Thank God for great stories, good examples

Tobit is one of ancient Israel’s holy books full of romance, suffering, mystery, and adventure all wrapped around passionate prayers and an archangel dispatched from the throne of God.

A religious novel ordered between history and wisdom that instructs and edifies, Tobit was written in Aramaic but lost. Greek translations had been used for centuries; then in 1955, the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls in the Qumran caves yielded the Tobit manuscript in Hebrew and Aramaic. Its themes, like all Hebrew wisdom literature, are fidelity to the law, the intercessory function of angels, piety toward parents, the purity of marriage, reverence for the dead, and the value of prayer and almsgiving. The entire book can be read at biblescripture.net/Tobias.html.

My favorite part of this story is the irresistible marital relationship between Tobit and Anna. While Raphael the archangel is gorgeous and brilliant, Tobiah the son is noble and courageous, and Sarah the bride is heartbroken and pious, it is Tobit and Anna’s rapport that is totally charming.

They get snippy with each other (2:11-14):

“It’s a stolen goat.”

“No, it’s not.”

“Yes, it is.”

“Now listen here, Mister Virtue. You’re charitable to everyone else but me? Your true character is showing.”

Then Tobit was grief-stricken and cried out in prayer (3:1-6), “You are righteous O Lord and all your deeds are just; all your ways are mercy and truth; you are the judge of the world. It is better for me to die than to endure so much misery in life and to hear these insults!”

Poor Tobit went blind from bird droppings settling in his eyes along with ill-conceived medicine and thinks he will soon die so he tells his son Tobiah to go on a journey to retrieve a money stash in Media. He also gives him instruction for life (chapter 4), including this loving bit about his wife (even though he’s probably still sore at her):

“Honor your mother and do not abandon her as long as she lives. Do whatever pleases her and do not grieve her spirit in any way. Remember my son, that she went through many trials for your sake while you were in her womb. And when she dies, bury her in the same grave with me.” (4:3-4)

When Tobiah packs up and says goodbye, Anna begins to weep, then fusses at her husband again (5:18-20), even accusing him of being money-hungry. Tobit is more concerned with her motherly grief than wifely insults this time, and reassures her, calling her “my love.” She stops crying (5:21-22).

At exactly the same time over in Media (the very place Tobiah is headed), a lady named Sarah was having terrible troubles with a demon named Asmodeus and seven dead husbands. She also cries out for death. Or favor.

“And now, O Lord, to you I turn my face and raise my eyes. Bid me to depart from the earth, never again to hear such insults (3:2-13). But if it please you, Lord, not to slay me, look favorably upon me and have pity on me; never again let me hear these insults! (3:15b)”

God heard the prayers of Tobit and Sarah and sent the archangel Raphael to heal them both (3:16-17). It was not instantaneous, however, but through an adventure of travel and trust. My children are enamored with chapter 6, verse 2, which adds the delightful tidbit that the family dog followed Tobiah on his journey.

It gets very exciting at this point. There are fish guts, a secretly dug grave, a beautiful girl, a repulsed demon that flees to Egypt, and wedding bed prayers. The next morning, a maid peeks into the marriage chamber and sees the newlyweds sleeping, both very much alive. Halleluia and more songs of praise!

Tobiah finally begins his journey home with his father’s money and a wife but is weeks late. Meanwhile, Tobit and Anna wait anxiously.

Tobit is worried but continues supporting his wife, “Do not worry my love, he will be here soon” (10:1-6).

She’s snippy again, though, ((10:7a), “Stop it and do not lie to me!”) watching the road every day.

When she finally sees Tobiah approaching, she turns to her husband (see, she’s not that mad) and exclaims, “Tobit, your son is coming!” (11:6)

And everything ends just fine. The fish guts that halted Asmodeus healed Tobit. Raphael revealed his identity, “I am one of the seven angels who enter and serve before the glory of the Lord (12:15).” They all watched him ascend and praised God. Tobit and Anna got to enjoy their grandchildren and were buried together just as he wanted.

Tobit and Anna were terrific. They had some sharp words, aggravations, and misunderstandings; but they had even more honor, encouragement, and love. Tobit, “God is good” and Anna, “grace” — thank God for the good example and the great story.

Allison Howell and her family are longtime residents of the Valley. They are Catholic converts and keep a hobby farm full of animals and children.

Opinions expressed on the Faith page are the author’s and are not necessarily those of the Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman, its staff or its parent company, Wick Communications Co. To submit a column or other news for the Faith page, send email to news@frontiersman.com, or call 352-2250.