Michael's Protection

XXIV
Michael's Protection

AFTER THEY left Jerusalem, a fiery cloud swept over their wagons and the Archangel Michael appeared in it.
He spread out his wings and was their guide to Ethiopia.
It was a supernatural journey, for no man hauled his wagon, with the entire caravan, both man and beast, raised above the ground to the height of at least a dozen inches.
Everyone travelled in wagons like a ship on the sea when the wind blows and like a bat through the air and like an eagle when his body glides above the wind!

They halted at Gaza, Makeda's city, and from there they arrived at Mesrin, on the Egyptian border in one day. The entourage was amazed for the distance usually was a 13-day march and they weren't tired or thirsty.
They all believed that this thing was from God.
The wagons rested at the Nile and they set up their tents.
Ibna Hakim looked around and was baffled by the events.
"I don't understand any of this," he said to Azariah.
"Can we tell you something?" Azariah asked, adding, "Can you keep a secret?"
"Certainly, I can keep a secret. I'll keep it to the day I die."
Azariah, being the group's leader, said: "The sun descended from heaven and was given on Sinai to Israel and it became the salvation of the race of Adam from Moses to the seed of Jesse and behold it is with us by the will of God. It's not through us that this has been done, but by the will of God. The will of God has fashioned it and made it happen.
"God has chosen you and is well pleased with your city to be the servant of the holy and heavenly Zion, the Tabernacle of the Law of God and it will be your guide forever, to you and your seed after you if you will keep His command and perform the will of the Lord your God. For you will not be able to take it back, even you wanted to and your father, Solomon, can't seize it, even if he wanted to, for it goes on its own free will where it wants to and can't be removed from its seat if it doesn't desire it. And now, it's our salvation and our place of refuge"
Azariah signalled to Elyas and said to him: "Go, take the Ark out of the lead wagon and put the proper covering over her.
Ibna Hakim was in shock.
"What does this mean? Did you steal it?" he gasped, barely able to breathe.
Then he looked towards heaven and said, "Have you, O Lord, remembered us, the outcasts?"
The High Priest then took off the great covering and there lay the golden container, glistening in the early African sun. Ibna Hakim began to yelp and dance around it just like his grandfather, David, had so many years before. It was contagious. Soon all Azariah's group joined in, stomping their feet like young bulls, clapping their hands and stretching their hands skyward and then casting themselves on the ground and giving thanks to God.
Then circling the Ark, Ibna Hakim said, "Behold Zion, behold salvation, behold the splendor like the sun."
Suddenly, his words flowed out of his mouth in a strange language and those that listened were astonished, believing they were hearing a prophet.

In Egypt, the Ethiopians blew horns and beat the drums as they continued their journey down the Nile and as they went the idols of men, dogs and cats as well as the obelisks fell down and broke into pieces before the wagon carrying the Ark.
The Egyptians were amazed as they watched the Ethiopians passing before them like shadows.
Finally, they reached the borders of their beloved country -- Ethiopia.