Unholy Empire: Chronicles of the Host, Vol 2: Chronicles of the Host, Book 2

by D. Brian Shafer

  “Hold, archangel,” demanded Rugio. “We are not here to discuss the liberated angels. We are here to watch the demise of Moses. And mark me! Lucifer shall have him one day as a trophy.”

  Before Michael could answer Rugio, Moses began to speak to the people. Kara listened with great interest, keeping an eye on certain faces in the crowd. He particularly watched Korah and Dathan, reading their reactions to Moses’ every word.

  “Hear the word of the Lord!” shouted Moses. The people finally were silent enough that Moses might be able to speak to them. Even Lucifer was impressed with the authority Moses carried when he spoke under the Lord’s anointing.

  “Every day since leaving the hardship of Egypt you have grumbled at me and Aaron. Many of you have called us traitors or charlatans. Others have said it would be better to return to Egypt—and some in fact have. But I must warn you that it is neither Aaron or me against whom you grumble. You grumble against the Lord God Almighty!” At these words, a column of fire—the glory of the living God—burst in magnificent brilliance within the cloud over the desert. Many people fell on their knees. Others began to pray aloud, begging the Lord to forgive their murmuring.

  Chronicles of the Host

  Provision and Law

  Moses explained to the people that from that day forward the Lord would provide for all families a daily portion of bread from Heaven—something called “manna,” which in the Hebrew tongue means “what is this?” Crispin told us that the only possibility of survival for these rather coarse people was their dependence upon the Most High. The manna was a lesson in God’s grace of provision, if not in humility. Every family was allowed just what was needed for one day’s provision. However, on the sixth day, which the Lord had blessed, the people were allowed to take a double portion—so they would not violate the sanctity of the seventh day, which God had made holy and a day of rest. What a marvelous significance this would eventually take on—but more on that subject later in the Chronicles.

  Indeed the grace of God poured forth upon the people every day, as the manna from Heaven sustained them in their desert sojourn. But the people continued to wonder where Moses was taking them, and we angels also were curious as to when they would finally enter the land given to them through Abraham.

  Mt. Sinai

  When the people arrived at Mt. Sinai, Moses announced that God wanted to meet with him on the mountain—to give Moses further instructions as to the nation’s destiny. Leaving the people under Aaron’s charge, Moses went up to meet the Lord, whose glory had descended upon the mountain.

  And so it was that at Sinai the Most High introduced His people to His law—chiefly in the Ten Great Commandments, which He gave to Moses on stone tablets. The law would set the people apart from every other nation, and would distinguish forever the God of Abraham from all gods everywhere.

  For the Host, the introduction of the law provided a measure of hope that perhaps now the people of God might begin to respond to the Lord in a proper manner. It also meant that the prophecy given to Abraham—that all the world should be blessed through his seed—was advancing rapidly, for now the people were distinguished from all peoples by the holy law of God!

  For our enemy, the law represented another opportunity to reveal the corrupt nature of mankind—a means of tripping up the plan of God by encouraging a shortfall of the law’s provisions. And indeed, given mankind’s poor record thus far as seen in the bloody history of the earth, it was no wonder that the enemy was encouraged by a code of conduct, which they believed man would never be able to live up to.

  None of us could have known, however, that the law of the Most High was never intended to lead man, but to point him to something else…something far greater than law…

  “Why is it that the Most High must always create these magnificent effects?” asked Berenius, as the cloud continued to emanate the glory of God from the top of Mount Sinai. He stood with Lucifer, Pellecus, and several other of Lucifer’s highest-ranking angels just outside the camp, watching the towering and fiery billow.

  “Because humans love the spectacular, Berenius,” said Pellecus, uncomfortable with being so near God’s Presence. “Haven’t you noticed how often Moses refers to the wonders the Lord performed in Egypt? With these hard-hearted people, unless the Most High performs something spectacular, and then reminds the people of what He has done, they will forget Him. Quite pathetic, to be sure.”

  “Or brilliant,” said Lucifer, entranced by the cloud of glory. “The Lord knows that by reminding the people of what He has done for them he is establishing a record of trust—something on which they may hang their faith.”

  “Well, Moses is certainly taking his time with the Lord,” said Rugio, a little bored by it all. “Perhaps he is not even up there. Perhaps he is doing all of this simply to strengthen his position among the people.”

  “That’s ridiculous, Rugio,” said Kara. “Of course Moses is meeting the Lord.”

  “And how would you know this?” fumed Rugio. “Your demons couldn’t get through to Moses on Sinai any more than my warriors. I was going to finish him as he climbed but was unable to get near even the base of that place.”

  Kara gave Rugio a cold stare.

  “Enough!” said Lucifer. “Rugio makes a good point. Of course Moses has only been gone for a few weeks. But to these humans he seems to have delayed on the mountain for an interminable period of time.”

  “What are you thinking, my prince?” asked Rugio, eager to make a move against Moses at long last.

  “Just this, my warrior,” said Lucifer, looking at his most dedicated demon, then at them all. “Delay, to a human mind, often leads to impatience. It causes a break in trust, foolish decisions, and idiotic choosing. Perhaps delay even leads to searching for the divine in more earthly places.”

  He stood up, his silhouette painting a dark figure in the blazing mountain display behind him. For a moment he turned and looked toward the mountain, but could not bear the light long. He then turned and faced the others.

  “So…what are you saying, my lord?” asked Pellecus, who found it difficult to look in Lucifer’s direction with the brilliance of the Lord blazing behind him.

  “I believe, Pellecus, that these people are due for a foolish decision!”

  “My lord?” asked Pellecus.

  “Don’t you see?” Lucifer asked. “These people are on the brink. It won’t be long until they fall of their own accord. All they need is a little stimulus…something to drive them…to catch their imagination…to take the place of the leader and God who have abandoned them…another god…an idol to lead them back to Egypt!”

  “And what sort of idol do you suggest?” asked Pellecus, a bit doubtful of the whole idea.

  “These are humans, Pellecus,” said Lucifer, smiling. “All we have to do is create the occasion—they will create the idol!”

  “I don’t like this, Michael,” said Serus.

  The mood in the camp had taken a definitely negative turn. Everywhere, it seemed, were mutterings about this or that, mainly against Moses’ leadership and suspicions of what he was really doing all this time on Sinai. Michael was disgusted at the display of disloyalty after so short a time. As Serus and Michael walked through the center of the camp, they listened to bits of conversations going on around them:

  “How do we know he’s even meeting with the Lord?”

  “I heard that he is meeting with Rameses to negotiate our return to Egypt!”

  “I don’t trust him!”

  “We never really knew him until he just appeared out of the desert in Goshen.”

  “I’m getting tired of the manna.”

  “Even Joshua has abandoned us to die out here!”

  “The enemy has certainly been doing his work here,” remarked Serus.

  “The demons are in great number these days,” agreed Michael.

  It seemed to the pair that the enemy angels were becoming bolder in their appearances at the camp. Spirits that encourag
ed everything from anger and gossip, to perversion and idolatry, had begun to work on the minds and hearts of the people as part of Lucifer’s plan to take advantage of Moses’ absence from the camp.

  As Michael and Serus walked through the various tribal camps, many unholy angels spewed ugly curses at them, cajoling and boasting how they were going to bring these people down to defeat. Some walked right up to Michael, dared him to strike at them, and then laughed when he ignored them.

  From the north side of the camp a trumpet sounded and people began streaming towards a newly erected edifice made of stone and decorated with all sorts of garlands of desert flowers. Above it was a great number of shrieking, howling devils, so dense that they created a dark cloud that was invisible to the humans, but which shrouded the scene like a dark and foreboding canopy.

  A great shout went up, followed by a silence. Michael and Serus looked, appalled at the unfolding scene: groups of men were carrying baskets full of jewelry, rings, coins—the plunder of Egypt—and emptying them on a blanket spread in front of Aaron. Surrounding the shimmering pile of gold were a number of men who looked to Aaron excitedly, nodding at the great spoil that was coming in.

  “Aaron looks a bit out of sorts, doesn’t he, Michael?” came a voice.

  Michael turned to see Lucifer standing behind him. Next to him was Rugio, grinning a smirking grimace that bore into Michael. Nearby Kara was directing the demons to maintain order within their own ranks but to continue inflaming the people. In some cases the devils were chasing about as recklessly as the people, and Lucifer had ordered that strict discipline be maintained.

  Michael didn’t answer Lucifer. Serus thought for a moment of answering Lucifer, but then decided that he had better keep a lookout for Joshua, should he return, to make sure that the young man was protected from these increasingly berserk people. More of the Host were arriving, including Sangius and Crispin, who had been at the Academy when word reached Heaven of what was happening. Crispin was amazed at the scene.

  “I only just arrived, Michael,” said Crispin, who then noticed Lucifer and Rugio. “Take heart. Even though there is a dark influence here, prayers are being lifted up by a good number of the people. That is what has brought us here.”

  “Ah, prayer,” said Lucifer. “Such a powerful weapon. Unfortunately it is used neither well nor often!”

  “Sometimes it only takes one person praying, you rebel spirit!” said Michael. “One prayer can send you reeling, Lucifer!”

  “Agreed, Michael,” said Lucifer. “But fortunately the humans are sectioning off the dissenters in this matter. Some of the Levites who are related to Moses and don’t want to be a part of this great adventure, are being…held for their own safety.”

  As they spoke, Michael could see armed guards roughly escorting groups of people to a tent at the end of the camp.

  “How did you manage that?” asked Michael.

  “I must say that I cannot take credit for that idea,” said Lucifer. “The humans grew tired of Joshua’s incessant preaching and defending of Moses before he disappeared to find the missing prophet. They decided, of their own accord, to arrest the others. Humans can be quite inspired at times!”

  “True indeed, Lucifer,” remarked Crispin. “Poor choices have inspired many unfortunate outcomes—both on earth and in Heaven.”

  “Spare me your lecture, teacher,” said Lucifer. “Actually, in terms of inspiration, I must credit you, Crispin, with what goes on. You see, it was you and your unenlightened teachings at the Academy that drove those who seek truth to vacate Heaven in the first place.”

  “You say it as if the choice to leave was yours,” Crispin said. “I would say that you were vacated, and not the other way around.”

  Lucifer smiled a half-smile and continued. “Be that as it may, whether it is deemed rebellion or liberation, this is the fruit of choice! You are indeed watching the birth of a new nation! But not one led by a trickster from the desert who has abandoned his people. No, Crispin, this is a new nation with a new god who will lead the people back to bondage where they belong—and where they will disappear in human history and the dust of Egypt!”

  “I would have thought that your adventure in Egypt would have taught you something about playing at god,” said Crispin. “There is only one God in Heaven!”

  “You forget, dear teacher. This is not Heaven.”

  “Bring to Aaron all of your jewelry—any gold that you have!”

  “Someone break into the treasure tent and bring some of the Egyptian plunder!”

  Korah and Dathan watched as the people continued bringing gold in various forms to Aaron and laying it at his feet. When they were finally finished, Aaron sifted through the treasure with a bemused look on his face.

  “Well Aaron, what shall it be?” asked Korah. “You are our high priest! Fashion for us the god who has delivered us out of bondage, that we might carry him ahead of us!”

  A cheer went up from the crowd as people anticipated the image of the god of Israel. Aaron looked vacantly at the gold and then back at Korah.

  “I have no idea what the God of Israel looks like,” he said. “I never saw Him.”

  Unseen by the humans Kara stood by Korah and spoke into his mind:

  “Surely Moses saw Him on the mountain before returning to Goshen…”

  “How did Moses describe Him? Moses met with Him, didn’t he?” said Korah.

  “Yes, but he never saw Him,” said Aaron. “No human has ever seen Him.”

  “And yet Moses said he spoke with Him face to face. Did Moses deceive us?…”

  “So how do we know that Moses even spoke with Him?” asked Korah, as several men in the crowd affirmed his question. Aaron looked up angrily.

  “I have no idea,” he said. “Moses told me that the Lord appeared to him in the form of a consuming fire.”

  “Ah yes,” said Korah. “The bush that would not burn.”

  “Perhaps fire is the emblem of this god. Let the fire decide…”

  “If the God that delivered us has chosen fire as His image, then fire it should be!” said Korah, who lifted a chain of gold over his head and held it up for all the people to see. “Let Aaron fashion us a god out of the fire!”

  A loud cheer went up, and the people suddenly began dancing, singing, and reveling in the presence of their new god, who would be born from Aaron’s flames. Aaron ordered a very hot fire built within a stone platform. He tossed the gold into a large bronze disc set over the flames. As the gold melted, the people officially proclaimed Aaron high priest of the God of Israel—the god of the golden fire.

  Kara ordered his demons skilled in design into the flames. Taking the melted gold, they fashioned it into an image of a golden calf, which, to the people, seemed to miraculously take shape of its own power. The people were astonished. Even Aaron was amazed and wondered if perhaps the God of Israel was indeed present.

  Kara laughed in delight. More and more devils arrived, and the celebration began taking on a sensual and unbridled feeling.

  “The people are casting off restraint,” commented Lucifer, who had come over to Kara. “Just as the angels in Heaven did.”

  “These simple people actually believe that the gold formed itself into the image of a calf,” said Kara. “Humans are so dreadfully stupid.”

  “I told you Korah was worth pursuing,” said Kara. “Even Pellecus had to admit that I was right. Korah will serve us well in the new order of things.”

  “If it were not in his heart to rebel, you would not have been able to exploit him,” cautioned Lucifer. “All we can do is suggest through the human spirit and mind. But I am grateful that they are so prone to failure.”

  “It will be interesting to watch Moses’ reaction when he discovers that the god he has been worshiping is the image of a calf!” remarked Kara.

  “Yes. And Aaron, Moses’ brother, as their priest,” said Lucifer. He looked at the face of the calf. “It looks as if the Most High God has taken on new feature
s after all!”

  CHAPTER 22

  “A Seething Core of Wolves.”

  Chronicles of the Host

  A Noise of War

  The Host waited anxiously for Moses’ return. We knew that something marvelous and far-reaching was happening between creature and Creator on Sinai! But we also saw that the hearts of the people had deteriorated into horrible and base confusion, spurred on by Korah’s rebellious actions and encouraged by Aaron’s reluctant participation.

  As for Moses, upon receiving from the Lord the law that would forever change the direction of Israel, the prophet made his way down the mountain, now to enforce the law upon a people who had become lawless. In the 40 days and nights that Moses had been gone, the people had moved from a nation that feared the Most High to a nation that forgot Him.

  They had the impudence not only to disgrace the holy name of the Lord Most High, but also to profane the first two holy commandments that the Lord had delivered to Moses—that of having no other gods before Him, and of not making a graven image to the Lord. By declaring the Most High to be an earthly god, borne in an image of gold, the people had broken both of those laws before Moses had even gotten off Sinai…

  The holy angels held back bitter and angry emotions as they watched the people slip from rebellion to debauchery. Men and women, in unrestrained expression, danced, drank, caroused, and feasted—all in the name of the calf of gold. “This is the god who brought us out of Egypt!” they proclaimed, and Aaron was named the high priest of the new order.

  Above them, swirling about like a dark whirlpool, were thousands of the enemy, dark spirits of licentious character, calling upon the people to further degrade themselves and calling to the holy angels in lewd and derisive comments. The people, unaware that they were opening themselves up to such suggestion, whipped themselves up into a frenzied and frantic pace. Some were convulsing on the ground, claiming that they were possessed by the god of the calf, and prophesied in his name, proclaiming a great destiny for the future Israel.