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In stygian deepness with naught to enfold
Came God, comprehending; Who uttered, "Behold!"
From chaos to order; from darkness to light
Made heavens and galaxies, earth, day and night.
His voice, all obeyed. His commands they all heard.
All Nature and life was brought forth with a word.
The plants, beasts and birds and the fish in the sea
His rain brought the flowers, His breath; Man did be.
From structures, atomic; to universe size
They all came to be and were good in His eyes.
Creation was finished, from labors did rest.
Declaring, "Of all days, this day is the best."
Into this existence an evil arrived.
Through lies and deception, a blemish contrived.
Unheeding the warning 'twas given ere then
God's finest creations brought forth the first sin.
The serpent, once fair to the eye; now did change.
For God, in His anger, did it rearrange.
Once lovely, now on it belly, slithering.
Scaled, with a forked tongue; fear and hate it did bring.
Cast out of the Garden and damned by their Lord,
The once blessed couple left, shamed. The path hard.
An Angel, with flaming sword, entry refused.
To guard the Life Tree lest its fruit be abused.
The couple was fruitful and bore sons times two.
Their life paths diverged and took shape as they grew.
A shepherd; a farmer; vocations they chose.
When grown, Cain in envy, 'gainst brother arose.
As centuries passed, mankind flourished on Earth.
And great evil spread that grieved God by its dirth.
Deciding to end His creation that day,
For Man on the Earth had corrupted their way.
God bade the man Noah to build a great Ark.
To gather all creature pairs and to embark
Upon a long journey, above waters deep.
As God brought corruption and evil death's sleep.
Then down on the Earth, Heavens rain did commence.
From bowels of the Earth spewed forth fountains, immense.
All mountains were covered, as was all the land.
Life perished on Earth from the wrath of God's hand.
When dry land appeared from the waters, once high
God said unto Noah, "Go forth, multiply!"
A covenant, given by God, His great bow
Was placed in the clouds so that all men could know.
Now Noah's great families spread 'cross the world.
One language, one nation with no flag unfurled.
Some built a new city upon Shinar's veldt
Around a great tower. Reach Heaven, they felt.
So God did confuse all the language of Man.
He scattered the people of Noah's great clan.
And Babel, unfinished, returned to the dust.
No longer a monument of men's fame-lust.
Thus Abram was bid to take family and go
Into a new land; which the Lord was to show.
To make a great nation with blessings from God.
In famine, to Egypt, did Abram's seed trod.
The Pharaoh took Abram's wife under his whim.
Deceived, Pharaoh thought, "she was sister to him".
The Lord sent a plague to avenge Abram's wife,
And Pharaoh sent Abram's clan on. Kept his life.
Abram dwelt in Canaan and Lot, Jordan's vale.
In richness they grew, side by side. All was well.
When Abram was ninety and nine, the Lord came.
Gave Abram a covenant and changed his name.
Likewise, Abram's wife became Sarah that day.
To them God did promise a son on the way.
Named Isaac, from whom many nations would be;
Twelve Princes, Twelve tribes of a vast family.
Gomorrah and Sodom were evil with sin.
An angry God vowed to destroy all within.
New named, Abraham pleaded, "Let me find good
From fifty to ten righteous men, if he could".
Not one found, the Lord sent His Angels, most dire.
To burn Sodom and fey Gomorrah with fire.
While fleeing, Lot's wife turned to view those at fault
And as God had warned, turned to pillar of salt.
As Abraham traveled in Philistine land,
God bade him, a sacrifice. Slay by his hand
His only son, Isaac. A burnt offering.
With faith, Abraham went! His son, he did bring.
The place God appointed, to Abraham, there.
He bound up his only son, Isaac, with care.
Before knife descended into his loved lamb
God halted his hand and provided a ram.
His fear and his faith had delivered his son.
God blessed Abraham's seed for what he had done.
In Canaan, loved Sarah died, and all did weep.
From Hittites, the choicest site gave her to sleep.
In cave, bought by silver, lay Sarah to rest
Out of Abraham's sight, as he thought was best.
The cave and the field were at once set aside
As burial ground for his dead to abide.
The great Abraham sent his servant to find
A wife for his son in the land of his kind.
A woman, Rebekah, was found; pure and fair.
Chose her for the wife of his master's son there.
Returning, the son, Isaac, took her to wed.
Thus comforting him; for his mother, now dead.
When Abraham spent the last day of his life
His son's took the body to lie by his wife.
Rebekah bore twins, Jacob and red Esau;
The fathers of nations; in future, God saw.
Esau to serve Jacob, though he was the first.
His birthright was sold to sate hunger and thirst.
In age, Isaac grew and his sight became dim.
He bade his son, Esau, to hunt food for him.
Preparing the kill for a man dying soon,
His father did ask, ere bequeathing a boon.
A ruse, Jacob played; at his mother's command.
He made a great feast and disguised neck and hand.
Then Isaac blessed Jacob. The blessing was done.
Supplanting two times the rights of eldest son.
Rebekah sent Jacob from son, Esau's hate.
Toward Haran went; told to find a wife-mate.
At twilight, he slept with a stone for his head.
He dreamt of a ladder to God from his bed.
God said unto Jacob in that dream, divine;
"The land where you lie shall be for thee and thine.
Like dust of the earth, your descendants shall be.
North, South, East and West for as far as you see.
Awakening, Jacob anointed the stone.
"Surely, this was Heaven's Gate, God's House and Throne."
He named the place Bethel, though Luz it had been
And vowed to give God a tithe of all, from then.
Once more, on his way to where kindred did dwell
He saw flocks together for drinks from a well.
A great stone did set there, the waters to stay.
When Jacob saw Rachel, he rolled it away.
Though cousins, he loved her when she came in sight.
Vowing to his uncle to work for the right
To marry fair Rachel for seven years pay.
The years quickly passed and then came the great day.
Completing his task, for his Rachel's hand plead.
Rachel's older sister was brought him, instead.
Leah was the eldest; first wed, the demand.
So Jacob worked seven more for Rachel's hand.
Two decades did pass ere departing that land.
With wives and with children, he left with his band.
Great flocks; asses, camels and sheep that he had
Across the Euphrates, into Gilead.
T'was followed by Laban, father of his wives.
Would take, for the theft of his house gods, their lives.
Warned in a great dream, God did tell him, "Take heed!"
"No harm should befall Jacob, or Jacob's seed".
Laban let them go after vowing, "No harm".
Entering Esau's land, Jacob feared a great storm
Of vengeance, long promised, for what he had done,
But Esau forgave him. Both were Isaac's son.
Dinah, Jacob's daughter, defiled by a Prince
Was given revenge by her brothers defense.
God said unto Jacob, "Return to Bethel
Where you built an alter, and thought I did dwell".
"You're Jacob, no more. Israel is your name.
From you will spring nations and kings and great fame".
Rachel's labor started and bore her last son.
She died, far from home, for the babe, Benjamin.
Near Bethlehem, Jacob did bury his love.
Entombed with a tower of stone built above.
When home, to his father, who soon breathed his last
Two sons buried Isaac. Then many years passed.
Joseph, most beloved of Jacob's great clan
Was given a robe which all colors did span.
His brothers, from envy, did hate and did scheme;
And hated him more for his humble sheaf dream.
Well planned, the young Joseph, in dry pit was tossed.
Then sold to the Ishmaelites for lowly cost.
The many hued robe, in goat's blood dipped and torn
Was given to Jacob. For days he did morn.
Joseph came to Egypt, to Potipher, sold
And God was with Joseph, brought wealth and much gold.
Beguiled by his master's wife, naked he fled.
Was thrown into prison, but God eased his dread.
Two of Pharaoh's house, favor lost and in jail
Dreamt dreams none could fathom; let Joseph foretell.
The butler, forgiven, would win his release.
The baker would hang and for him, life would cease.
The Pharaoh had dreams which no one understood.
The butler, remembering, said, "Joseph could".
Foretelling of seven years plenteousness
Then seven of famine, of Egypt's death kiss.
Amazed, Pharaoh gave him all power, save he
To lay aside food for the famine to be.
Grain saved in abundance, he measured no more
And food in great cities, so much he did store.
The famine, in seven years, came as foretold
And Pharaoh sent all people to Joseph's hold.
From Canaan, did Jacob send sons for supplies.
They, bowed before Joseph, he did recognize.
Accusing as spies, he imprisoned them all.
For three days they stayed there. Then Joseph did call.
"Bring me your young brother. You're free, except one".
The brothers, in shame, thought back on what they'd done.
For they were all guilty, though none of them spies.
Their guilt and distress brought tears to Jacob's eyes.
He sent them back home with their money and grain
When he had bound Simeon; there to remain.
To Jacob, now "Israel", they did return.
Brought grain, all the money and with them, concern.
Their stories then told to Jacob; he did grieve
But stayed their return or let Benjamin leave.
The grain they had brought was soon nearing an end
And Israel bade his sons to Egypt send.
Refusing, lest Benjamin go with them there
Did Israel let them; but sent with great care.
Joseph saw them coming and planned a great meal.
Fed and now replenished, their sacks he did fill.
Instructing his slaves, "place his own silver cup
Into Benjamin's sack, let them go, then catch up".
"Bring him Benjamin"! And when all this was done
Judah came back too; begging Joseph's pardon.
"Slay me, in his stead". He confessed of their sin.
As Joseph wept, he revealed who he was then.
In joyous reunion with many a tear
Joseph sent them off. "Bring our family here."
The Pharaoh was told of this wonderful day
And sent many gifts with the sons on their way.
The fairest of Egypt, the Pharaoh did give
For Joseph's great family; a place to live.
Fair Goshen, in Ram'eses, they were to stay.
While Joseph got all Egypt's land for food's pay.
The famine, now over, and all Egypt's men
Now tilled land for Pharaoh. Their crops, one fifth send
To Pharaoh each year. For them, Joseph had spared
From death by starvation when great Egypt shared.
Israel fell ill and with sons at his side,
Old Jacob, nee Israel, for Joseph cried.
With sons, Joseph came. 'Fore his father did bow.
Though near death, he raised up and blessed them, somehow.
Ere dying, Israel called all his twelve sons;
Foretelling their paths of twelve tribes and nations.
Requesting of them, when he had lived his life
To lay him to rest by his forebears and wife.
Joseph stayed in Egypt, for there he did live.
Four generations from his sons, they did give.
On death's bed, he spoke of God's covenant, old;
"Lands of milk and honey! Israel's tribe-hold.
"Our God will be with you, as with Abraham.
So take my bones from this place, though dust I am".
When dead, they embalmed him, in coffin not grand.
Until God delivered them out of that land.
Thus, is the Book written, for all eyes to see.
God's power and wisdom is still there for thee.
His covenants, lasting. His promises keep.
Pray for his forgiveness ere you go to sleep.
He is the Creator of all that you are.
From atoms, so tiny, to gigantic star.
Your faith, love and charity's all He desires.
Live as He has asked, before Mankind expires.
"I'll send Him there for a little while,
A child of mine," He said.
"To love, the time He's on this Earth.
And morn for when He's dead.
"The world is in such need of One
To teach and spread the Word
Of Heaven's path and righteousness."
"My gospel must be heard."
"It may be six or seven years;
Twenty two or three,
But will you for the time He's there
Take care of Him for Me?"
"I've looked the whole world over
In search of someone true
And from the throngs that crowd life's lanes
I, God, have chosen you.
May joys of Christmas bring to mind
The reason for this day.
To Bethlehem, in manger low
Our Jesus Christ did lay.
Brought forth upon this world of man,
God's Son, our souls to save.
Redeeming us with love and light
Our path to Heaven pave.
The gifts we give this holiday
Are poor when you compare
The gift from God, brought forth in Christ
Whose love we all can share.
May your holiday's be blessed by Him.
Within a rude manger lay swaddled in hay
A new King was sleeping, which God sent our way
Wise men left their gifts at the feet of this Child
While Mary, with love, sat in wonder and smiled.
Chill darkness was broken by Heavenly light
As Angels came down to rejoice on that night.
A shepherd's pipe playing a song sweet and clear
Was carried to comfort this small Babe, so dear.
The Babe's eyes did open, blessed all who could see
A long foretold coming, gift for you and me.
God, high in his Heaven, looked on us and smiled
He saw his creations through eyes of His Child.
Though many people talk of love
While heart and mind are full of hate
Remember, God in mercy gives
Another chance. It's not too late.