‘Dear God, please put it on Haran’s mind to ask about the hope that is in me.’
Nokh talks to God all the time. He does not have to go to a special place and does not need to stop working. Enoch prays without ceasing.
Each month as the festival approaches, the community comes alive with activity. Enoch makes the decision he will not attend. He wants to protect Mattawn from being exposed to its growing violence, gore, and sensuality.
Some parents are actually offering their children to God at the festival.
‘They don’t really kill them they just offer them up to God.’
The shopkeeper next door tries to explain to Enoch, but Nokh has doubts because he has heard otherwise. He knows there is much bloodshed.
Enoch has settled the fact in his thinking that the blood of the lamb is enough to satisfy the wrath of God. Obedience to what the Lord has instructed is more important than man-made regulations.
He begs Haran to accompany him and Mattawn on a wood gathering expedition during the next full moon. They both agree that moonlight enhances such a journey. But Haran refuses using his leadership at the festival as an excuse. He then adds,
‘God is pleased with all the work we put into the festival.’
Nokh does not answer directly but his determined focus at the shop worktable shows Haran he disapproves of the monthly celebrations.
Haran wonders,
‘Why does Enoch hate the festivals?’
Answers come quickly when just three days before the start of the festival, they are now lasting several days each time, Enoch suggests to his cousin,
‘Let’s go to our old beech tree grove across the river from my home and cut some wood for our supply at the workshop.’
To his surprise Haran agrees.
Nokh quickly arranges to take care of Mattawn and the young man from Ebele’s family. After sending a message letting them know he will be gone for the day Enoch and Haran set off across the river in their favorite manner.
It is like old times. Tools carried on shoulders, water restoring tired muscles, their world with its almost perfect balance of nature brings joy to them. The shop is flourishing and all of their families have settled into an easy prosperity. What more could they need?
Haran actually starts the conversation,
‘I know you question the things we do on the feast days each month. Can you explain to me what your problem is?’
Enoch strips the bark off of a fine straight branch and says,
‘I think simple obedience to the ancient words of God is enough.’
His cousin had climbed a higher branch and swinging his axe far above him the branch breaks. As Haran falls the full length of the trunk, he lands in a heap far below. Enoch shouts thinking he is badly hurt.
Haran jumps up as if nothing has happened and is fine except for a bleeding gash on his shoulder.
‘Let me look at that!’
Enoch says as he lets himself down and starts searching for healing leaves.
It is a serious wound. The cousins stand closely together and their touch reminds them of what had been in days of long ago.
Enoch sees other scars on close examination of Haran’s shoulders and says, probably without thinking,
‘I know what these other scars on your shoulders mean.’
Haran snaps back,
‘Forget it! We will never agree and let’s just leave it at that.’
They quickly gather bundles of branches and head back to the shop. There is no more festival discussion.
The days of celebration come quickly, and Enoch discovers that several darts, arrows, and javelins are missing from the shop storeroom. When he asks Haran about the missing items it escalates into an embarrassing confrontation.
‘I stay here and do all the work while you go traipsing all over the western lands searching for God only knows what and you accuse me of taking some of our stock?’
Haran ends by shouting loud enough for passersby in the street to hear,
‘I will take what is my right to take!’
Nokh asks, with calm and steady voice, if he can look more closely at Haran’s shoulder.
Haran refuses,
‘Don’t bother! I’m fine! Who needs your help?’
Months pass. The two settle into a tolerable but conditional unity of purpose. As long as they avoid talking about worship of God, they get along just fine.