The Manger

By Elizabeth Rusk Wheatley

The idea for the book was born from questions about the Christmas story: Who was the Inn Keeper? What is the story behind the stable? What happened to the manger after the birth of Jesus? The Manger is a fictional story that answers those questions.

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Sep 14, 2020
• ISBN: 9781664201903

Elizabeth Rusk Wheatley

Elizabeth Rusk Wheatley has served in many ministry capacities such as adult choir director, ladies’ ensemble director, church pianist, and Bible study teacher. She is also the Executive Director of a non-profit agency. She and her husband Brian live near Crossville, Alabama. The Manger is her second published book.

Book preview

Chapter 1

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J osa was born to Olijah and Adah—the firstborn and a son.

Olijah was a most proud papa. Little Josa would be his strength, vision, and legacy in his older years. In addition, he would of course be helpful around a growing sheep farm.

Adah was a most proud mama when the next four children born to them were daughters: Ruthie, Ressa, and Dala and Dava, the surprise twins.

Olijah and Adah called their four daughters the lovelies. They would learn their household duties from the best homemaker in the region.

Olijah held his dear wife in highest esteem. Likewise, the women who lived near them in the village by the river thought of Adah as a virtuous woman described in King Solomon’s book of Proverbs. She could work circles around them all. Yes, Olijah was one blessed man.

Olijah, whom Adah fondly called Oli, built a covered shed for his love. He decided that if he had a barn for the various chores required of a farmer, his wife should have one for her household chores too. A covered shed would allow Adah to do the things she wanted to do for the family despite the wind and rain. He even built a fireplace and maintained a bountiful supply of wood to keep her warm in the winter.

He added a feature that no other barn had in his region: the outside walls could raise and lower as the weather changed. In the summer, he could raise the walls to allow the cool cross breezes to flow. In the winter, the walls would be lowered to block the wind and rain and contain the heat for warmth.

Adah thought he was brilliant. He did too! It wasn’t that he was full or pride or anything like that. He knew that when he prayed about a plan for the covered shed, the Lord God would faithfully give him wisdom.

Adah’s covered shed had four stalls: a washroom for cleaning clothes, a loom room for making fabric, a sewing room for making clothes, and a garden room for washing and storing produce.

Adah wondered whether Oli had had a divine revelation early in their marriage about the number of daughters they would parent. It soon became evident that each daughter had her favorite room in the shed. Ruthie was the gardener and gravitated to the garden room; Ressa learned to be quite the seamstress and loved the sewing room; Dala had a keen sense of creating fabrics and took over the loom room; and thankfully, Dava became a skillful launderer and was the queen of the washroom.

Very soon, the women of their small community found their way to Adah’s luxurious shed. There they enjoyed the benefits of doing their chores while soaking up some female fellowship.

Oli often smiled and thanked the Lord God for the wisdom to build such a satisfying structure for his bride. He also thanked the Almighty for his own work space and for his son, Josa.

Josa named their work space the sheep shed, which frequently became a tongue twister for Oli. Josa created more tongue-twisting torture with other titles: stalls in the barn were sheep sleepers, stories of using the staff to save a sheep were staff stoppers, using the rod to keep sheep moving were rod prods, clearing out manure was cleaning sheep slop, and medicinal ointment was Oli’s oil. When Josa started with those phrases, there was no stopping him. The more he talked, the more he laughed. Oli smiled as he remembered one of King Solomon’s wise proverbs: a joyful heart is good medicine. No wonder Josa was so healthy.

Even though their days as shepherds were long, he found contentment in his vocation. Each day contained opportunities of instruction for his treasured lad. Most were the general how-tos around the farm, such as putting tools back where they belonged after using them. There was a place for everything. Much time could be lost looking for a misplaced tool. Another important piece of information was to do the hardest thing first. Once that chore was completed, those that followed would seem easy.

Josa’s questions about caring for the sheep were especially thrilling. That let Oli know he was truly interested and wanted to understand the process. Of course, he was delighted to fill in the blanks. During these times, Oli would recite verses from the writings of Israel’s shepherd king, David. By the time Josa was nine years old, he had memorized twenty chapters from the Psalms and Proverbs. Their favorite was the shepherd psalm.

‘The Lord is my Shepherd. I shall not want.’ Always remember that, my son. Follow the leading of the Good Shepherd. His rod and His staff will comfort you.

Yes, sir, Papa. I remember. ‘The Lord is my shepherd.’

The toughest part of being a sheep farmer was being away from home during the season of searching. By the end of summer, the feeding grounds near home would be eaten down to the dirt. This meant that the shepherds would lead the herd to foreign fields in search of plentiful green grass.

Even so, the dutiful caregivers of the sheep would make the trek. As the father-and-son team left their loved ones behind in search of green pastures, Oli reminded his son, You have to do what you have to do!

There was at least some humor on those journeys. With each new pasture, their keepers could see excitement within the flock. It was like going to a new restaurant. The sight was actually comical. For a moment, the sheep seemed to stare at their newly found salad bar. Then they scattered to claim their turf.

The shepherds could only enjoy the sight for a moment though. Those scatterbrained sheep lost their senses when it came to food. Josa and Oli instinctively knew that their trusted staffs would be the tools of the day.

Sheep could easily become oblivious to their surroundings. Their eyes could not see past the green grass in front of them. They might be eating their lunches on the edge of a cliff with no clue that the next bite would send them over the edge to death. Josa and Oli stayed busy moving among the flock to stay one step ahead of them. They soon developed blisters and callouses from holding and exerting strength to reel the wooly wobblers back to safety. That was another of Josa’s tongue twisters.

Son, you will do well to remember this lesson in your own life. Food, possessions, your work, and even a woman can take your eyes off the Good Shepherd. Stay close to the Lord. Don’t take your eyes off Him. It would break my heart to see you go over the edge in the wrong direction. It is a treacherous climb back to safety.

Josa replied, No worries, Papa. I am never going to leave you or our farm. Now that you are getting older, I will certainly have to keep my eyes on you, my senior shepherd.

Oli smiled at his son’s fond remark. My jovial Josa. Be still, my heart, he said to himself.

Time passed. The lovelies and Josa grew into dependable, productive young adults. Oli and Adah spent many a night by the fire, reading the sacred scrolls and thanking the Lord God for their blessings.

The time for another season of searching had come. Oli had been thinking that Josa should make this trip on his own. It was an opportunity to put Josa’s knowledge to the test and for Oli to trust the Lord to watch over his son.

Josa, my treasured lad, depend on the Good Shepherd and all you have learned these years. Pray about everything. If you are really counting on God to do something, you will pray. If you are not counting on him, you will not pray. Don’t depend on yourself, Josa. God is your strength. He will keep you in perfect peace when your mind is stayed on Him.

Yes, Papa. I have this speech memorized. You have said this a hundred times since yesterday. Papa, you have taught me well. Let me put that knowledge into action.

Oh, and one more thing. It was obvious that Oli was stalling to delay Josa’s departure. Did you pack the ointment oil? Those pesky nasal flies are sure to swarm at some point to torture the flock.

This is the seventh time you have added one more thing came the reply from a chuckling son. Yes, Papa. I packed twice as much as normal. It has been a hot summer.

Oli, Adah, and Josa bowed on their knees to pray. Tears flowed freely. Hugs were next. Adah lined up the lovelies to say their goodbyes. They added to the stalling by showering their brother with some of their adoring aggravation.

The girls had prepared some of his favorite snacks for the journey. They included a note in the bag that said, To Josa. Some lovely snacks. With love, from the Lovelies. The truth was that he really would miss those girls.

Chapter 2

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F inally, Josa was on his way. He followed the typical trail of past years. The familiar pastures were comforting to him. He had memorized the terrain and the points of danger. So far, so good.

Halfway through the season and a long way from home, he noticed the usual green, grassy meadows were sparse and that watering streams had only a trickle. Josa prayed. Lord, my Good Shepherd, lead me to green pastures and still waters for the sheep.

After praying, he felt led to turn east. He and his papa had not ventured to this area in years past. He was trusting and testing, testing and trusting.

At last, just before dark, he and the flock went over a slight hill to see a beautiful, level field full of green, luscious grass. There was even a small stream of water. Thank you, Good Shepherd, for your gentle leading.

Josa settled into a spot by a rock to rest a bit while keeping an eye on the sheep at night. This was tiring work, but finding such places for the sheep was pleasant and refreshing.

Soon enough, the sun popped up over the hill to begin the day. Suddenly, one of the sheep started twisting his head from side to side. It turned and ran toward a grove of trees and began hitting its head against a tree. The hasty movement by the sheep startled the others. The flock began to anxiously move about.

Josa spotted another sheep shaking its head violently and swiftly ran to the grove. The dreaded nasal flies. Oh no!

Josa ran to his bag and grabbed the anointing oil. He quickly applied the medicine to the disturbed sheep. He managed to spread oil on the rest of the sheep to prevent those pesky pests from infesting the entire flock.

The placement of the sun on the horizon made Josa realize he had spent all day consoling the sickly and stunned sheep. Now would be a good time for one of his lovely snacks. He sat in his spot by the rock to rest and eat. What a day.

Shepherds don’t sleep much. When they do, they are light sleepers. The slightest noise or movement brings them instantly to their feet with lantern and sling in hand. He was resting ever so well when a rustling in the grove brought him back to reality. He was not sure what was lurking ahead, but he grabbed a pebble and loaded the sling.

Moving without breathing, he spotted a lion cub. The mother must have been nearby. Good thing he had another sling. He had practiced double-slinging with targets at home. Another skill soon to be tested.

Sure enough, a twig snapped, and out came the cub, headed for a slumbering sheep. Another twig snapped, and the lady lion came bounding after the cub. Josa raised the slings and began the wind up, careful not to get them tangled. That would be tragic.

Both arms were lifted above his head. The circling motions of the windup intensified. One round, two rounds, and on the third, he aimed at the attackers with all the force he could muster. He released the strings of the slings in each hand. Go, pebble, go! Down went the cub, down went the mama, and down went Josa. His legs melted like butter from the rush of adrenalin.

While he was on his knees, he looked to the heavens. Thank you, Lord God. Before I called, You answered! Then he laughed out loud as he envisioned this sight from the eyes of a spectator.

Regaining his composure, he quickly disposed of the would-be assassins only to realize the sheep slept through the entire event. Another reason to praise God. A deadly, devastating disaster had been avoided. That could have created a frenzied stampede, he said out loud. Josa shuddered to think of that possibility.

After just a week in this field, the sheep had ravaged the grass, leaving only a nub of a stub of grub. Oh, that’s another good phrase I can share with Papa when I get home! he thought.

Therefore, Josa and his flock continued eastward. They had gone a full day’s