God’s Illuminating Blindness: God’s Conquering of a Dark-Hearted Nation

By Dwight David Croy

Committed Yahweh followers are forced to navigate military might, political power, and spiritual storms in an increasingly hostile dark world. Naaman, now touched personally by the mighty hand of Yahweh, must lead his family, iron ring, and three boys in the strange walk of faith not understood in their home of Damascus. As new followers of Yahweh, they find themselves pitted against Aram's darkness, its king, soldiers, Rimmon priests, assassins, and shaman warriors. Motivated by the dark god Rimmon, the god of lightning, storm, and thunder, the king is enraged at the power of Yahweh. King Ben-hadad works to combat the new followers through intrigue. The tribal nation of Aram mounts an attack on Israel to find the prophet Elisha to capture and kill. Naaman and his friends' lives are forfeit if the king's attack is a failure. The servants of Naaman find themselves being exploited to attack Israel and capture Elisha. Once again, Yahweh introduces himself to the firepits of Aram and the whole of the Assyrian Empire. Experience how Naaman and his friends show light to a dark world.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Resource Publications
• Release date: Apr 30, 2024
• ISBN: 9798385213023

Dwight David Croy

Dwight retired from Active Duty in the Army on 30 November 2014. Then received a Doctor of Ministry through George Fox University in May 2015. Now enjoys the blessing of grandchildren in North Carolina. He wrote a non-fiction book, "God's Focus on the Fatherless" receiving a "Literary Titan" Award. He has taught Juvenile Boys for seven years in a non-profit residential home that services the Department of Corrections and Safety in North Carolina. God has laid on his heart the plight of the fatherless and is now working on a series of books for boys in the area of Historical Fiction. He works now as a volunteer chaplain, teacher, and speaker as needed and requested. God has been faithful to place the family in places of crises and opportunities to influence the next generations. "God's Gracious Killer" is a 2023 Cadmus Book Award Winner! An International Award recognizing the category of Christian Fiction/Non-Fiction. Also recognized with five stars from the Historical Fiction Company Awards 2023. A 2024 Gold Medal Book Award Winner of teen/fiction. His 2023 Book is now followed up with "God's Illuminating Blindness" Book Two in the series, "The Way of Aram."

Book preview

An assassin held a knife to the man’s throat, close enough to talk in strained whispers yet not drawing blood. They did not share their names, and the place of meeting was arranged by their most trusted slaves. In their circle of people, trust was a liability. The assassin had seized the priest of Rimmon in a side alley to hide their transaction. Their contract of death in the shadow of Rimmon’s temple was more important than the titles they held. The plan in his mind allowed him to become a big person in an ominous dark endeavor.

Did I hire a stupid assassin? the priest said, unflustered by the knife to his throat. You might want to take a look across the street at that shadowed figure on the roof top. Priests come from a variety of backgrounds and this one always hits his mark. If I die or give a signal, you will die.

How do I know you will not kill me anyway? The assassin said in a low voice without fear. He had been in these tense situations before. It was normal for him to live in a world of fear and distrust.

The priest continued, "You want something, and I want something. It is that simple. You came highly recommended because of your connections to the shaman¹ warriors."

The assassin weighed the dark sinister greed of the priest’s words. Life was short in Aram. Releasing his hold, he determined to risk talking with a man as greedy as he was. He wanted gold, and the priest wanted power and influence. Both things held value, but neither one wanted what the other desired. The assassin had a couple of men he trusted in the shadows but decided against showing that advantage just in case he misread the shifty priest’s words.

A squad of soldiers on patrol approached. The assassin lunged at the priest with his hand over his mouth. Thwack! An arrow sliced a bloody red line in the assassin’s skin across his shoulder and pierced the door post. The priest quickly waved his protector off, not wanting to expose their position to the passing soldiers.

Keeping his hand over the priest’s mouth and a firm grip on his body, he whispered, You are proving to be more of a risk than I am willing to put up with. He knew his men had their hands on swords in the darkness. They would not approach unless the situation turned worse for him.

Shaman warriors cannot be controlled completely! I cannot give a guarantee of death! said the assassin with contempt in his mouth. Since he had a notorious brother who he was able to live with and control for a time, he had become a herder of the few shaman warriors in Aram’s army of soldiers. He played a middleman between the craziness of these warriors and the needs of Aram’s army. Those five years with his brother remained a restless nightmare. The scar across his face was a reminder. Yet, he learned through the raging fire of those years how to control, manipulate, and live with an unpredictable person. The life of a shaman warrior was short, and it thirsted for death. He learned this hard lesson by observing the demise of his beloved brother. Now he used his unusual knowledge to make some gold out of the unpredictable torments of a shaman warrior.

The priest predicted the assassin’s words, saying, Damage is as important as death, but if you succeed with both, I will double your wage. I will get to the point. Naaman is your target, and we will pay for any damage you can do.

Desperation showed up briefly in the priest’s words. The assassin smelled extra gold. He spoke in a quiet but emphatic voice, Naaman? The king’s right hand! That is absurd! You are starting to sound like a shaman warrior! Why is he your major concern?

We have been listening to the firepits and the traders from Israel. Naaman is healed of leprosy and has declared himself to be a servant of Elisha and Yahweh. The stories are increasing in speed and intensity. If we do not do something, people will stop believing us . . . The priest’s words faltered. I mean Rimmon.

The assassin smiled. He had been listening to the firepits and like the priest was always in the shadows. They each listened to gain different goals. So, you’re worried about controlling the people? I should have suspected as much. Your manipulation possesses a greater evil than mine. It is bigger and further enslaves people to destitution in addition to a life of just barely surviving. The assassin spit on the ground as if to bask in his self-righteousness in light of the priest’s greedy revelation. You might us well say that I should get shaman warriors to fight the capital of Assyria all by themselves. Naaman’s war stories are real and witnessed. As of now the price is tripled!

Searching for a flinch or a twitch in the priest’s face, the assassin appeared hard and confident. Knowing all the while the price would go up, the priest feigned a sigh, a smile would come later. Done, he quickly said. The priest signaled his soldier to retreat, and the assassin signaled his men in the shadows.

Now, the assassin had work to do. He must pick the right shaman warrior to manipulate. The fact that he shared this devious skill set with the priest made him bitter and angry. No longer could he think of himself as more righteous than the priest who worshiped the idol of power and influence at Rimmon’s expense. He pulled the arrow out of the door post and quickly broke it and threw it to the ground in disgust. Quietly, the assassin disappeared into the night to worship his god of gold.

A miraculous cure caused a developing caustic curse. Naaman reviewed in his thinking all the conflicts, showing up one at a time like soldiers marching on the horizon. Leprosy had been cured by a mighty God. Friends and family of Naaman were questioned. They were in danger of losing their status and even life. Rimmon’s weaknesses were predictable and controlling. In comparison, Yahweh was unpredictable and directed his follower’s path. Could this strong God, Yahweh, be a positive or negative impact on Naaman’s circle of influence? How would his iron ring and a young group of boys that had formed strong friendships stand up to worshiping Yahweh in the shadow of the dark god of Rimmon? Naaman walked to the palace knowing that Yahweh had inserted himself into the darkness of the tribal nation of Aram. He would trust Yahweh in status and in friendships. If forced to choose, Naaman and his wife Inanna² had already concluded to choose their friendships over status.

Naaman waited at the gate of King Ben-Hadad’s palace. It was the morning after Naaman got back from Samaria. After celebrating the healing with his household, he had some serious convictions to talk to the king about. Items that would not be popular to the king and his advisers. The look on Naaman’s face was concentrated, but one of peace with God, Yahweh, whom he now chose to serve. He did not know how the king would think or proceed with a follower of Yahweh. The king followed Rimmon the god of thunder, lightning, and storm. This automatically put him at odds with his king. Before he trusted Yahweh, they shared commonality with Rimmon. Now this relationship was in question. Would the king keep him as a big person of Aram, or would he reduce him to a slave? Would he kill him as a traitor? Would Yahweh save him?

Naaman discussed the possibilities at length with his wife, Inanna. Due to the affliction of leprosy, seeing the Hebrew slave Eliora’s³ faith, the journey to Samaria, both he and his wife became followers of Yahweh. Through the prophet Elisha, God healed Naaman of leprosy. Now, Naaman started a journey of learning about Yahweh and how to trust him. No longer fearing the dark gods and placing trust in Yahweh was his final decision. Naaman’s family resolved to worship Yahweh, even if death and slavery waited at the end of that commitment. Inanna and Naaman were of one mind. He remembered her words last night: You do what is best my husband and I will follow even to death, if that is what Yahweh wants. Neither of them was completely sure about all their servants and slaves, except the unwavering commitment of Eliora. His household and the influence he held now would change. Naaman realized that Yahweh had changed his dark heart, and he would manage his household according to the God of Israel’s dictates. Friendships and his own iron ring of soldiers would be challenged and tested. The outcome was yet to be revealed by Yahweh. Naaman gazed heavenward and prayed silently in his mind, It is in your hands, O LORD, I am your servant now, no matter the outcome.

King Ben-Hadad’s servant escorted Naaman to the throne room. The king wore a fez⁴ hat with all the colorful ribbons (red, white, blue, and purple), bestowed on a big person, king of any Assyrian tribe. This was not like the late-night, emergency meeting held two and half moons ago when Naaman had leprosy. The king was ready for a full day of administration, but Naaman was his right-hand man in military affairs. The healed soldier understood his place. The king was the king no matter your status in Aram. Now Naaman served Yahweh, the God of another country who saved his life. This made Yahweh positioned ahead of the king. Naaman bowed. The king was anxious and excited to hear the story of his healing in Naaman’s own words. Small and big people of Aram had been making their way into his presence with rumors and stories, seeking his kingly favor, to be the first to tell the news of a healed Naaman.

King Ben-Hadad said to Naaman, Get up, and come sit by me so that I may hear firsthand about your mission to Jehoram! Naaman reflected, So far this looks favorable. However, he also understood that the king could end his life if displeased at anything more he had to say. Despite Naaman’s warrior skill set, the king’s soldiers stood ready. And no matter how skilled one was in warcraft, the sheer number of soldiers would overtake one for prison or death. Yet, Naaman was at peace for he had committed his future to Yahweh.

Naaman obeyed the king and sat down. He was dressed in his diplomatic armor of copper fish scale plating, Assyrian boots with inserted iron, sword, leather arm bands, purple cloak, leather belt, and no helmet. He sat in a couched chair softened with the wool that came from the king’s workhouses. Naaman made sure that he was seated lower than the king. He smiled inwardly at the fact that he was following the training and advice he gave to some of his taller soldiers. Often, he would declare to the tall, large soldiers, Men, make sure, when the king comes by, or if you are sent to the king with a message, to make yourself lower than him. Naaman did not want to lose men to prison or death just because they inadvertently intimidated the king. The Assyrian kings were tied to the gods they assisted, and often their prideful attitude was mirrored in how they viewed themselves. The kings were considered the human embodiment of the god that they served. If an Assyrian king had too many tall subjects, he would have his fez crown made taller and not receive his tall subjects until he was properly seated in the high throne room above the tall small people. Naaman’s position was far greater than all of these formalities, and Naaman was wise enough to know that a king should always receive the submission due from all his subjects. In his wisdom, Naaman also knew to always show respect to the king. Any perceived infraction, the king could get rid of any of his subjects with the wave of his hand.

After Naaman was seated, King Ben-Hadad said, Tell me everything.

As you can see, O king, my flesh has been restored to that of my youth, Naaman began. Not even the scars from my past battles are to be found on my body. The prophet Elisha told me to bathe in the Jordan River seven times and I would be clean. Now, you see before you the result. King Ben-Hadad remembered the leprosy that had ravaged Naaman’s body. The transformation was undeniable.

Naaman paused, fully aware that he was about to enter a war of words that would reveal a battleground of dangerous, foreign ideas. "I found out that the prophet Elisha does truly work for Israel’s Yahweh. Yahweh himself picks out who he wants to represent him. Also, Yahweh defines the terms of what he wants to do. Israel’s King Jehoram did not know