WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:01.459 Ever get that feeling like you're up against 00:00:01.459 --> 00:00:03.600 something impossible? Oh yeah, definitely. Like, 00:00:03.660 --> 00:00:05.139 you know, one of those situations where you just 00:00:05.139 --> 00:00:07.740 can't see a way out. Right. And we try to come 00:00:07.740 --> 00:00:10.519 up with these elaborate plans, these huge, complex 00:00:10.519 --> 00:00:12.759 solutions. And sometimes it feels like you're 00:00:12.759 --> 00:00:15.240 just spinning your wheels. Exactly. But what 00:00:15.240 --> 00:00:19.019 if the answer, the real solution, was something 00:00:19.019 --> 00:00:21.660 totally unexpected? Something completely out 00:00:21.660 --> 00:00:23.980 of left field. Yeah. Like something you'd never 00:00:23.980 --> 00:00:26.379 even think of. Now that's an intriguing idea. 00:00:26.809 --> 00:00:29.250 And that's exactly what we're diving into today. 00:00:29.390 --> 00:00:32.109 Oh, this is gonna be good. It is! We're taking 00:00:32.109 --> 00:00:35.130 a deep dive into this fascinating ancient text 00:00:35.130 --> 00:00:39.090 excerpts from Tobit. The Demon's Flight and a 00:00:39.090 --> 00:00:43.770 Blessed Marriage. Tobit. Okay, I'm intrigued. 00:00:44.109 --> 00:00:46.090 I've heard of it. but haven't really explored 00:00:46.090 --> 00:00:47.969 it in depth. We'll get ready to be surprised. 00:00:48.189 --> 00:00:50.170 It's packed with these incredible stories of 00:00:50.170 --> 00:00:52.649 overcoming obstacles in the most unexpected ways. 00:00:53.149 --> 00:00:54.549 So what's the set of what kind of challenges 00:00:54.549 --> 00:00:56.469 are we talking about here? All right, so imagine 00:00:56.469 --> 00:00:59.090 this, a young man to Baia, he's about to get 00:00:59.090 --> 00:01:02.509 married to Sarah. Okay, sounds like a happy occasion. 00:01:02.829 --> 00:01:06.810 It should be right, but here's the twist. Sarah 00:01:06.810 --> 00:01:09.150 has a tragic past. I don't know what happened. 00:01:09.370 --> 00:01:11.370 Well, every single one of her previous seven 00:01:11.370 --> 00:01:14.409 husbands died on their wedding night. Seven? 00:01:14.799 --> 00:01:17.900 Wow, that's a lot of tragedy for one person. 00:01:18.079 --> 00:01:21.319 It is, and the culprit is a demon, a seriously 00:01:21.319 --> 00:01:23.879 nasty one. A demon. Okay, now this is getting 00:01:23.879 --> 00:01:26.040 interesting. So our mission today is to understand 00:01:26.040 --> 00:01:29.239 how this marriage not only survives, but is actually 00:01:29.239 --> 00:01:32.239 blessed in the midst of all this. Sounds like 00:01:32.239 --> 00:01:34.099 a tall order, especially with a demon lurking 00:01:34.099 --> 00:01:36.900 around. It is, but the methods involved are, 00:01:37.079 --> 00:01:39.579 let's just say, pretty unconventional. Unconventional 00:01:39.579 --> 00:01:41.500 how? Well, we're talking about using parts of 00:01:41.500 --> 00:01:44.159 a fish. and some serious divine intervention. 00:01:44.359 --> 00:01:46.480 Parts of a fish. I'm really curious now. You 00:01:46.480 --> 00:01:48.120 should be. This is not your typical love story. 00:01:48.500 --> 00:01:50.680 Let's dive in. I want to hear how this all unfolds. 00:01:50.760 --> 00:01:52.739 OK, so picture this. It's the wedding night. 00:01:53.299 --> 00:01:55.280 And Tobiah, thankfully, has gotten some very 00:01:55.280 --> 00:01:57.760 specific instructions from the angel Rafael. 00:01:58.299 --> 00:02:01.040 Rafael the Archangel. So very same. And he tells 00:02:01.040 --> 00:02:03.920 Tobiah to take the liver and heart of a fish. 00:02:04.359 --> 00:02:06.239 Wait, hold on a fish. What does a fish have to 00:02:06.239 --> 00:02:08.539 do with any of this? I know, right? It's totally 00:02:08.539 --> 00:02:11.300 unexpected. But he's told to take these fish 00:02:11.300 --> 00:02:14.539 organs and put them on burning embers. Like the 00:02:14.539 --> 00:02:16.960 kind used for incense. Exactly. So they're creating 00:02:16.960 --> 00:02:19.379 the strong smell. Okay, and what happens next? 00:02:19.699 --> 00:02:22.840 Well, the text says that the odor of the fish, 00:02:22.979 --> 00:02:26.960 it drives the demon away. Seriously. just the 00:02:26.960 --> 00:02:29.580 smell. It repulsed the demon, and it fled to 00:02:29.580 --> 00:02:33.039 Egypt. Wow, that's a pretty potent fish. It is, 00:02:33.240 --> 00:02:35.000 right? It makes you think about how different 00:02:35.000 --> 00:02:38.099 cultures and times viewed the power of smells. 00:02:38.419 --> 00:02:40.780 And the power of the unseen world, right? Right, 00:02:41.199 --> 00:02:42.819 absolutely. And think about it for a second. 00:02:43.000 --> 00:02:45.680 What might be the fish liver in our own lives? 00:02:45.960 --> 00:02:47.800 You mean those things that seem insignificant 00:02:47.800 --> 00:02:50.000 but could actually hold immense power? Exactly. 00:02:50.300 --> 00:02:52.340 Sometimes the most unexpected solutions are right 00:02:52.340 --> 00:02:54.419 in front of us. I like that. So the demon is 00:02:54.419 --> 00:02:56.810 scared off by a fishy smell, but It doesn't end 00:02:56.810 --> 00:02:59.430 there, does it? Nope, not at all. Yeah. Raphael, 00:02:59.449 --> 00:03:01.590 being the awesome angel he is, doesn't just shoe 00:03:01.590 --> 00:03:04.110 the demon away. He pursues it. He chases after 00:03:04.110 --> 00:03:06.349 it. All the way to Egypt, and he binds it there 00:03:06.349 --> 00:03:08.030 to make sure it can't cause any more trouble. 00:03:08.210 --> 00:03:10.469 Wow. Talk about going above and beyond. Right. 00:03:10.909 --> 00:03:13.129 And then the text says Raphael returned immediately, 00:03:13.270 --> 00:03:15.650 like it was no big deal. So not only powerful, 00:03:15.909 --> 00:03:18.830 but efficient, too. Exactly. What does that tell 00:03:18.830 --> 00:03:22.939 us about divine help? When we need it, it can 00:03:22.939 --> 00:03:26.120 be swift and decisive. No messing around. So 00:03:26.120 --> 00:03:28.479 with the demon problem taken care of in a rather 00:03:28.479 --> 00:03:31.719 unique way, Tobiah and Sarah do something just 00:03:31.719 --> 00:03:33.979 as crucial. Let me guess they start praying. 00:03:34.419 --> 00:03:37.219 You got it! Even before they think about anything 00:03:37.219 --> 00:03:39.539 else, their first instinct is to pray together. 00:03:39.879 --> 00:03:41.439 That's beautiful. It shows where their priorities 00:03:41.439 --> 00:03:44.740 lie. It really does. They recognize that protection 00:03:44.740 --> 00:03:47.580 and blessing come from a deeper source. So what 00:03:47.580 --> 00:03:50.360 do they pray for? Well, Tobias starts by praising 00:03:50.360 --> 00:03:53.139 God, acknowledging him as the creator of everything, 00:03:53.379 --> 00:03:55.520 the God of their ancestors. Setting the stage, 00:03:55.599 --> 00:03:57.819 acknowledging the bigger picture. And then he 00:03:57.819 --> 00:04:00.939 mentions Adam and Eve specifically how God created 00:04:00.939 --> 00:04:03.939 them as the foundation for marriage. Bringing 00:04:03.939 --> 00:04:06.120 it back to the very beginning, the original blueprint. 00:04:06.400 --> 00:04:08.080 Exactly. They're grounding their marriage in 00:04:08.080 --> 00:04:10.259 something much bigger than themselves. So it's 00:04:10.259 --> 00:04:12.360 not just a social contract for them. It's a sacred 00:04:12.360 --> 00:04:14.710 union. And then he says this really powerful 00:04:14.710 --> 00:04:18.149 line, no, not with lust, but with fidelity, I 00:04:18.149 --> 00:04:20.470 take this kinswoman as my wife. Wow, that's a 00:04:20.470 --> 00:04:23.699 powerful statement. He's making a conscious choice, 00:04:23.779 --> 00:04:26.639 not just driven by desire. And it shows the depth 00:04:26.639 --> 00:04:28.560 of their commitment to each other, right? Absolutely. 00:04:28.879 --> 00:04:31.279 It elevates their marriage to something much 00:04:31.279 --> 00:04:33.879 deeper than just a physical union. And then they 00:04:33.879 --> 00:04:36.839 continue praying together, asking for mercy protection, 00:04:37.300 --> 00:04:39.699 the chance to grow old together. Really putting 00:04:39.699 --> 00:04:41.959 their hopes and fears out there. And there's 00:04:41.959 --> 00:04:44.120 this beautiful moment where they both say, amen, 00:04:44.339 --> 00:04:46.540 amen. It's like this shared affirmation, a unity 00:04:46.540 --> 00:04:49.569 of spirit. Exactly. They're starting their journey 00:04:49.569 --> 00:04:52.310 together with this shared reliance on God. So 00:04:52.310 --> 00:04:54.350 while all this is happening upstairs with Tabaya 00:04:54.350 --> 00:04:58.410 and Sarah, where's Sarah's dad Regal in all of 00:04:58.410 --> 00:05:00.449 this? Well, Regal is downstairs and he's having 00:05:00.449 --> 00:05:02.470 a completely different experience. Oh no, what's 00:05:02.470 --> 00:05:05.490 going on with him? He's terrified. Absolutely 00:05:05.490 --> 00:05:07.569 consumed with fear. He's probably worried about 00:05:07.569 --> 00:05:10.069 Sarah again, right? Given her history. Exactly. 00:05:10.329 --> 00:05:12.610 He's convinced that Tabaya has met the same fate 00:05:12.610 --> 00:05:15.009 as her previous husbands. Oh man, that's heartbreaking. 00:05:15.389 --> 00:05:17.310 So he does something drastic. He starts digging 00:05:17.310 --> 00:05:20.209 a grave. A grave. Well, they're upstairs. He's 00:05:20.209 --> 00:05:22.730 preparing for the worst. He's so overcome with 00:05:22.730 --> 00:05:25.689 anxiety. It's a stark contrast to the faith that 00:05:25.689 --> 00:05:28.189 Tobiah and Sarah are expressing, isn't it? It 00:05:28.189 --> 00:05:32.649 really is. He's relying on his own very human 00:05:32.649 --> 00:05:35.810 and rather morbid preparations. It makes you 00:05:35.810 --> 00:05:38.629 wonder, does his fear take away from the miracle 00:05:38.629 --> 00:05:41.550 or does it somehow highlight it even more? That's 00:05:41.550 --> 00:05:43.639 a great question to ponder, but... back to the 00:05:43.639 --> 00:05:47.060 story, Raigel finishes the grave and then he 00:05:47.060 --> 00:05:49.439 sends a maid up to check on them. He wants to 00:05:49.439 --> 00:05:51.300 know if Tobias is really dead, doesn't he? He 00:05:51.300 --> 00:05:54.120 does. He wants to bury him quietly before anyone 00:05:54.120 --> 00:05:57.279 finds out to avoid shame. Wow, the social pressure 00:05:57.279 --> 00:05:59.639 must have been immense back then. It was, especially 00:05:59.639 --> 00:06:01.420 with Sarah's history, but here comes the turning 00:06:01.420 --> 00:06:03.680 point that made Gozen and finds them sound asleep 00:06:03.680 --> 00:06:05.759 and unharmed. Oh, thank goodness. That's a huge 00:06:05.759 --> 00:06:08.279 relief. It is, right. It's the aha moment for 00:06:08.279 --> 00:06:10.839 Regal. His fears were totally unfounded. His 00:06:10.839 --> 00:06:13.160 anxiety was completely crushed by the reality 00:06:13.160 --> 00:06:15.579 of the situation. And his reaction, he immediately 00:06:15.579 --> 00:06:18.079 starts praising God with his wife, Edna. I bet 00:06:18.079 --> 00:06:20.720 they were overjoyed. They say, blessed are you, 00:06:20.839 --> 00:06:23.720 God, with every pure blessing. Let all your chosen 00:06:23.720 --> 00:06:26.279 ones bless you forever. That's powerful. You 00:06:26.279 --> 00:06:29.319 can really hear the genuine relief and gratitude 00:06:29.319 --> 00:06:31.899 in their words. They even specifically say, Lord, 00:06:32.160 --> 00:06:35.100 you are merciful to our two only children. Shows 00:06:35.100 --> 00:06:37.920 how precious Tobiah and Sarah are to them. And 00:06:37.920 --> 00:06:41.720 they keep... praying, asking for continued mercy, 00:06:42.019 --> 00:06:44.019 protection and happiness for the couple. They're 00:06:44.019 --> 00:06:46.139 like, this huge weight has been lifted off their 00:06:46.139 --> 00:06:48.620 shoulders. It really is. And then Raghul does 00:06:48.620 --> 00:06:50.860 something very symbolic. He tells the servants 00:06:50.860 --> 00:06:54.759 to fill in the grave before dawn. Like they're 00:06:54.759 --> 00:06:57.199 burying the fear itself, closing that chapter. 00:06:57.279 --> 00:06:59.399 Exactly. It's a new beginning for everyone involved. 00:06:59.740 --> 00:07:01.819 So what happens next? Do they just go back to 00:07:01.819 --> 00:07:04.600 bed like nothing happened? Not a chance. Riddell 00:07:04.600 --> 00:07:07.740 tells Edna to bake tons of bread, and he slaughters 00:07:07.740 --> 00:07:10.360 two steers and four rams. Well, hold on a minute. 00:07:10.500 --> 00:07:12.560 They're throwing a feast. A massive one they're 00:07:12.560 --> 00:07:15.420 going all out to celebrate. That's a pretty understandable 00:07:15.420 --> 00:07:18.120 reaction after all that stress. It is they're 00:07:18.120 --> 00:07:20.560 overflowing with joy and gratitude. And I'm sure 00:07:20.560 --> 00:07:22.620 the whole town was invited. I wouldn't be surprised. 00:07:22.779 --> 00:07:25.459 But then Raghul turns to Tobaya and says he can't 00:07:25.459 --> 00:07:28.839 leave for 14 days. A two -week party. That's 00:07:28.839 --> 00:07:31.990 quite the honeymoon. It is. He tells Tobiah to 00:07:31.990 --> 00:07:34.829 eat, drink, and bring joy to Sarah's afflicted 00:07:34.829 --> 00:07:37.230 spirit. It's like a time of healing and strengthening 00:07:37.230 --> 00:07:39.089 their bond after everything they've been through. 00:07:39.470 --> 00:07:41.689 And Rockwell's generosity doesn't stop there. 00:07:42.189 --> 00:07:44.990 He tells Tobiah, now take half of what I own 00:07:44.990 --> 00:07:46.910 here. Go back in good health to your father. 00:07:47.410 --> 00:07:49.529 The other half will be yours when I and my wife 00:07:49.529 --> 00:07:52.449 die. Wow, he's basically adopting Tobiah into 00:07:52.449 --> 00:07:54.730 the family. He is giving him a future security 00:07:54.730 --> 00:07:57.569 in that undeniable sense of belonging. Talk about 00:07:57.569 --> 00:07:59.610 a welcoming father -in -law. And then he says 00:07:59.610 --> 00:08:02.110 these beautiful words, I am your father and Edna 00:08:02.110 --> 00:08:04.189 is your mother. We belong to you and to your 00:08:04.189 --> 00:08:06.589 sister, both now and forever. That's so heartwarming. 00:08:06.709 --> 00:08:08.689 It brings tears to my eyes. It really does. It's 00:08:08.689 --> 00:08:11.509 this beautiful declaration of family, a new foundation. 00:08:11.720 --> 00:08:14.899 built on love and trust. So let's recap. What 00:08:14.899 --> 00:08:17.439 do we learn from this incredible story? Well, 00:08:17.459 --> 00:08:19.980 we've seen an impossible situation overcome through 00:08:19.980 --> 00:08:23.259 the most unexpected means. Fish organs, angelic 00:08:23.259 --> 00:08:25.279 intervention. It doesn't get much more unexpected 00:08:25.279 --> 00:08:28.120 than that. And we've witnessed the power of prayer 00:08:28.120 --> 00:08:30.660 and shared faith in building a strong marriage. 00:08:31.319 --> 00:08:33.740 The way Tobiah and Sarah turn to God together 00:08:33.740 --> 00:08:36.899 is truly inspiring. We thought fear transformed 00:08:36.899 --> 00:08:39.940 into joy and celebrations symbolized by that 00:08:39.940 --> 00:08:42.720 filled engrave and the extravagant feast. And 00:08:42.720 --> 00:08:44.779 ultimately, we saw the formation of deep family 00:08:44.779 --> 00:08:47.940 bonds built on generosity and acceptance. It's 00:08:47.940 --> 00:08:50.019 a reminder that even in the darkest moments, 00:08:50.240 --> 00:08:52.480 unexpected solutions and blessings can emerge. 00:08:52.799 --> 00:08:55.179 And that those moments of surprise, the unexpected 00:08:55.179 --> 00:08:58.360 twists and turns, those are what make life and 00:08:58.360 --> 00:09:01.320 these stories so captivating. Exactly. So... 00:09:01.179 --> 00:09:03.259 Listener's name implied as you go about your 00:09:03.259 --> 00:09:05.559 day, think about this. What are the fish livers 00:09:05.559 --> 00:09:08.120 in your own life? Those seemingly insignificant 00:09:08.120 --> 00:09:10.919 things that might hold unexpected power. And 00:09:10.919 --> 00:09:13.919 how can shared values and faith, whatever that 00:09:13.919 --> 00:09:16.139 looks like for you, strengthen your relationships? 00:09:16.500 --> 00:09:18.759 This story reminds us that unity and belief can 00:09:18.759 --> 00:09:21.460 truly overcome seemingly insurmountable challenges. 00:09:21.840 --> 00:09:23.940 Thanks for joining us on this deep dive into 00:09:23.940 --> 00:09:27.000 Tobit, the demon's flight and a blessed marriage. 00:09:27.340 --> 00:09:29.659 It's been a truly insightful journey. Until next 00:09:29.659 --> 00:09:32.950 time. Keep exploring those ancient texts. There's 00:09:32.950 --> 00:09:35.470 always something new to discover. And who knows, 00:09:35.590 --> 00:09:37.370 you might even find your own fish liver solution 00:09:37.370 --> 00:09:37.970 along the way.