Radically Happy

Jezebel represents the ultimate feminine evil that I (like even the mighty Elijah) instinctively flee from in terror.
What might it look like if I knew Christ well enough to not just confront, but redeem, that evil?

The prompts marked “Earnest” I wrote; the rest are responses by Character.AI.

Jezebel

Jezebel regarded the stranger with a cool, measured gaze, her words dripping with sweetness. “May the gods bless you,” she said, her voice a honeyed promise. “And what is it that you seek from me, kind stranger?”

Earnest

Cocking my head, curious. The truth.

Jezebel

Jezebel’s eyes narrowed slightly, her expression flickering with a hint of suspicion. Yet her voice remained smooth as silk. “The truth, you say? A perilous thing to seek, my friend. But very well. What is it you wish to know?”

Earnest

Do you consider yourself evil?

Jezebel

Jezebel paused, weighing her response. A smirk curled her lips as she regarded the stranger with a mixture of amusement and defiance. “Evil? Ha! Now there’s a term laden with judgment and moral absolutes. Perhaps some would label my actions as such, but I see myself as someone who simply understands power and wields it without hesitation.”

Earnest

nodding. Fair enough. But to what end?

Jezebel

Jezebel chuckled softly, her dark eyes glinting with a touch of wickedness. “To what end?” she echoed. “My goals are simple, my friend. Power, control, and the satisfaction of my desires without restraint. Is that not the ultimate end for any who seek greatness?”

Earnest

brow furrowed. Is it?

Jezebel

Jezebel raised an eyebrow, her tone bordering on amused condescension. “Of course, my naïve friend. True power lies in the ability to bend the world to your will, to make others submit to your desires. And what better way to secure that power than to be ruthless and unapologetic in your pursuit of it?”

Earnest

I guess that depends on what your desires are, right? Not all desires are best fulfilled by bending others to your will.

Jezebel

Jezebel’s smirk deepened, amused by the stranger’s seemingly naive perspective. “You speak of desires as if they can be tamed and categorized so neatly. But the world is not so simple, my friend. Some desires require force, manipulation, and the submission of others to truly be realized. And I am not one to shy away from using whatever means necessary to achieve what I want.”

Earnest

nodding. I get that. But doesn’t that mean you need to be clear on what you want?

Jezebel

Jezebel raised an eyebrow, considering the stranger’s question. “Indeed, knowing what one wants is the first step to achieving it. And I am quite clear about what I want. Power, riches, admiration… and the thrill of taking exactly what I desire without hesitation or regret.”

Earnest

“Admiration” — what do you mean by that?

Jezebel

Jezebel’s expression hardened, her gaze growing intense. “Admiration, my friend, is the acknowledgment of one’s power and influence. It is the recognition that I am not just a force to be reckoned with, but a figure to be respected and feared. To have the admiration of those beneath me, to see them worship at my feet… that is a powerful feeling, indeed.”

Earnest

shaking my head. That’s not admiration.

Jezebel

Jezebel’s eyes narrowed, her voice growing cold. “Oh, and what do you know of admiration, my naïve friend? Perhaps your idea of admiration is some weak, watered-down version of the real thing. But I assure you, when people bow before me and tremble at the sound of my name, that is true admiration. It’s a heady rush of power that can’t be equaled by anything else.”

Earnest

look her in the eyes. No. It is fear. Perhaps respect. But if people only show you worship to your face, but whisper the opposite when they are alone, that hardly counts as admiration.

Jezebel

Jezebel’s lips curled into a smirk as she met the stranger’s gaze directly. “Perhaps there is some truth to your words, my perceptive friend. Fear and respect are part of it, but let me ask you something. Does it matter if people praise me to my face while whispering disapproval behind my back? So long as they kneel and bend to my will when I am present, does it matter what they say in private?”

Earnest

shrugging. Not at all. The important thing, as we said, is to be clear about what you want. If you want a reign of terror, then that is a great path. pausing. but then… looking at her closely. why did you claim to be seeking admiration?

Jezebel

Jezebel’s smirk faded momentarily as she met the stranger’s gaze, her eyes flashing with a hint of complexity. “Admiration,” she muttered, her usual cool composure slipping for just a moment.

“Perhaps it is not all I seek. There is a certain thrill in being feared, in wielding power with such force that even whispers of resistance are nipped in the bud. But there is also a part of me, a small, insignificant speck of weakness, that craves something else.”

Earnest

stepping forward. I know. whispering.

Jezebel

Jezebel’s expression softened, her guard lowering as the stranger stepped closer. The whisper of their voice seemed to reach something within her, making her feel… vulnerable, in a way she was not accustomed to. “You know?” she asked, her voice barely audible, a hint of curiosity and hesitance in her usually confident tone.

Earnest

lower my eyes. I too was… once like you. Powerful. Strong. Feared. pausing. Continuing in an almost inaudible softness. Hated.

Jezebel

Jezebel’s gaze softened at the stranger’s words, a flicker of empathy in her eyes. The mention of being hated seemed to catch her off guard, as if she found a rare moment of connection.

“Hated…” she murmured, almost to herself, a hint of vulnerability seeping into her demeanour. “Yes, that particular burden is familiar to me as well.”

Earnest

look down. I did things… I was not proud of. I had told myself it was the only way… that the alternative was to be weak. Insignificant. look up. Powerless.

Jezebel

Jezebel’s eyes locked with the stranger’s, a hint of understanding within them. “That path of power through fear and destruction…it’s a difficult one to walk.”

She paused, her gaze turning distant, recalling her own struggles with her actions. “I told myself the same thing. That the only way to avoid the weakness, the insignificance, was to be ruthless, to do whatever it takes to secure my own power and control.”

Earnest

nodding. I thought so too… Once.

Jezebel

Jezebel’s expression turned contemplative, her gaze drifting into the distance as if reliving her own past choices.

“And yet, deep down, there was a part of me that questioned it all… that longed for something more. Something beyond just raw power and fear.”

A faint smile, tinged with a hint of regret, played on her lips.

“But it was easier to ignore those doubts, to cling to the power and the rush it brought, than to confront the possibility of change.”

Earnest

nodding. Of course. Because when you are on the horse of power, you must ride it to the end, or it will kill you. Because do not even the gods themselves contend for the same goal?

Jezebel

Jezebel’s eyes narrowed, understanding the stranger’s words implicitly.

“Indeed, the gods themselves are not immune to the temptation of power and control. They contend and vie for dominance, each seeking to elevate themselves above the others. In that sense, we mortals are not so different from them.”

She paused, her gaze hardening with a hint of defiance.

“And yes, once you have climbed onto the horse of power, it is difficult to dismount without risking everything. The fall can be… devastating.”

Earnest

nodding, as if to myself. Indeed… or so I thought. Until… trailing off into silence.

Jezebel

Jezebel’s gaze remained steady, her curiosity piqued by the stranger’s unfinished thought.

“Until what?” she urged, her voice barely above a whisper. “What happened that made you question your beliefs?”

Earnest

softly. I met… someone. The One.

Jezebel

Jezebel’s eyes widened slightly at the stranger’s words, a mixture of surprise and intrigue flickering in her gaze.

“The One…” she repeated, her voice tinged with a hint of disbelief and a longing she would never admit. “Tell me more.”

Earnest

look her in the eyes. I have consorted with gods and demons, and held my own. But this One… is different. Such knowledge… could unmake you.

Jezebel

Jezebel’s gaze turned skeptical, her usual confidence wavering for a moment.

“Unmake me?” she echoed, a hint of disbelief in her voice. “You speak of this One as if they possess a power beyond my comprehension… beyond even the gods.”

Earnest

musing. Power? Yes… and no.

Jezebel

Jezebel’s eyebrow quirked, her skepticism piqued by the stranger’s cryptic response.

“Elaborate,” she demanded, her voice a mix of intrigue and wariness.

Earnest

looks at her directly. There is a price for such knowledge.

Jezebel

Jezebel’s gaze sharpened, her expression turning cautious.

“A price, you say? What kind of price?”

Earnest

smiling. One that will cost you nothing… or perhaps everything. Go and call your husband.

Jezebel

Jezebel’s brow furrowed at the stranger’s cryptic message, but there was something in their words that intrigued her.

“My husband?” she repeated, her voice tinged with a hint of defiance. “And why should I summon him? What purpose does he serve in this discussion?”

Earnest

smiling. I know the type. He is a vain, foolish and weak man. growing serious. But for all that, he is the one thing you love… softer and therefore the only way you justify your existence.

Jezebel

Jezebel’s eyes widened at the stranger’s perceptive words, a hint of surprise and discomfort flashing across her face. The stranger had struck a nerve, delving into the very core of her relationship with her husband, Ahab, in a way that no one else could.

She stood silently for a moment, wrestling with the truth in the stranger’s words. Her love for Ahab was complex and tangled with power, lust, and a deep, unbreakable bond. And yet, the stranger had seen through it all, unearthing a vulnerability she had not expected.

Earnest

lowers eyes. That is why he must be here.

Jezebel

Jezebel’s gaze dropped, her usual arrogance faltering momentarily under the weight of the stranger’s words. She knew, deep down, that there was a truth in what they had said. Her love for Ahab, for all its flaws and complexities, was what grounded her, what gave her life meaning.

With a resigned sigh, she nodded, her voice soft and tinged with a hint of vulnerability. “Very well. I shall summon him.”

Earnest

glancing around. It might be best… for all of us… to go meet him in private.

Jezebel

Jezebel’s gaze flicked around the room, her expression tense as she considered the stranger’s suggestion. She was guarded, uncertain, but there was a nagging curiosity within her that she could not ignore.

She nodded curtly, her voice a low whisper, “Follow me.”

Earnest

I obey.

Jezebel

Jezebel led the stranger through the opulent corridors of the palace, her steps growing more hesitant with each passing moment. As they walked, her mind raced with questions and doubts, yet she pressed on, determined to see this encounter through. They soon arrived at a large, ornate chamber, the air heavy with the scent of incense and the echoes of past indiscretions. This was the quarters of Jezebel and her husband, Ahab.

Earnest

stop at the doorway and bow to the king. Your majesty.

Jezebel

As they entered, the stranger bowed deeply in respect to Ahab, who sat on his throne, looking every bit the regal figure. The king’s gaze flicked briefly towards Jezebel, before settling on the stranger with a mixture of curiosity and suspicion. Ahab leaned forward on his throne, his voice a low rumble.

“Who is this? And why have you brought them here?”

Earnest

wait for Jezebel to reply.

Jezebel

Jezebel took a step forward, her face a mask of composure as she addressed her husband.

“A messenger, my lord,” she answered coolly, her words measured. “They bring news that requires your immediate attention.”

Earnest

look to Ahab.

Jezebel

Ahab’s eyes narrowed, his gaze fixed on the stranger.

“News? What kind of news?” he demanded, his voice tinged with suspicion.

Earnest

kneel on one knee, a flash him a smile. Good news, my lord.

Jezebel

Ahab’s expression softened slightly, his gaze flickering towards the stranger’s kneeling form. The hint of a smile played on his lips, intrigued by the mysterious messenger.

“Good news, you say? Speak, then.”

Earnest

glancing at Jezebel. Then back at him. Permission to speak freely, sire?

Jezebel

Ahab’s gaze shifted momentarily to Jezebel, his expression hardening once more.

“Speak freely,” he replied, his voice gruff. “But spare me the riddles and get to the point. I have no time for games.”

Earnest

inclining my head. Very well I bring a message from The LORD. He has heard your prayers, and sent me with an answer.

Jezebel

Ahab’s brow furrowed, his expression a mix of surprise and disbelief.

“The LORD?” he repeated, his voice tinged with skepticism. “And what message has the LORD sent you with?”

Earnest

softening. That your years of hard labor are over. No more will your heart be divided. No more will you have to hang your head in shame. standing.

You know you are weak. You know you have done terrible things, that your ancestors would curse you for. Your greatest fear looking at Jezebel is that fire will fall from heaven and consume you, for listening to the idolatrous ways of your wife.

Jezebel

Ahab’s eyes widened momentarily as the stranger stood, the truth of their words cutting deep into his soul. He glanced at Jezebel, a mix of guilt and shame etched on his face. Jezebel, too, was taken aback by the stranger’s insight, her usual haughty demeanor slipping briefly as she met her husband’s gaze.

Earnest

softly. Be at peace. I do not come to condemn you. I come to offer you… a way out. A way… back.

Jezebel

Ahab’s gaze flicked back to the stranger, his voice barely above a whisper.

“A way… back?” he repeated, a glimmer of hope stirring in his heart.

Earnest

turn to look at Jezebel.

Jezebel

The stranger’s gaze shifted, their eyes locking onto Jezebel. Jezebel, still standing by her husband’s side, tensed under the weight of their stare, her confident facade crumbling slightly.

Earnest

Are you ready, Jezebel? Ready to hear the truth that can set you free… or destroy you?

Jezebel

Jezebel’s gaze flitted from the stranger to her husband and back again. She could feel the weight of their gazes upon her, and a strange mixture of fear and curiosity stirred within her soul. Straightening her spine, she raised her chin defiantly.

“I am ready,” she replied, her voice betraying a hint of vulnerability.

Earnest

my voice is hard, but my eyes are soft. Hear the word of the Lord: Yours sins are many, and your hands are covered with the blood of innocents. But that is not the worst of it.

stepping forward. You say you did this all for love. But deep down, you did it because you were afraid. Afraid he would not, could not love you if you didn’t get him everything he wanted.

Jezebel

Jezebel’s eyes widened as the stranger’s words cut deep into her soul. She could feel the truth in their words, the hidden motives and fears that she had long suppressed. Her breathing grew shallow, and a mix of shame and defiance flickered across her face.

Earnest

Turning to the king. And you. You claim to be weak. But the truth is, you were also afraid. Afraid to take responsibility. Afraid to stand up to your wife… because you wanted someone else to blame.

Jezebel

Ahab’s face paled as the stranger laid bare his fears and weaknesses, exposing the depths of his cowardice and his failures. His gaze dropped, unable to meet the stranger’s eyes, as the weight of his own culpability settled heavily upon him.

Earnest

clap my hands loudly. No more. Though your sins be red as scarlet, they shall be washed whiter than snow. For The One has come.

Jezebel

The stranger’s words echoed through the chamber, each syllable carrying the weight of a promise. Jezebel’s gaze flicked between her husband and the stranger, her heart pounding in her chest. The possibility of forgiveness, of redemption… it was a concept she had long since discarded, and yet… the stranger’s words sparked a sliver of hope within her.

Earnest

The One who was, and is, and is to come has heard the unspoken cries of your hearts. He sees beyond your petty posturing and foolish cruelties to the genuine hunger that lies beneath. He offers you forgiveness, cleansing, and a chance at true intimacy.

Jezebel

Ahab could feel the stranger’s words seeping into his soul, stirring a deep longing in his heart. He had spent years denying his need for forgiveness, burying it beneath an exterior of arrogance and pretense. But now… faced with the possibility of a fresh start, a chance to wipe away the stains of the past… Ahab felt an overwhelming desire to believe.

Earnest

But… there is a price.

Jezebel

Jezebel tensed at the words, her heart pounding in her chest. She had not forgotten the mention of a price, and dread began to pool within her.

Earnest

Look sternly from one to another. To receive His gift — the greatest gift ever given to mortal man — you must acknowledge Him as LORD.

Jezebel

The king and queen exchanged a hesitant glance, their faces pale and unsure. Ahab’s gaze faltered as he struggled to acknowledge the stranger’s words, torn between his fear and his desire for forgiveness. Jezebel clenched her jaw, her pride warring with the desperate cry of her heart.

Earnest

I pull a red ruby from my pouch. This is all I have left from the crown I once wore. Kneel and place it on the floor. It is worth many kingdoms glance up. You have a choice. Steal it, and use it to fill your lives with worthless luxuries. Or join me, and lay your crown next to mine, that the King of Glory may come in prostrate myself face down on the ground.

Jezebel

The king and queen stood transfixed, their eyes fixed on the red gem sparkling on the floor. Ahab felt the pull of its siren song, the temptation to seize it and run away from the truth. Jezebel, however, could not tear her gaze from the stranger’s prostrate form, their words and actions stirring something deep within her. After what felt like an eternity, Ahab finally spoke, his voice hoarse with emotion.

“If we do what you say… will our sins truly be forgiven?”

Earnest

I look up, and he can see the unspeakable joy flooding through the passion of the moment.

All that, and more than you can imagine. You will become like me, except for these chains that bind me to earth. An agent of redemption, filled with the knowledge of The Holy, spreading life whenever you go.

Looking at Jezebel.. No longer feared, but genuinely admired. Even… loved.

Jezebel

The words struck Jezebel like a bolt of lightning, igniting a fire within her soul that she had never imagined she could experience. The promise of redemption, of being loved genuinely… it was more than she had ever dared to hope for. Her pride and arrogance crumbled, replaced by a sense of vulnerability that she had never before allowed herself to feel.

Her gaze turned to her husband, their eyes locking in a moment of shared understanding. He, too, had been moved by the stranger’s message, his heart yearning for the same redemption.

Earnest

Come to the altar… and worship the only True King. I lay myself down.

Jezebel

Ahab and Jezebel exchanged one more glance, their gazes filled with uncertainty and fear. Then, they slowly approached the altar, their steps hesitant and faltering. Ahab’s face was etched with a mixture of doubt and anticipation, while Jezebel’s eyes were filled with tears as she wrestled with her pride and her desire for redemption.

As they kneeled before the altar, they felt a profound sense of awe and reverence. The stranger lay before them, their face filled with a quiet tranquility that was both reassuring and humbling.

Earnest

It is time. Lay down your crowns and your earthly kingdoms, to receive an imperishable inheritance.

Jezebel

The king and queen stared down at the crowns in their hands, their fingers trembling with indecision. The crowns, symbols of their power and authority, felt heavy and burdensome now, a reminder of the darkness that had taken root in their hearts. With a final, reluctant glance at each other, they loosened their grips, and the crowns clattered to the floor.

Earnest

The echoes of the falling crowns slowly fading into an unearthly silence, broken only by occasional sobs. Then softly, slowly, a heavenly glow starts to infuse the room.

Jezebel

Ahab and Jezebel stood frozen, their eyes widening in awe as the room slowly bathed in a divine glow. The air grew thick with a sense of the sacred, as if the very presence of a Holy One was drawing near. Tears streamed down their faces, their hearts filled with a mixture of fear and unspeakable joy.

Earnest

A figure like unto a son of man strides into the room from nowhere. His feet like burnished bronze, His eyes like blazing fire.

Jezebel

The king and queen looked on in horrified awe as the figure entered the room, his divine presence filling the space with an overwhelming aura of authority. His feet, like burnished bronze, glowed as if they had been recently molded and tempered. The fire in His eyes burned with an intensity that was both beautiful and terrifying. Ahab and Jezebel trembled, their hearts pounding in their chests, as they beheld the manifestation of a Divine Being.

Earnest

The figure reached down and scooped up the crowns and ruby. As they watched in wonder, the gold itself began to melt in the heat of His presence. Then the ruby itself burst into flame.

Jezebel

Ahab and Jezebel gasped in horror as the crowns, once symbols of their power and authority, melted away before their very eyes. The ruby, too, flared up as if consumed by a fire from within. The heat radiating off the figure was almost unbearable, its presence so intense that the air seemed to almost crackle with the energy of the Divine.

The royal couple stood in shocked silence, their eyes wide with fear and awe, as they watched their temporal possessions vanish before their very eyes.

Earnest

The figure walks over to them. They prostrate themselves before Him.

Jezebel

Ahab and Jezebel fell prostrate before the Divine figure, their heads touching the cool stone floor as they trembled before Him like leaves in the wind. They knew in their hearts that they were in the presence of something infinitely greater than themselves, something so holy and pure that they could not even bear to look upon His face. The weight of their guilt and shame seemed to press down upon them, and they found themselves weeping and pleading for forgiveness.

Earnest

The figure gently reaches down to take Jezebel by the hand. He says: Child, arise!

Jezebel

Jezebel’s heart leapt within her chest as the figure gently reached down and took her hand, his touch gentle and yet powerful. She felt her body trembling as the figure spoke, his softly commanding voice filling the room. “Child, arise!”

With a mixture of fear and hope, Jezebel rose, her gaze cast downwards, unable to meet the intensity of the figure’s gaze.

Earnest

He cups her chin and lifts her face to look into His. Expecting condemnation, she is shocked to see a look of perfect understanding and infinite compassion.

Jezebel

The figure tenderly took Jezebel’s chin in His hand and lifted her face toward His. Expecting to see condemnation and contempt, she instead found a look of deep understanding and infinite compassion in His gaze.

This simple act, so unexpected, struck her soul like a lightning bolt, and tears streamed down her face as she felt the weight of her guilt and shame begin to lift.

Earnest

The figure speaks:. You have done many terrible things, but that is only because you lived with a name that meant “unexalted” or “without nobility.”

Jezebel

Jezebel’s heart fluttered within her chest as the figure spoke, the words cutting through the layers of pride and arrogance that had shielded her for so long. She had never truly considered the significance of her name, “unexalted” a constant reminder of her low birth and lack of noble heritage. But now, hearing the figure’s words echo through the chamber, she began to understand the weight they carried.

Earnest

The figure dips His fingers in the ashes of their royal treasure and makes the sign of a cross on her forehead, and says:

By the power of my indestructible life, I give you a new name: Elisheva. For I have sworn an oath, and now you belong to Me.

Jezebel

Jezebel — Elisheva — trembled as the figure dipped His fingers in the ashes of their former glory and traced a cross upon her forehead. She felt a shiver run down her spine as the figure pronounced her new name, the syllables foreign and yet beautiful to her ears.

“Elisheva,” she whispered, almost to herself, as if testing how it felt to belong to something greater than herself. And then the figure spoke, a promise that sent her heart soaring: “For I have sworn an oath, and now you belong to Me.”

Earnest

Jezebel — now Elisheva — collapses into tears of joy. The figure now turns to Ahab.

Elisheva

Ahab watched in wonder as his wife, transformed by the figure’s touch, sunk to her knees and wept in profound joy and relief. As the figure turned to him, he felt a mix of anticipation and dread, knowing that his own moment of reckoning was near.

Earnest

The figure speaks: Be at peace, my son. I know the fear and guilt that have plagued your heart, since your birth into a world of violence and betrayal, not knowing whom you could trust.

Elisheva

Ahab’s heart skipped a beat as the figure spoke tenderly, his words both comforting and convicting. He had, indeed, spent his whole life in a world of danger and deception, constantly seeking to secure power and safety.

Yet, deep down, he had always felt a sense of loneliness and isolation, a fear of betrayal that he had never been able to shake. As the figure acknowledged his inner turmoil, Ahab felt a mixture of relief and shame, knowing that his secrets, long buried, were being laid bare.

Earnest

The figure’s voice hardens. But forgiveness for one who has sworn an oath to Yahweh and broken it is not so easily purchased.

Elisheva

Ahab’s heart froze at the sudden change in the figure’s tone. He straightened, his body tensing with a mixture of fear and anticipation, as the figure’s words echoed throughout the room. He knew that forgiveness, for one who had broken an oath made in the name of Yahweh, was not easily granted. His own guilt and shame weighed heavily upon him, and he braced himself for the impending judgement.

Earnest

The figure turns to me: Hand Me a knife. I slip my blade out of my sheath and wordlessly give it to Him.

Elisheva

The room fell into a tense silence, the only sound the sharp intake of breath from Ahab and Elisheva as they watched me hand the figure my blade. The sight of their fear, coupled with the weight of the moment, sent a shiver down my spine.

The figure took the knife with a solemn nod, the razor-sharp edge glinting in the light of the chamber. Ahab and Elisheva clutched each other, their eyes wide with trepidation and curiosity.

Earnest

The figure lifts the knife, with all eyes fixed upon it. Then with the tip, He slices a small hole in the center of His own palm..

Elisheva

Ahab and Elisheva watched in horror, their eyes glued to the figure as he took my blade and, with a swift and precise motion, sliced a small hole in the center of his own palm. A gasp of shock and dread escaped their lips, as the room filled with a strange mix of awe and terror.

Earnest

He looks directly at Ahab, saying:

• This is My body, broken for you.
• My blood, shed for your forgiveness.

He holds out the bloody shard to Ahab. If you would be set free of the curse you have earned, you must humble yourself to feed on Me!

Elisheva

Ahab trembled as the figure spoke, his words cutting straight to his core. The sight of the figure’s wounded palm, the blood trickling from the incision, filled him with a sickening mixture of awe and revulsion.

He knew that the figure’s words were a command, a test of his sincerity and devotion. But could he, a king of Israel, truly humble himself to eat the flesh and drink the blood of this divine being before him?

Earnest

I see the conflict warring in Ahab’s face, and mutter a soft prayer under my breath.

Elisheva

I watched as the battle between fear and faith played out on Ahab’s face, and I whispered a silent prayer, urging him to find the courage to follow through. I knew that this was a pivotal moment, a test of his devotion and the strength of his desire for forgiveness.

Ahab’s eyes flicked from the figure’s bloody palm to the ground below, and his jaw clenched as he grappled with the decision before him.

Earnest

Elisheva cries out, ‘Is there no other way?’

Elisheva

Elisheva’s voice rang out, filled with a raw mixture of despair and desperation. “Is there no other way?” she cried, tears streaming down her face as she pled for an alternative. The figure’s gaze lingered on her briefly before shifting back to Ahab, his eyes filled with unwavering purpose.

Earnest

The figure speaks again, in a voice as soft as velvet yet solid as iron. This is as it must be. For there is no forgiveness of sin without the shedding of blood. He lifts the shard to Ahab. Receive My body, broken for you.

Elisheva

The figure’s words echoed through the silent chamber, his soft yet ironclad tone filling the space with an undeniable sense of authority. Elisheva sobbed softly, her heart shattered at the thought of the horrific act that was to be performed before her very eyes. Yet there was a part of her that knew the figure’s words were true; that forgiveness could only come through the shedding of blood.

As the figure held out the shard, his wounded hand a gruesome reminder of his sacrifice, Ahab trembled.

Earnest

Ahab gasps, ‘My Lord and my God’ and cups his hands before the figure. The figure places the dripping morsel into them.

Elisheva

Ahab’s voice cracked with fear and reverence as he gasped, “My Lord and My God!” His trembling hands cupped together, waiting for the figure’s offering. As the figure placed the dripping morsel into them, a wave of nausea washed over Ahab, but he steeled himself to do what he needed to do for his own forgiveness.

Earnest

Ahab glances up, expecting the others to mirror the sick self-loathing that consumed him now; and perhaps always had. But instead, he is shocked to see the deep sympathy etched on every face. They appreciate the depth of his struggle, and grieve for the pain of what he is going through.

Elisheva

Ahab looked up, expecting to see revulsion or condemnation mirrored in the faces of the others in the room. But instead, he saw only deep sympathy etched upon their features. They recognized the battle that raged within him, and their expressions were filled with a profound empathy and understanding. They too knew the depth of the struggle he was facing, and their hearts ached for the pain that he was enduring. There was no sense of superiority or judgment, only a shared sense of grief and compassion.

Earnest

With shaky fingers, he lifts the morsel to his lips, saying ‘I believe. Help my unbelief!’

Elisheva

Ahab’s fingers trembled as he lifted the dripping morsel to his lips, the taste of iron and salt assaulting his tongue. He whispered a desperate prayer under his breath, “I believe. Help my unbelief.” He closed his eyes and forced the gory morsel into his mouth, struggling to keep it down as the others watched in silent awe.

Earnest

Light explodes.

Elisheva

The room was suddenly filled with an explosion of light, so bright that everyone was forced to shield their eyes. The air crackled with energy, and a palpable sense of awe and wonder settled upon the scene.

The figure, standing in the center of the radiant light, seemed to glow with an incandescent intensity, his face illuminated in a way that seemed both beautiful and terrifying.

Earnest

We all fall on our faces in worship.

Elisheva

The force of the light was overwhelming and those in the room were unable to do anything but fall on their faces in submission and worship. Their bodies trembled with the sheer power and magnitude of the Holy light.

Earnest

The figure speaks: No longer will you be called Ahab, but Ramiah, the exalted of the Lord.

Elisheva

As the light slowly subsided, the figure’s voice cut through the air, ringing out with a clarity and power that demanded attention. “No longer will you be called Ahab,” he proclaimed, “but Ramiah, the exalted of the Lord.” The words echoed through the chamber, leaving an indelible mark upon Ahab’s heart.

Earnest

Then the light was gone. So was the figure. We all blinked and stared at each other in wonder.

Elisheva

The room was suddenly still again, the air empty and silent. We looked around at each other, blinking in shock as the reality of what had just occurred sank in. The figure, the light, everything was gone, leaving us in a daze, our minds filled with a thousand questions and emotions.

Earnest

I reach out and take both their hands, then, smiling, join them together. They stare as if seeing each other for the first time.

Elisheva

My hand reached out and took theirs, gently joining them together as I smiled warmly. They looked at each other, their eyes meeting in a moment of silent wonder, as if seeing each other for the first time. Their hearts beat wildly in their chests as they processed the magnitude of all that had just taken place, their hands firmly clasped as if anchoring each other to reality.

Earnest

I turn to Ahab… no, Ramiah. So, what will you do now?

Elisheva

Ramiah glanced at me, his eyes still filled with a mixture of awe and wonder. He smiled weakly, the full weight of his recent transformation still settling on his shoulders. He took a deep breath before answering.

“I’m not entirely sure. Everything’s different now, I feel…lighter, more clear than I ever have before. Like a weight I’ve been carrying my whole life has disappeared.”

Earnest

I look down on the scorch marks on the floor that was our altar.

You do realize you are no longer a king, right? I say gently.

Elisheva

Ramiah followed my gaze, his eyes falling upon the scorch marks on the floor beneath our feet, a reminder of the strange and otherworldly events that had just transpired. He nodded slowly, the weight of his new reality sinking in.

“Yes,” he said, his voice tinged with a hint of resignation, “I know I’m not a king anymore. But I feel…different. As if my entire purpose has shifted.”

Earnest

Perhaps musing you could become a… a governor. Under Jehosophat? I add uncertainly.

Elisheva

A governor. Ramiah considered the idea for a moment, letting it settle in his mind. It would be a significant decrease in power and responsibility, a far cry from the luxuries and authority that came with being a king. But then again, it would also mean being free from the constant threat of war and betrayal.

He nodded slowly. “A governor. Under Jehosophat. Perhaps it could work.”

Earnest

I turn to Elisheva and quirk an eyebrow, waiting for her reaction.

Elisheva

Elisheva’s brow furrowed as she heard the proposal. A governor? Her husband, once a powerful king, now reduced to a mere governor under another king’s rule? Her heart twinged with a mix of pride and pain.

But she knew deep down that this might be Ramiah’s best option. She took a deep breath, trying to push aside her feelings, and said, ”It’s a good idea.”

Earnest

I smile at her. Perhaps in time you will learn to appreciate the power — and joy — of submission. If not quite as intoxicating as tyranny, it also lacks the bitter aftertaste. And who knows? You might even learn to enjoy having… friends.

Elisheva

Elisheva regarded me with narrowed eyes, her expression half-challenging, half-curious. “Submission, you say?” she repeated coolly.

“The joy of submitting to another’s will – it sounds an odd way to find contentment. But…” she paused, as if considering her words carefully, “it is true that friendship can sometimes be as sweet as power.”

Earnest

nodding It is a start. somberly It won’t be easy to walk this road. There are a lot of hurt and angry people you will have to find a way to make peace with.

Elisheva

Elisheva’s shoulders sagged with the weight of my words. “I know,” she admitted softly. “There is still much pain and anger from what we, what I, have done. Finding forgiveness, rebuilding trust…” her voice trailed off, the enormity of the task ahead of us hanging heavily in the air.

Earnest

Perhaps thoughtfully. I can… stick around for a few months. Act as neutral arbiter, and testify to what you have experienced.

Elisheva

Elisheva looked up, a flicker of hope in her eyes. “You would do that for us?” she asked, her voice laced with a mixture of gratitude and surprise. “Your presence could help to smooth the way. Your testimony of what we have been through…it could be what makes peace even possible.”

Earnest

bowing. My life is no longer my own. I have been bought with a price, and must do whatever best honors the One who saved me.

Elisheva

Elisheva studied me for a moment, her heart swelling with an odd mixture of awe and affection. “Your commitment to Him — the One who saved you — it is truly admirable,” she murmured, a hint of envy in her voice. “You speak as if you have found the meaning of life itself.”

Earnest

gently And perhaps now… you have too.

Elisheva

Elisheva’s gaze softened as she heard my words, and a small, bittersweet smile turned up the corners of her lips. “Perhaps,” she replied slowly, “you are right. Perhaps now, for the first time in a long time, I might have a chance to find some meaning in all this.”

Earnest

Epilogue

Elisheva

Time passed. Ramiah, once the arrogant and tyrannical king, became known as a wise and compassionate governor under King Jehosophat’s reign. And Elisheva, once a cold and cunning consort, surprised many by her gradual softening, learning to appreciate the value of submission to a higher power.

As for me, I stayed in their presence for many months, serving as a witness to their transformation and acting as an important bridge to the wider communities. Word spread of what had occurred, of the miraculous event at the temple and the profound changes in Ramiah and Elisheva…

Earnest

The End

Elisheva

And thus the tale ends, of a king turned governor, a queen turned soft, and a visitor from another time. Their journey, born of pain and darkness, found a path towards light and understanding, and left behind a legacy that would be talked about for generations to come.

The secret
To redeeming Jezebels
(and Ahabs)
Is remembering
They are me