****

"Many are called but few are chosen."

Rowdy words were vehemently coursing around my head while resting my head over a ginormous, soft-surface stone under a darkened, serene cave. I carefully covered my wounded flesh, which I happened to acquire while escaping, with a yellowish piece of cloth to halt the bloodshed to ooze excessively.

The pain began to replete over my entire body as if it paralyzed me; even moving lightly was in a great struggle. I loomed furtively when I found a place to sleep in, leaving my doubts behind. I was profoundly thanking the Lord for saving me with those people who wanted to kill me.

As I lay down my head to regain my lost strength, I shuddered in coldness which made me feel the ease and relief from my injured right knee. I cried in pain a while back, but the tranquil breeze of wind soothes the agony away.

The cave was too dark, and the only thing that gave a life apart from my breath was the moon up above, along with the shimmering stars. I raised my head a bit to clearly see the fascinating view of the wonderful, midnight attraction. Then, afterwards, these rowdy words caught my attention.

I began contemplating about my life, about how blessed or either cursed my situation was. I knew that I promised God to fight for his nation but fighting alone led me the way to the valley of death.

"Look at me now! Look at me!" I uttered in the depth of disbelief.

I was wounded. I was miserable. I was dismayed with the fact that I left alone and even my companions set their foot forward to believe with another god. I was asking the same question all over again as if someone was there to provide an answer to all my queries. Needless to say, why they stopped adoring God after showing them who the real God was?

After years of great tutelage and desired upbringing, God's people had decided to follow the storm of god and to fully dispel out God as their genuine savior and Lord.

"How could they do that to him?" a question with a mixture of angst and disappointment.

I knew, notwithstanding, that my current situation didn't define how greatness my God was. Just because I was injured and alone didn't mean that he abandoned me and he had no power within me, that he could not turn this situation on my benefit. I knew when someone is broken; there you could feel that He is nearer.

My present quandary didn't give me the license to curse my God as I knew that his power was dominant and thoroughly omnipotent which could make all my enemies surrender, knelt down before him.

The pain of my knee numb as the cave got colder and the night got darker. The moon was still reigning in the sky, witnessing all the human activities performed at night. I could hear the crunching sound of the dried leaves being danced by the rhythm of the wind. I was trying to fall asleep but the fabric that covered my body wasn't enough to fully provide essential warmth to stop me from shivering.

"Many are called but few are chosen." I whispered those words which were running on my head from the moment I lay my head on the rock.

Then, I began asking myself if I was really the chosen one. Doubts and hesitation would try to ruin my faith, it's like a grotesque monsters who invaded the forest of my thoughts, a hellion who wanted to leave a footprints of negativity.

I shook my head constantly as if I was commanding those doubts to shoo away. That was not the perfect time to entertain those thoughts for I knew their capabilities to destroy my sanity and to question my deep-seated principles and impenetrable faith.

I knew Satan would ghastly using that moment to plant a seed of pessimism; he was smart but not as smarter than I do. After shooing him away and his ulterior scheme, I closed my eyes and let God control everything. Satan was smart, I am smarter but God was and is the smartest one. I didn't just believe in my own strength to let Satan out of my way but I was more a believer to my God.

"God doesn't exist!" a voice I heard from nowhere.

"My God does!" I shouted in conviction.

I caught myself breathing heavily when I woke up in the middle of the night. It was still dark. It was still cold. I didn't realize that I fell asleep and to my surprise Satan was boldly trying to enter my dream, even in dream he never get tired of maiming people and sending mischief. But, luckily, even in my dream, I never stop believing in my God.

I sat down, tried to look my wound as if it were gone already but to my surprise the pain ameliorated and I felt no pain at all. I peeked. I looked up above and sent my thanks unuttered.

I was not aware about the time but I was entirely cognizant about what will happen when the sun rises – the people of Baal would continue searching for me. If there was one thing they wished to do, apart from adoring their god, it was surely to see me killed, died and buried. And that was something my God would never allow to happen.

"I have to take a rest." A necessity.

****

"Who is your God?" one bold soldier ridding on his horse loudly asked.

"Jehovah!" a man answered while he was stuttering and shivered because of fear and great terror.

A conniption started to rise when these people of Baal began to intrude the places where Israelites reside. They were forced to kill these people if they found that they are worshipping a god other than their god, Baal. They were summoned to different places to turn every nation a true, legit believer of Baal. If people refused, or either strongly believes to whoever their god is, death was the only destination.

Cries, woes, brawls, overt murders filled the entire place which wade everyone shuddered with aghast and utmost terror. People who were forced and chosen to worship Baal knelt down in groups with their both hands tied.

Continuous shouts and scream became a boisterous music to the ears of the soldiers, laughingly shouted with their victory against the people of Israelites. The situation was entirely nightmare. People were crying in desperation. The shout was an indication of triumphant invasion, a total surge of powerful dominion.

"No! No! No!" I shouted!

After a sinister phantasmagoria, I woke up with tears, terrifying as it may sound, my heart was pounding instantaneously. I placed my right hand to where my heart beating, catching my breath and exhaling a heavy sigh of disgust and scowl.

I sipped water from my jar just to make me feel better. I stood up and acquiesced in the life given before me. I was a prophet. I was a deacon of God. I was the leader of my people. I was ready to face them.

After few minutes, subsequently, the sun will rise again. The darkness will be swept away and the light will, for sure, guide my way. There were butterflies on my stomach and soon enough, they'll morph into eagles. My hands were shivering while I was making myself ready for this battle, a clash between a counterfeit god and the real God.

While gathering all my stuffs, seriously dwelling into my musings and checking my wound, I heard a very distinctive voice.

"Elijah!"

I stopped, wandered my eyes to the entire place just to locate where the voice was coming from. I looked from side to side, but failed to see any person. I recoiled when I heard it again, this time, the voice was louder and I believed the voice came inside due to its reverberating sound which resonates to me ears. It echoed! It gives me chills down to my spine.

For the third time, the voice called my name again. And this time, I dared to ask who was he?

"Who are you?" asking his name while wandering and checking his location.

"It's me the one who called you," the voice answered "the one who sent you in this world. I was, am, will always be with you wherever you go. Like I promised to those people before you, I will never leave you. Know, that I am always in your heart."

"Is that you God?" I sincerely asked.

I was waiting for him to verify if he was really God, but, unfortunately, silence interrupted our conversation. I never heard him anymore. But after that, without hearing his answers, his voice made me feel that I knew him, I knew who he was and who he will become.

"Thanks, God! I know it's you!" I whispered.

When the sun reigned in the sky, I knew I was ready to meet my waited destiny. No room for gibberish complains. No space for unwanted thoughts. No speck for harsh-empowering doubts. I was ready to save my people and I knew God was with me.

In front of the cave, there was waiting something for me. When I walked my way to see them, a wooden cross and a fabric cloth welcomed me on my way out. I simply grabbed them and placed them on my bag.

"Before you were born, you were already chosen by God to fulfill this duty. Before you were conceived by your mother, you were already destined to be God's messenger, to be God's deacon – to be his prophet."

I always remember that someone who said it before. She would always be in my heart. Now, I was called to be his prophet and there were so many people waiting to be rescued. God never called me for nothing, he called me to make everyone know about him.

"There is only God!" I whispered.

There is only God, the true, genuine God and that is my God, Jehovah. And I am on my way to tell them, to tell the world about him.

I am Elijah and this is my story!

****

The people of Baal, the god of storm had gleefully shouted as a victorious sign which made other god vanquished. After a successful dominion in different places in the region, to make their pantheon well-known as true and living god, the head prophet signaled the people of Canaanites to gather in what so-called Temple of Baal to offer an enormous praise and tumultuous worship.

"For Baal!" the head prophet raised his glass to beckon the people for a toast of celebration.

"For Baal!" the people shouted in unison.

That night replete with festive dance and joyous thanksgiving, there was a bonfire in the middle of everyone and Canaanites women gracefully danced adjacent to the fire, forming a circle, wearing colorful and vibrant dresses which made them look like belly dancers. There were also young Canaanites who were playing various instruments on the right corner of the Temple which gave everyone the soothing emotion which corresponds the moment of great victory.

Together with the rhythm and beat which generated a magnificent and inviting music to everyone, the people of Baal continued to celebrate as they still shouted the name of their savior. Wine was served in all the table along with the various palatable dishes made perfectly for their people.

Smiles were everywhere and sadness was nowhere to be found. They were at ease, knowing that their foe will be defeated completely. Canaanites believed in one thing that their victory was led by Baal and everything in this earth was belong to them, or will be given unto them once Baal will be proclaimed god in all lands.

The captives, on the other hands, were locked in group in the tremendous, human-sized gcages made for them. While sitting on the ground, all of them were in the midst of great despair and begging for food to eat. The moment they were held captive, foods were denied, and so did the water. These people were thinking about certain things. First, how could they live longer in a place they barely know together with these people who treated them like an animal? Second, they just did what they had to do in order to live, in order to survive, murmuring a prayer to Jehovah, asking for his forgiveness. Third, when will these Canaanites give them food to thrive?

"Mama, I'm hungry!" one kid excruciatingly protested.

They were starving to death, and as a mother who heard your child asking for basic human need, it was obnoxiously irritating and that pain-induced situation demanded her role to locate food for her son.

"Hey! Can anyone give us a food?" she yelled, crying for desperation.

With the loud music and continuous noise they produced because of the celebration, her yell became a whisper to their ears. Her pale-stricken son wailed due to stomach upset making the parent vulnerable of losing her sanity because of her son's condition.

She forcefully yelled and snarled, nonetheless, just to save her son for his current suffering. When the boy bawled uncontrollably, other kids started to lament as well paving the way for massive hysteria. With the conjoined noise made by the children, of course necessarily to get someone's attention, a soldier urged to find where the noise was coming from.

He felt that there was noise produced by children crying, he believed it was a different sound created by the instrument. The Temple of Baal was far from the place where they imprisoned, reason why he needed more effort to scrutinize the entire place.

He ran over when he followed the noise and was awestruck when everyone was crying. The captives were trying to reach the man with their hands, and due to the uncharacteristic whine and simultaneous noise, he never understood any single word they uttered

"Food!"

Until, finally, he heard a word which was familiar to him. The captives were extremely famished as if they were dying soon not unless food will be given unto them. Apparently, the soldier scratched his head, lowered his eyes and heaved a heavy a sigh of discomfort. He didn't know what to do. He was in the midst of giving them foods without order or just ignores them at all.

"We're begging you! We need foods!"

"My son is dying, can give us something to eat."

"Please, help us! Children are dying."

"Help! Help! Help!"

****

"You know that this is not the end, right?" Kharel simply whispered to the Head Prophet admonishing his thought about an early celebration.

"Let's just give them the reason to celebrate." The Head Prophet smirked as he responded to his nihilistic companion.

"I am telling you, Elijah is still alive and he was powerful enough to kill us all, not to mention his God though."

"Elijah is nothing compared to his people. He is coward. He chose to hide instead of standing with his people during the invasion."

"I knew, he is planning for something. He is scheming something big, bigger that what you can think of."

"Are you that afraid Kharel, aren't you? Where is faith to Baal? Where is your love toward him?"

"It is not a question of faith, it is a question of preparedness. I know his capabilities, his power and if we will not be fully equipped about him, we would all die in tears and pain."

"So, what do you suggest?"

"We have to go after him. Before making his way to invade us, let's us make sure to capture him first and burn him to death."

"Excellent! I will summon the soldiers the day after tomorrow for that smart suggestion of yours?"

"The day after tomorrow?"

"Yes, you heard me, didn't you?"

"Every moment we spend to do nothing, the more time he has to prepare for his invasion. Don't you get it, do you?"

"What? Your insurmountable fear towards him? Yeah, I fully understand that you are afraid of him."

"I am not afraid."

"Your voice said the opposite Kharel."

Kharel halted talking and turned his back to the Head Prophet. He heaved a sigh of great disgust followed by looking to the horizon with his sharped eyes. He sipped a wine and went back to talking to the Head Prophet.

"If we will wait until the following days, I am more than certain, that we will lose inside of the battlefield."

"One versus all of us, why are you so sure that he could engulf our troops and be defeated by a single prophet?"

"Because, I know how powerful his God is."

"Why it seems like you know his God more than our god."

"I just knew it."

"You just knew it? That's all?"

The entire temple, along with the vicinity, was filled with continuous and loud noise, but the conversation was deafening enough to hear not any other noise but their voices. The Head master took a sip of wine of his glass while watching his people celebrating, while Kharel bit his tongue to displace his anger towards to the head Prophet.

"Our people need time to celebrate as much as they need time to rest Kharel. I could no longer command them to find Elijah tomorrow, knowing that they will be drunk to slumber."

"I hear you. But don't tell me I didn't warn you."

"So, what are you going to do?"

"I find him myself and kill that prophet using my bare hands."

"You are not serious about this, are you?"

"I am. I will kill him."

Kharel left the table and his companions. Meanwhile, the head prophet contemplated of what he heard about him and began to worry. He stood up and drank his wine of the side of the platform in the Temple of Baal.

The night was still young; the moon together with the few stars in heaven witnessed the clamorous celebration of Canaanites. The wind was dancing with the tune of thanksgiving and the rhythm of adamant laughs. More and more wine was served to each table and the longer the party was, the more endurance the captives need to linger on.

"Head Prophet, the captives were making noise and begging for food." The soldier approached the head prophet to talk about the present issue, with his face filled with pity and mercy.

"Tell them to wait until the party is over."

"But Head Prophet, there're kids in the cages and most of them were lamenting for food. They were dying of famine."

"You heard me, right? No food until the party is over!" he reiterated.

The soldier lowered his face; fasten his gaze on the floor. Dejected as it may seem, he followed the order from the higher-up. He walked away from the platform and went back to his seat, wondering if the head prophet was too vicious toward to the captives.

"Are you okay?" the soldier who sat beside him asked him directly.

He just nodded. But he knew it in his heart that he needs to do something. He gulfed a glass of wine and wiped his mouth to clean it from the residue.

****

"Oh God, help us!" she uttered with so much humility."

When the soldier left them, unaware of the possible resolution, the Israelites started to pray like the usual way of sending orison to their God. They created circles, held each other hands and began to pray in unison.

They started by asking for forgiveness. They knew that everything went wrong, from the moment they were asked about who their god was to the fact that they need to lie in order to survive. They acknowledged their shortcomings and transgressions and viewed that situation as a way of punishing God for their decision and behavior.

"I know we have sinned against you and our volition to betray you is considered blasphemy. But please honor our plea because we are humbly coming into your presence and surrendering our lives to you. To die with God is more wonderful than to live with lies and worshipping another god. If you would kill us, which we all deserved because of what we did, spare our children. Let them live and be your disciples. Let them live and use them to glorify your name. Oh Jehovah, have mercy on us amen."

After uttering a prayer with profound sincerity, the soldier who happened to talk to them a while back brought food for everyone. He deliberately disobeyed the head prophet about his protocol and followed what his desire wants. His decision to help them resonates with his soul which created an enormous motivation to sneak in the kitchen and purloined foods necessary for the captives.

"Here, take all of these and eat!" he said in full conviction and kindness.

The Israelites took all the food and sent their deepest gratitude to the benevolent soldier who happened to be an instrument to help them, which was based on their single interpretation of God's work and providence.

****

"Move where your spirit leads you!" Elijah mumbled while heading his way to his unknown destination.

After taking what he belongs to him in front of the cave, he started his quest to find the Canaanites and save his people. There was one problem he encountered while fulfilling his mission, he didn't know where they were headquartered.

Then a voice came to whisper, telling him about trust – to trust his spirit. He walked all day until he found a distinctive noise – a sound of celebration and music.

He stopped. He sneaked around. He hid on the grass and scrutinizing the entire place. He made a clear assumption and concluded that he already found where Canaanites were located. He was sure and certain. He remembered those people and soldiers who invaded their places; he was sure enough about everything, even the prophets who commanded the soldiers to kill them if they won't follow their commands.

He clenched his fist in anger and wanted to retaliate at once but something within him held him back. Elijah felt that it was not the perfect time to invade the place and thinking about a salient, sharp-minded scheme followed by realizing that he could not defeat them using his fist was of great importance.

"But, where are my people?" he asked himself a question.

Elijah stood up, wiped his forehead due to its excessive sweat. He sneaked around to locate where the Israelites were located. All Canaanites were partying and that was the best time for him to locate their whereabouts. He roamed around until he found human-sized cages far from where he saw the Canaanites dancing and drinking.

"Carina?" he whispered.

"Elijah?" Carina was shocked when she saw the prophet "I thank God, you're alive. Thanks to Jehovah!"

"Tomorrow, God will set you free. For now, you have to take good care of everyone and tell them about this good news."

"Yes, yes, I will. Forgive us Elijah for abandoning God for our survival."

"Don't ask forgiveness to me. I am not your God. Ask forgiveness to Him."

"God knows how regretful we are towards him and maybe He saves no one because of our betrayal."

"Good thing, our God is a forgiving God. He can forgive us, for sure."

It the midst of their conversation, a loud lighting hit the heaven. It was about to rain. The stars hid with thick dark clouds and the moon loses its light because of the weather. Elijah departed from that place as the shouts and screams became louder and louder as the lighting roared stronger than thousands of collision.

****

"Our god, Baal is here!" the head prophet offered a toast.

"Whooh!" They shouted in full power and vigor.

"In the midst of us is Baal, he is celebrating with us. This is a sign that he is here, he is the god of storm, and tonight, it will rain like he promised. He made himself clear that in every situation and quandary, he is always our guide. He is the only god. He is the true living god. Praise his name!"

"Praise his name!"

They all drank the wine on their glasses and rain drops began to fall. The wind became much stronger than it was never before, the occurrence of natural electric discharge of high voltage between heaven and earth gave them a reason to shout even louder. The bright flash gave them the light to continue the celebration.

The Canaanites danced under the sky with rain failing down. The bonfire was engulfed with the power of rain, evaporating the smoke and suddenly gone forever. That was recorded one of the best and memorable nights in the lives of Canaanites.

On the other side of the hill, while Canaanites were celebrating, Elijah was looking for a place to stay in until he found a small cave not far from the Canaanites place. He took off his archaic sling bag and sat on the rock. He put his hands crossed his shoulders, like giving himself a butterfly hug.

It was so dark.

His clothes were soaked in water and he had no choice but to sleep with those clothes covering his body. The rain had powerfully reign longer that he could ever expect and fear aroused when the thunder repeatedly join the rain from the heavenly performance. He suddenly closed his eyes and uttered an orison.

"Oh Jehovah, the creator of the universe, the God of Abraham and Jacob, my savior, my redeemer, please help me. I know you are my light when I am lost in darkness, my warmth when I tremble in cold, my purpose when I found no meaning and my life when dark moments appear. I don't know what to do but I know you are guiding my way in every single step I take. I know who you are; you are the true, living God."

He fell asleep after praying, then, a sharp object pointing to his neck woke him up.

"Oh my G-"

"Elijah, Elijah!"

Kharel was pointing the sharped-edge sword of his neck, Elijah pushed himself up to properly sit on the rock. His countenance was filled with revealing awe and a fear knowing that he was in the great peril. Kharel smirked when he

saw doubt on Elijah's face, he knew that someone like him would display a right amount of terror.

"I never thought you have fears. I thought you were brave."

"Fear is not the opposite of courage. Being brave doesn't mean you don't feel fear. It is surmounting that emotion Kharel."

"Wow, I am surprised, you still know me."

"How could I forget you? Kharel, there's still time to change, Baal is not real, and you know that."

"Baal isn't real? So, who is real then? Your God?" Jehovah?"

"Yes, yes, He is waiting for you! You can still go back!"

"No Elijah, He is waiting for you. He is waiting for you there!"

Kharel raised his sword and ready to slay his opponent, but with greater stamina, Elijah managed to avoid being hit. He stood up immediately and trying to persuade him while he was being attacked by Kharel. Then, Elijah grabbed his shoulder which made him loose his grip on the sword. Kharel crouched on the ground and Elijah went to take the fallen sword. Without a hesitation, he lifted the sword, pushed it down and shouted.

Kharel was dead.

****

He took the horse and paved his way to the Canaanites. The soldiers were still sleeping on the ground, yet the prophets were fully awake. A bell was rung, an indication that they were in a great danger. The whole people of Canaanites were, once again, gathered in the temple.

"Look, who's here?" one prophet said.

They were all shocked when they saw Elijah riding on a horse, a familiar horse, a horse owned by Prophet Kharel.

"What we can we do for you?" The Head Prophet asked with a very soft voice.

"Meet me in Mt. Carmel, tomorrow night."

"And why do we need to do it?"

"It's time for us to know who the real God is. And you have to follow my order, because the life of your prophet is in jeopardy once you kill me now or if you disobey my command."

The head prophet was staring at him, nonchalance. The whole crowd was put into silence and was early waiting for the Head prophet to decide. Silence reigned for a moment until they heard him agreeing with Elijah's demand.

"One more thing, Israelites will be there to witness everything, even your people can come to. Again, tomorrow night, at Mouth Carmel."

Elijah left the Canaanites in the depths of bewilderment.