Once Upon a Time...

...there was a young man with an older brother named Jared. Jared was handsome. Jared was tall. He was also honorable, wise, strong, kind and very good at everything he did. In fact, Jared was so amazing in all ways that, people only seemed to recognize the young man as Jared's brother. So that soon became the only way that people spoke of him was to call him the brother of Jared.
The brother of Jared was not jealous he did not mind and usually introduced himself to people as the brother of Jared. He was not without his own merit but he had to work hard to achieve his own wisdom, strength and improvement in his personal endeavors. Often he did not know how to achieve the thing he had set his mind to, the things that came so naturally to his brother. So he got in the habit of praying. Then as he went about his business he would listen with his heart for the guidance he had asked for. Sometimes the advice he received was simple and from a kind neighbor. Other times it was something he would never have thought of. Every now and then it was something that would be difficult and require personal sacrifice but the answers always stood out for their perfect truth. This habit increased until the brother of Jared prayed about most everything. He remembered to thank God for all the assistance and remained humble even as he increased in his endeavors. God remembered his gratitude.
In an uncertain time, surrounding the building of one tower said to be as great as Heaven in it's perfection, there came a great curse upon the land. It began with those boastful builders who claimed their creations were equal to and could reach heaven's perfection. First just their boasts began to be misunderstood then not only their boast could not be interpreted but all of their communications were confounded. Then it spread to there families and soon the curse began to spread like a disease through the whole land.
Jared was worried. So far he had escaped but he was anxious to be able to speak and understand at least one person but did not know how it could be done. Then he remembered his brother. The one who so often seemed to be able to talk to God and understand his replies. Jared went to his brother and asked him if he would ask God to not confound the language spoken between the two of them. So the brother of Jared took this petition to the Lord in prayer. God heard and answered his prayer by not confounding the language of Jared and his brother. Jared was very pleased until he returned home to his house and his beautiful wife greeted him at the door. It struck him that his life would be a misery if he could no longer speak with his wife and what of his children and parents. He went straight back to his brother and told him of his concern. The brother of Jared agreed to speak to the Lord again and the Lord had compassion on him and all his family and friends. They were spared the curse and they were happy, until the curse had spread to every other inhabitant of that land.
The people who were cursed looked at that family and their friends who could speak together and give company to each other by the fireside and they were angry. They did not want tobe reminded of all they had lost they began to say in their hearts that it was Jared and his brother who had stolen their happiness. They started to plan how to drive them out.
Jared began to see that if they were to remain safe and happy that God might allow them to be driven out of their homeland but he did not want to go. So he went to his brother again and asked if they were to be driven from their homes and if they were to be driven out where would they go? The brother of Jared did not know but said he would ask. Then Jared said if he was going to ask God could he also inquire whether there might be a choice land of peace and prosperity that they might still have an inheritance for their children if they could not keep what they had. Then Jared promised if God would provide for him and his family he would be faithful unto God.
So the brother of Jared prayed again and again he received an answer. The Lord said to gather all that they had flocks, fowl, seeds, and all those who had been spared the curse and to go into the valley North of their land. From there he would lead them to that choice land they had asked for and bless them and all their posterity if they kept the promise that Jared made. God said he would do all these things for them because of the brother of Jared's habit of prayer and gratitude. To be continued.