exchange by which we were also rewarded in other material means such as gold.  As those days were winding down, Liu granted me twenty of his men to remain with me.  This is how friendships are forged that can be remembered across time.

As was customary in the old ways, a name plaque was given to me with the seal of Cheng Tang.  This seal would grant me access to their lands and an audience if I ever needed.  It was at last time to return home.

The moments I had with Enoch stood out in my mind throughout all of this.  His words ringing in my ears each and every day.  After that day I never revisited the old Ark site again.  There was a part of me that was on fire deep inside.  I felt like I was about to break into a million pieces.  I was the glass that was falling waiting for its impact on the floor.