Lunch with Barisat

Go ahead and cry to the gods you have chosen.
Let them save you when you are broken.
Eyes and ears and mouth and nose,
Cast from wood and bronze, stone and gold.

Does one worship idols today?
An ancient thing we take as play.
We’re more intelligent than that.
We know their origin, in fact.

What is an idol?
The description in the Bible?
It’s anything we love more than God.
All these things man hath caused.

When Abram was just a lad.
Idols and idols his dad had.
He made them out of wood and stone.
His craftsmanship well known.

Abram followed his father Terah to his temple.
Statues of deities did they resemble.
By childhood negligence,
The cast of Meramath was in his path.

He gave Meramath a little bump.
To the ground he was disjunct.
Off with his head,
Abram just knew he was dead.

Terah said, “That’s okay, son.
He wasn’t done.
I’ll just make another one.
Or maybe, the likeness of another one.”

“Hmm,” thought Abram,
That sounds odd.
To think that way of a god.
To create a likeness, and then it provides for us.”

Terah made five gods and gave them to Abram,
“Take them, take them Abram.
Sell them in the town,
Distribute them all around.”

What evil deed is this my fathers’ doing?
Is he not the god of these gods?
Should they not worship my father?
Why does he bother?

Who is God, Abram wondered,
Our creator he pondered.
A master over all the earth.
The one who gave us everything, our worth.

Terah asked Abram to fix his lunch,
Use all the shavings in that bunch.
Go to the field and slaughter a lamb,
Kindle the fire and start some yams.

Abram began gathering wood.
Under the pile, the god Barisat stood.
Abram had an idea,
Barisat’s power I’ll see of.

Terah spoke with respect too,
But Abram’s disregard grew.
He planned to spat and taunt.
To belittle everything with thought.

He started his fire,
And left Barisat in charge.
Watch the fire, don’t let it expire.
Blow and kindle it, I’ll be back in an hour.

When he returned,
Barisat burned.
He fell into the fire,
Barisat expired.

Terah returned for lunch,
Vegetables and such,
He was sure to thank Abram
For his lunch all able.

This lunch is best,
Better than usual.
With a few bites left,
Abram said, “Barisat was the chef.”

No wonder it’s so good,
Barisat made of wood.
Where is Barisat now?
Barisat has retired, he fell in the fire.

That’s okay son,
I’ll make another.
Tomorrow, he can cook my plate.
Again, it will be great.

What is wrong with my father,
Has he no honor
Wisdom, intelligence?
Can’t he see there is no relevance?

“Hmm,” said Abram,
“That seems odd.
To think that way of a god,
To create a likeness and think it provides for us.”

Father, is not the fire more worthy of honor?
In it Barisat expired, so is it not the sponsor?
But water, it overcometh the fire,
Is it not higher?

Barisat it came from a tree.
A mighty oak was he.
Was it not better?
At least while rooted, it had measure.

Hmm, water it comes from the earth.
But the sun, it warms its girth,
But the night it takes over the day,
None guide their own way.

Who is He whom hath crimsoned the heavens?
The stars, the sun and moon so pleasant.
My God reveal thyself to me!
I want to know, show me, I want to see.

Abram’s mother left for town.
Abram, now a little more proud.
To make a point.
These gods I’ll exploit.

His mother’s room,
Twelve gods, each month to assume.
I’ll rile them up.
I’ll taunt them, they will give up.

Hey all of you,
Are you really cut out for this work?
Just go back to being trees.
At least your shade did please.

Are any of you board?
Let’s go do our nails.
How about a little more glue?
Y’all stick together too.

What do y’all talk about when I’m gone?
Oh, it’s just idol chatter withdrawn.
Hey Barisat,
I thought you got fired! Ashes, expired.

I’m sycamore of these.
Would you answer me!
Let me see.
Make me believe in thee!

Who is He whom hath crimsoned the heavens?
The stars, the sun and moon all peasant.
My God reveal thyself to me!
I want to know, show me, I want to see!

I burned my father’s temple.
All those gods resembled.
My father ran in to save them.
The fire, it also consumed him.

Not shortly after,
Thunder asunder,
Great clouds in the sky.
A voice came to me, to me from on high.

Thou art seeking understanding.
Your God of gods, your creator?
I am He,
I came here for thee.

Your name now Abraham.
A covenant between Me and Thee.
I’ll teach you everything you have yearned.
Teach others what you will learn.

Times gone past, compare time now.
Surely, no one believes in wood, not now.
Maybe, it represents someone
They believe in, they’ve found.

What is an idol?
Do you have to bow down?
It’s anything you love more than God.
Time, dedication and devotion you give.

This could describe your TV.
Or your child’s Wii.
Does it have to give rewards physical.
Or simple pleasures mental?

Money and love and faith in things.
Earthly fame and pleasure they bring.
Direct your thoughts to heavenly plots.
Things you can keep, eternal lots.

Set time away each day.
Praise the one who made you.
Follow his way.
It’s just better for you this way.