Catch Me If You Can (An Allegory Story)

 

INTRODUCTION:

 

All glory to God! The idea for this story came one morning a few months ago when I was sitting on our living room couch reading my Bible and praying. I happened to glance up and see a creepy spider’s web up in the corner of the room and had the crazy thought, “What if that spider turned into a monstrous beastly spider and jumped on me?” Shivering and my spine tingling, the basic premise for this story was instantly born.

 That said, I must also say that I am not a “writer” who’s gifted in writing novels. I just wanted to get this important message across due to the scourge and epidemic of Jezebel spider women and Ahab men in this land. I thought that writing it in the form of an “allegory” would be nice. I happen to really like John Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress and also the Holy Bible is full of allegories.

But when it comes to “introductions,” I really couldn’t think of a better introduction than for you to read Proverbs chapter seven. So here it is:

 

 

Proverbs chapter Seven:

“ My son, keep my words, and lay up my commandments with thee.

 Keep my commandments, and live; and my law as the apple of thine eye.

 Bind them upon thy fingers, write them upon the table of thine heart.

Say unto wisdom, Thou art my sister; and call understanding thy kinswoman:

That they may keep thee from the strange woman, from the stranger which flattereth with her words.

For at the window of my house I looked through my casement,

And beheld among the simple ones, I discerned among the youths, a young man void of understanding,

 Passing through the street near her corner; and he went the way to her house,

In the twilight, in the evening, in the black and dark night:

 And, behold, there met him a woman with the attire of an harlot, and subtil of heart.

 (She is loud and stubborn; her feet abide not in her house:

Now is she without, now in the streets, and lieth in wait at every corner.)

So she caught him, and kissed him, and with an impudent face said unto him,

 I have peace offerings with me; this day have I payed my vows.

Therefore came I forth to meet thee, diligently to seek thy face, and I have found thee.

 I have decked my bed with coverings of tapestry, with carved works, with fine linen of Egypt.

I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.

Come, let us take our fill of love until the morning: let us solace ourselves with loves.

For the goodman is not at home, he is gone a long journey:

He hath taken a bag of money with him, and will come home at the day appointed.

With her much fair speech she caused him to yield, with the flattering of her lips she forced him.

He goeth after her straightway, as an ox goeth to the slaughter, or as a fool to the correction of the stocks;

Till a dart strike through his liver; as a bird hasteth to the snare, and knoweth not that it is for his life.

Hearken unto me now therefore, O ye children, and attend to the words of my mouth.

Let not thine heart decline to her ways, go not astray in her paths.

For she hath cast down many wounded: yea, many strong men have been slain by her. 

Her house is the way to hell, going down to the chambers of death.”

 

Catch Me If You Can

Job 14:3 “He cometh forth like a flower, and is cut down: he fleeth also as a shadow, and continueth not”

“You’re going to die! You’re going to die!”

This new fear was gripping me again and those words were haunting me like a creepy stalker’s shadow.

It’s a fear that cripples me, weakens me; the same fear that makes my blood run cold while my forehead builds up hot beads of sweat. It’s a fear that keeps me from stepping out on a limb or standing up for a cause. My knees feel weak as all courage is slain within me. It’s the kind of fear that makes you desperately wish to wake up out of this nightmare but you can’t because your life is the nightmare. Courage, you say? Don’t make me face my fears because I can’t.    I cannot.    I won’t.

Here I am: cold, wet, scared and running for my life with no place to go and no one to ask for help.  “Jacob! Oh Jacob!” I kept repeating over and over to myself. “You really are stupid! So stupid.”  

I consider myself as one of those “country types.” You know, the guy that thinks plaid and camouflage always match, chops wood for therapy, and would eat deer jerky (that I shot and dried myself) for breakfast.  I’m not “redneck” per se, but definitely downright “country” for sure. That being said, I see myself as a rough and tough and strong guy who rather enjoys a little fighting and confrontation. Get dirty, wear work boots, drive a truck, toughen up, and prove that you’re a man. Courage was my middle name. I say “was“ because now I feel like a stupid sissy.

 I typically like to think I’m fairly intelligent on my good days (usually).What about right now? Right now I think I’m probably one of the most pathetically stupid guys around. Can I think? Am I thinking right now? My reader friend, I feel like I’m going crazy or at least slightly delirious. What I’m about to tell you is my story - a crazy story (perhaps) but a very real one.

It had all really started with just a simple spider’s web. And then comes that paralyzing fear, the merciless torment, the mind destroying anxiety. Everything. Just one simple web….

It was one of those days. You know, the kind that drags on and on and everything is just going wrong. Some say that it’s bad luck while others say the outcome of your day is a direct consequence of your own actions. Either way, it was a bad day.

So I overslept, couldn’t find my keys, and then managed to spill my coffee everywhere. Already late, I jumped in my truck only to find that it wouldn’t start because I drained the battery with that annoying interior light that I never notice. The boss was super moody and everyone at work was rude. Every plumbing job I had today was extra difficult and dirty with floods and busted pipes all day. I forgot my lunch and only managed to find some jerky lying around in my truck so I basically starved all day as well. Ten long hours later, I dragged myself home and opened the fridge only to find there was nothing to eat. I had forgotten to go to the store.

Imagine that.

Living out in the boonies means you can’t just hop over to the store and grab a few things. You’re supposed to take advantage of it while you’re actually in the city. Sigh. I guess I will just starve to death.

Worn plumb out and so sick of this lousy day, I slouched on the couch with a dried out hunk of cheese, a forgotten can of tuna, and some flat soda just to top off the cuisine. It was scrounged up and boring but hey, the dinner would have to suffice for now. But I seriously made a mental note to make sure that I stock up at that grocery store tomorrow!

I was just sitting there. You know, doing nothing in particular except stewing and stirring up my rotten mood about how bad my day was.  I mean, seriously, it was a bad day.

  My thoughts started skipping around like a crazy tennis match.

“And that Boss, I tell you! One of these days he’s going to say the wrong thing and I’m outta there. That’ll teach him. “

I was crunching on that dried out cheese and my stomach was still growling. Nice touch.

“I really need to go grocery shopping, but I’m just so tired. Maybe I’ll watch some T.V. instead. Oh man! I didn’t pay the cable bill. Great. Guess I’ll just sit here bored to tears.”

I reached down and a lump in the camo couch cushions caught my attention. After pulling out seven wadded up tissues and a handful of dried out sunflower seed shells, I finally retrieved the large lump I was after. A snickers bar! Wow. It still didn’t help my mood but it should satisfy my growling stomach. As I chewed, my thoughts continued drifting…

I should make sure that interior light is off in my truck. No repeat of this morning, begging Mr. Lenny to jump me (him in his bathrobe and slippers and cussing me out! That’s rural neighbors for you…). That was so embarrassing. This place is a mess. I really should clean it.”

My eyes darted from the pile of dirty socks under the coffee table to the crumbs on the kitchen counter from last night’s donut binge. Suddenly something up in the right hand corner caught my eye. Right next to that crazy “modern art” picture my Aunt gave me last year and almost invisible with its fine wispy threads was a spider’s web. It was rather large and intricately woven and sort of silvery and shiny. I smiled mischievously. Maybe I could just leave it and say it accents the modern art décor! What would my Aunt think? But my smile quickly faded when I discerned a small dark object right in the middle of it. A spider! Like any normal human being I have a deep fear of those creepy little monsters and thoughts of losing sight of it sent shivers down my spine. I might be rough and tough but bees and spiders are my weakness; they’re just so creepy and small and evil! Okay, I’ll admit that I was already in a pretty bad mood and this really iced the cake. How long had that stupid thing been here? Just gross.

I carefully grabbed up a muddy work boot which was wrapped up in my work pants from yesterday and then pulled out two old mismatched socks as I proceeded to creep toward the corner and take aim. As I stared, something really strange happened to me - something I can hardly explain or put into words. It was almost like a spell had been cast on me or something weird like that (and I don’t even believe in spells!)  My reader friend, don’t ask me why, but I felt drawn towards that spider! I felt like, well, like I should actually keep it alive! It looked pretty hideous, monstrous, and creepy but – somehow - beautiful. I couldn’t get my eyes off it! It was gorgeous. The web seemed to shimmer like freshly spun silk and the spider even had this shiny pearl looking jewel thing on her body.

Isaiah 5: 20-21 “Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight!”

I was shocked. Was I going nuts?! I grabbed my Tractor Supply hat and threw it on the ground and then began to shake my head back and forth like a crazy man. After a few moments,  I just stopped and stared at my reflection in the mirror and noticed that my short blonde hair was sticking out in a million directions. Sigh.

“I really must be going delusional!” I thought. “I have always HATED spiders. Why does she look so beautiful to me now?” Not knowing what to do I finally decided to just sit down and think.

After a vicious mental battle, I excused my warped view towards the spider’s mortality by muttering something about them being good at catching flies and other bugs in the house.

I left it.

And as a matter of fact, the longer she stayed in that corner, the more I found my attitude changing at an alarming rate. I began to feed her. Then I started talking to her. Before you knew it, I was actually looking forward to coming home and spending time with her! Being prone to bouts of depression and intense loneliness, this was a welcomed change. 

I was so ashamed of this weird obsession that I had to hide this unlikely friendship from my friends and family, but I continued to include this spider into every aspect of my life. I even named her. I thought “Bella” was cute and fitting and so the name stuck. Bella, well fed, pampered, and loved, began to grow. And she grew and she grew some more. I was pretty oblivious to her increasing size and really didn’t even notice that her massive sticky web was getting bigger as well. Bella was basically trapping me into my own house and I didn’t even notice!

But I liked her. Well, actually, I found that I was starting to fall in love with her. And since Bella liked me, I knew that she was definitely here to stay. My beautiful Bella.

My wakeup call came a few months later when some friends wanted to come over and hang out late one night. I attempted some sort of “clean up” and even hid Bella in a back room but the webs covered everything and I eventually gave up and left them (imagine that). I let my buddies in and tried to make excuse.

“Pardon my mess,”  I said, rather embarrassed. My friend, John, just about choked on his chewing tobacco.

“Mess?! Looks like a Halloween party in here or somethin’. What in the world are ya doin’?”

If anyone would ask, it would be loudmouth John!

“Well….” I stalled as long as I could while trying to think of a creative lie. I gave up and decided to be honest.  Cautiously I began, “That’s just left here from my spider….”

“ YOUR SPIDER?!” John interrupted with wide eyes and a little smirk playing at the corners of his crazy mustache.

“Yes….”  I could feel my cheeks growing warm. “My… spider.”

John busted out laughing like I had just told the funniest knee slapper this side of the Pecos.

“For real?!” He shouted. Everyone laughed while I sat there and tried to process that one. Had he said “Fir reel” or “For real”? Either way I was feeling pretty uncomfortable at this point.

“That there spider needs to go!” John spat. “ Spiders ain’t pets! Are ya crazy, Jacob?! And she must be HUGE to be leaving sucha trail of webs ‘round these here parts.  And buddy, I tell you what, I’m gonna have to be gettin’ here too. These webs are all caught up in my beard and clothes and it’s grossing me out worse than Old Pop’s supper of roasted skunk tail and raccoon stew!” And with that parting comment,  laughing, spitting, and tripping all over each other, they left.

I sat down again and ran my fingers through my cropped hair and nervously pulled on my beard as I thought long and hard. It probably isn’t worth the companionship if she is taking over my life like this. I should probably send her on. Yeah, she should go. But I’m gonna wait a little bit…

 6 WEEKS LATER

 For the first time since Bella’s intrusion into my home, I finally decided to make the decision to send her packing. But that was easier said than done! She somehow caught wind that I was planning on getting rid of her and her attitude towards me became distant and cool. Well, quite frankly, she became angry and scary. She was obviously mad and I was the cause for that anger. I begin to “baby” her more and treat her with deference but inwardly I was so sick of her stinky attitude and cool demeanor. She was the “Queen” of the house and she knew it. She bossed me around, threw things at me, was verbally abusive and then acted like it was all ME and not her. Believe it when I say I was more than ready to get rid of her.

I was caught up in this giant “Catch 22”. If I kept her, she would eventually trap me in and –shudder- possibly kill me. But the other happy option is trying to kick this HUGE and VERY strong thing out while she –shudder again- tried to kill me for kicking her out.

“I’m caught,” I thought miserably. As I put on my boots and coat, I tried to think up a plan and even almost decided to leave her (again) when I noticed that the door to the back room where Bella stayed was slightly ajar. I did remember shutting that…. Great. My heart rate started to accelerate a little and I suddenly noticed that it was storming outside. And as if things couldn’t get worse, the power blacked out right at that precise moment and all I could see now were the lightning bolts shining through that super dark window. Thunder crashed in the distance.  Just wonderful.

Ummm…  So things were starting to get pretty creepy to say the least. With no light to see to get my gun, I opted for my everyday-carry pocket knife and flashlight and began to slide along the hallway wall towards that door.  I was scared.  This rough and tough Mr. Jacob Burns was scared. No - more like absolutely and completely terrified! Every possible fear that could be feared was scrolling through my head faster than the lightning bolts outside. She’ll kill me. I just need to run. Why am I doing this? Why am I here? Why me?  I can’t face her. It’s so dark. I just need to stay quiet, go to sleep and hope it all goes away.

I felt so helpless but stuck in the situation. I had no choice but to face her. As quickly as I could, I kicked the door open wide while simultaneously shining the light around the room. My heart sunk with the little courage I had as I realized Bella was not there. Turning around I reluctantly tip toed towards my very dark kitchen. This was already turning into a creepy horror movie or something ridiculous like that. The dim light illuminated the fridge, the table, an empty corner. Nothing. I kicked the chair down in frustration. This was insane!

And then suddenly the hair on the back of my neck stood up as I realized something big and evil was right behind me. Time stood still as I slowly shone my light around right into a deep, dark nightmare!

Eight very large and dark red gleaming eyes were piercing mine with a murderous glare. Two spiky, velvety, black legs were raised in a defensive position and two very sharp and shockingly yellow fangs hung out of Bella’s black and foamy mouth.

Beads of perspiration were dripping down my face as my fear-crazed mind tried to think of an escape route. I started speaking to Bella in soothing tones while backing up towards the back door. I debated whether I should remain calm or just all out panic. My mind went back to all those survival videos I had watched in recent months…  Never run away from a bear or they’ll give chase. Lift your arms and appear bigger then you are when facing a mountain lion. Fight back and punch the living daylights out of the gills of a shark. What about a monstrous spider?!  Just give up and die?! (There was that weird fear overtaking me again.) All attempts at remaining calm were destroyed when I realized that I was trapped right in the middle of her massive sticky web!  Frantically, I tried to run but I was actually wrapping myself tighter in the web instead. Bella laughed hideously as she started shooting out more and more webs. Her grip was tightening and starting to squeeze the very life right out of me. “You’re going to die! You’re going to die!” She screeched as she sliced one of my arms with her sharp fang. Those words would be sealed in my brain forever after.

I felt like I was on the verge of a panic attack when I looked down at the dark red blood oozing out of my new gash. I needed to get a grip on myself.

I begged for mercy while her venomous fangs attempted to bite my other arm but missing it (barely). “Bella!” I screamed frantically. “I’ve always taken care of you! Bella!” Using my pathetic cries to try and distract the demonic thing, I made one last ditch effort to save myself. Using my knife, I started to cut at the webs around my jacket and slipped out of it.  I threw it as far and as hard as I could towards the living room. That was enough to have her leaping for the jacket, fangs all bared and dripping venom ready to finish me off for good!

I smashed out the back door and picking up my bruised and bleeding body, I ran into the dark cold night as fast as I could.

After what felt like the longest hour of my entire life, I was panting, bleeding, exhausted, and holding a cramp in my side. I leaned up behind someone’s tractor shed and tried to think of what I should do. “A spider with eight legs can easily outrun a man with only two!” I thought logically. “Should I attempt to fight back?” Wiping the sweat and rain off my forehead I decided that I really did not feel strong enough for that. Actually, not only was this the weakest I had ever felt in my entire life, it was also the worst tormenting fear I’d ever experienced as well!

Knowing that creepy Bella was after me and that I could never face her alone, I made the decision to head into the city to try and find some help. Out here in the country, I could be attacked by much more than just that spider. Bears, wolves, and coyotes were not a comforting thought right at that precise moment. Reluctantly, I started for the city.

A little while later, feeling very beat up and discouraged, I dragged my worn-out body into the nearest town. Being careful to take alleyways, I ducked behind a dark looking building and rounded the corner only to come face to face with….

A WEB! Backing up with wide eyes and raw nerves, I slowly came around to the other side. Another web!

They are everywhere! Everywhere as far as the eye could see. The entire city is wrapped in them! And the strange thing is that everyone is going around and acting like it’s totally normal. It really looked like a creepy Halloween designer had left his trademark on everything or something. Why hadn’t I noticed them before? Was I really just as blind as all those people walking through those clingy webs while not noticing the sticky chains and blinders being wound tighter and tighter around them until it killed them? There were even the –so called- “Smart” men such as lawyers, physicians, and rich guys all caught up in the webs as well. Everywhere. Everyone. I was in shock and disbelief.

Isaiah 59: 3-8 “For your hands are defiled with blood, and your fingers with iniquity; your lips have spoken lies, your tongue hath muttered perverseness. None calleth for justice, nor any pleadeth for truth: they trust in vanity, and speak lies; they conceive mischief, and bring forth iniquity. They hatch cockatrice' eggs, and weave the spider's web: he that eateth of their eggs dieth, and that which is crushed breaketh out into a viper. Their webs shall not become garments, neither shall they cover themselves with their works: their works are works of iniquity, and the act of violence is in their hands. Their feet run to evil, and they make haste to shed innocent blood: their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity; wasting and destruction are in their paths. The way of peace they know not; and there is no judgment in their goings: they have made them crooked paths: whosoever goeth therein shall not know peace.”

As I stared, a beautiful and attractive woman walked by in a silk dress and high heels.  She caught my eyes and then pouted her red lips, tossed her hair seductively, and gave me an inviting teasing look. I needed help and part of me screamed to stay away while the other part felt a pull towards her that felt irresistibly strong. “Hey, handsome!” She flattered. “Going my way?” Then she winked. I started to walk toward that flirtatious smile, feeling the spell of her warm sweet talking net pull me in, when I suddenly noticed under all those black spiderlegs- looking  eyelashes there was  a…

Little

 Red

Glint.

“Hadn’t I seen that exact gleam in another’s eyes?” Then it all came back in a flood of thoughts, emotions, and that tormenting fear I was running from.  Fangs. Venom. Red. Webs. Blood.

“Oh no! “ I yelled. “Not another one!” The silk dress was really webs and the woman instantly turned into a monstrous spider and started shooting her webs out as fast as I was running away… Almost. I managed to escape this time. “You’re mine!” She drooled. Then she laughed a hauntingly dark laugh that echoed through my adrenaline-pumped body.

I ran for all I was worth. I had never run so fast in my life but I knew that my life was on the line. Ducking under the massive network of webs and trying to stay in the light (spiders hate light and exposure) I didn’t slow down until I was sure she had moved on to an easier victim. My body trembling and my mouth gasping for the breaths that wouldn’t come fast enough, I leaned up against a building and attempted to think with some calm clarity.  Those spiders were everywhere! Where am I going to go? Calm was definitely out the window.

Isaiah 59:14-17 “And judgment is turned away backward, and justice standeth afar off: for truth is fallen in the street, and equity cannot enter. Yea, truth faileth; and he that departeth from evil maketh himself a prey: and the Lord saw it, and it displeased him that there was no judgment.And he saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor: therefore his arm brought salvation unto him; and his righteousness, it sustained him. For he put on righteousness as a breastplate, and an helmet of salvation upon his head; and he put on the garments of vengeance for clothing, and was clad with zeal as a cloak.”

 Proverbs 31: 3 “Give not thy strength unto women, nor thy ways to that which destroyeth kings.”

I felt very weak, alone, beat down, and desperate for some help. Mr. “rough and tough” didn’t feel so strong now. I was the perfect prey for those man-thirsty, mammoth beasts (though I know they do enjoy sucking the life right out of strong men as well). I decided to climb up the fire escape and sneak along the roof for a better view of the city.

Proverbs 21: 9 “It is better to dwell in a corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman in a wide house.”

 Isaiah 3:12 “As for my people, children are their oppressors, and women rule over them. O my people, they which lead thee cause thee to err, and destroy the way of thy paths.”

Somehow I was looking at the city with new eyes. Boy! Those spiders were everywhere indeed! Their network of webs seemed to stretch on towards the horizon. They were in tight control of everything, including the men. Putting on their fake fronts and facades, they came in all shapes and sizes. They may have been individually different, but all of them had that little red glint and webs wrapped around their bodies. And all, and I do mean ALL, the men were falling for their tricks! Their fake “beauty”, their pretend “intelligence”, and their charm and wit. They don’t really care for the men- they just want to control them. “How foolish I have been!” I whispered to myself in astonishment. “There’s nothing attractive about them at all. They just want my strength, my money, and my manliness and then suck the life right out of me.” I shivered as a heavy spirit of despair settled on me. “Where can I go?” I thought sadly. “Is there a place of refuge?”

I was abruptly distracted out of my thoughts by a roar of creepy laughter. I cautiously peered over the edge to see where it had come from.

Nothing. 

That was strange.

All was quiet again so I lay back down and started to focus on actually breathing one breath at a time when suddenly I heard a screeching, scratchy voice start to sing…

“The itsy bitsy spider went up the water spout…”

The voice sounded like it was very near to where I was. My body involuntarily started to tremble.

“…Down came the rain and washed the spider out…”

The spine-tingling creepy laughter exploded once again. I tensed, clutched my knife, ready to jump, run or even possibly fight. Anything!

“…Out came the sun and dried up all the rain…”

I watched the “water spout” at the other end of the roof. The voice was very close now. Too close.

“…And the itsy bitsy spider went up the spout again.”

Silence.

My heart was thumping out of my chest. Silence was worse than the creepy singing! And just as I feared it was not an “itsy bitsy spider” but a great monstrosity jumping up on the roof and aiming her webs right at me!

I attempted to run but her webs were coming faster and faster and I was instantly caught by them.  I rolled towards the edge of the roof and saw an awning stretched out over a window. If I could just roll over that edge and land softly on it… Too late! Now here I was hanging like a punching bag suspended in mid-air with a nasty drooling spider drawing me in–slowly- for the kill. I despaired of life and just gave up. This was the end. I knew it. I would die by a spider after all. “I’m going to die! I’m going to die!” I screamed as the spiders laughed at me.

Just when all hope was gone, I was surrounded by a great flash of light. My hearing started to go and everything started to become a blur as I realized I was passing out. A saw a shiny sword. Blood. The feeling of falling and being caught by something other than a web this time.  I was being pulled along by someone. And then all went black.

When I awoke, I was staring at a kind, but stern, face. The man’s blue eyes were soft yet full of courage and he was dressed all in white. A bloodied sword in a scabbard hung by his side and the scar on his cheek testified of earlier battles. I tried to take in my surroundings. I saw armour all battle-worn and bloody laid out on a table and I was laying on a bed in a cozy room with a fire crackling in the fire place. I noticed that my arm was skillfully bandaged where Bella had sliced me open.

“What’s your name, son?” The big man gently asked.

“Jacob.” I felt really worn down and weak. It was hard to even say that.

“He who supplants.” The man shook his head.

 

“What?”

 

“Jacob” means “He who supplants”. Obviously you’re not living up to your name.”

 

My eyes fell.

 

“As for me,” The man continued, “The name’s Stephen. And that’s my wife, Pearl.” He gestured towards a woman in a white linen dress holding some warm food and drink. Stephen means, “Crown.” 

“You’re a hunted one, aren’t you?”

I felt confused but I nodded an affirmative anyways.

 

Pearl walked over and handed me some hot coffee and warm stew. Out of fear, I scooted back on the bed when she got near me but then up close I could see how different she was from all those other spider women.  Her eyes looked like bright and golden pearls, while her smile was real and friendly, and there were no webs wrapped around her body. I breathed a sigh of relief. No red gleams in those eyes.

 

“So here you are running for your life and have every reason why you should be running, Right?”

They looked compassionate.

“I see many, many like you, Jacob.”

I looked down partly for shame and partly because I didn’t feel worthy enough to be staring into such light-filled eyes. They seemed to read me all the way through with a deep wisdom and discerning that came from another source and not their own.

“They WILL kill you, Jacob.”

I gulped.

“Those spiders want your head.”

I suddenly found my voice again. “Why? Why won’t they kill you both?”

The man gave his wife a knowing look and they both smiled at each other. “Oh they would if they could, son! And boy, have they tried! But we are not like them. They have traded their precious pearl of purity for the spider’s strength and they hate us for that very reason. All they have now are those fake “pearls” that fool the foolish.”

 

 

I remembered Bella’s beautiful pearl that glistened on her body. It made me feel dumb.

“They’d love to catch us and either kill us or make us like them but we are shielded by God’s strength and light so they can’t touch us.” Stephen paused and touched his scar subconsciously. “It’s been a battle though. And it will continue to be. Once you expose a spider woman for who she really is, she will not give up the fight. She will try and do everything in her power to destroy you. Beware, my son. Beware.”

Proverbs 2:16-19: “To deliver thee from the strange woman, even from the stranger which flattereth with her words; Which forsaketh the guide of her youth, and forgetteth the covenant of her God.For her house inclineth unto death, and her paths unto the dead. None that go unto her return again, neither take they hold of the paths of life.”

“Will they ever change?”

“Rarely, if ever. They love their power. They love brainwashing men with their version of “beauty” so they can draw them into their nets. Anyone not like them must be made out to be weird, crazy, or even evil. That’s another trick: pretend like they’re the picture of what’s “good” or “holy” when they’re really not.”

 

I must have looked as sad and disheartened as I felt because Stephen patted my hand as Pearl refilled my coffee cup. I took a long sip. I was sitting there thinking how good it was when Pearl spoke up.

“Their motto is, “Catch me if you can.”

“Why?” I asked.

“Because that is the catch! No man is going to catch them (they only think they do); THEY catch the men.”

Everyone was silent a few moments as I considered their words. Stroking my beard thoughtfully I went back to eating that strengthening stew.

 

2 Timothy 2:22 “Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.”

Ecclesiastes 7:26-28 “ And I find more bitter than death the woman, whose heart is snares and nets, and her hands as bands: whoso pleaseth God shall escape from her; but the sinner shall be taken by her.Behold, this have I found, saith the preacher, counting one by one, to find out the account:Which yet my soul seeketh, but I find not: one man among a thousand have I found; but a woman among all those have I not found.”

Hebrews 11:6 “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.”

 

“Run.” Stephen just stared at me.

“Run?”

“Run. You cannot fight them alone. Flee as fast as you can. Our motto is: “Pray or be prey.”

Proverbs 23: 26-28 “My son, give me thine heart, and let thine eyes observe my ways.For a whore is a deep ditch; and a strange woman is a narrow pit. She also lieth in wait as for a prey, and increaseth the transgressors among men.”

“ You are their prey right now and you need to go pray.”

“That makes sense.” I thought and then said out loud, “Where do I go?”

“To the island.”

What island?”

“The island of Patmos. You need to be delivered and join up with other likeminded believers. You need the help of Christ and the church. You need strength; Strength that is stronger than the spider’s strength.  Come, let me show you something.”

 

Stephen led me out the front door and I was surprised to find that we were high up on a mountain and could see the whole city stretched out before us.

“See the network?” Stephen pointed.

I squinted into the sun. The webs were all knit together in a thick integrated grid that stretched on forever.

“Every time they catch another man, not only does their own personal power increase but the whole entire global network gets stronger, denser, and more powerful. It’s evil. And they LOVE this power, this witchcraft. They don’t truly care about the men they’re pulling into their nets. All they want is to increase their own power and the network’s power. It’s sad. Very sad.” Stephen was shaking his head.

 

My reader friend, that was a very scary thought to me. That now familiar fear was creeping back up my spine and neck and into my head. It was ready to paralyze me.

 

“So…” I began. “Why was I rescued? Why did you rescue me?”

“Well, really because there are people praying for you.  It was our mission to come and save you, though this could be your last chance. If you choose the spiders after this I think that you’re pretty much doomed.”

I did NOT want the spiders!

“Let me show you one more thing.”

I watched Stephen put on his armour, grab his keys, and tell Pearl good-bye. He then jumped in his truck and motioned for me to get in. We began to descend down the mountain on a narrow little road. I noticed that Stephen was putting on these interesting looking glasses. Stephen noticed my interest.

 

Job 31:1; 9-12 “I made a covenant with mine eyes; why then should I think upon a maid?” “If mine heart have been deceived by a woman, or if I have laid wait at my neighbour's door; Then let my wife grind unto another, and let others bow down upon her. For this is an heinous crime; yea, it is an iniquity to be punished by the judges. For it is a fire that consumeth to destruction, and would root out all mine increase.”

 

 

 

“These glasses are called “My Covenant”. My eyes are only for my wife and “My Covenant” makes sure of that. Here’s another pair so you can see for yourself.”

Stephen threw me a pair from the visor and I put them on.

“How can I indentify these spider women?” I asked.

“Well, there are lots of different types but we’ve boiled them down to about 5 different “types” I guess you could say. However, many of these spider women are a combination of several different types. Read this paper.”

I looked down at a red paper with white words written on it. It read:

 

How to identify the different types of spider women:

THE CHAMELION: She’s a “mimicking one” and very dangerous. She morphs like a chameleon to you and your beliefs only to try and trick you. She doesn’t mind lying if she has to. She’s a lot harder to spot and usually only gets exposed by someone with God’s discerning. BEWARE: if you expose her she wants you DEAD because she HATES the light.

THE BLACK WIDOW: Goes through men like a flashlight goes through batteries. Divorce is always an option especially if she gets something out of it (perhaps money, power, or a baby). Usually a gold digger or a strength thief. Never trust her intentions. She would love to just kill you or have you kill yourself.

THE FAKIE: She loves her image and tries her best to keep it up. She usually has fake skin, fake hair, a fake body, and lots of fake pictures of herself.  Whether it’s just piling on the eye shadow, mascara, lipstick, and bronzer until she looks completely unreal, or just putting on a phony personality, she’s a counterfeit and she knows it. Always a good hypocrite, she loves to hide in the church and everywhere else.

THE FLIRT: She’s just a selfish woman who wants attention to feed her power-hungry ego. She just wants to feel good and powerful as she watches you melt under her seductive smiles and sweet talking compliments. Better take heed! Flattery is her way to your heart and the perfect net to trap the foolish. If she can’t get you with her words she’ll get you with her undressed body that she knows how to use to her advantage. There’s no giving; she only desires to take from you.

ROSIE THE RIVETER: She acts like a man, talks like a man, plays sports like a man, works like a man, looks like a man, but hates all men. She needs to prove that she’s stronger, smarter, and better than stupid men. SHE CAN DO IT! Watch out. They are pretty strong.

 

I finished reading the paper just as we got to the bottom of the mountain. I looked ahead and saw a group of women (dressed in next to nothing) cackling and laughing and trying to get male attention. When we neared the little group I suddenly had to grip my seat as that old fear came flooding on me again. With those glasses on, it looked like a group of hideous looking spiders and not women! I yanked the glasses off in shock. Stephen only laughed.

“Better put them back on.” He warned. “It helps you see past their fake outward appearance and straight to their hearts. That’s what they really look like.”

 

That was interesting to say the least.

 

“Okay, here we are. Be sure to watch your back, Jacob.”

Stephen got out and started walking around the side of a building. He held his hand up for me to stop as he peeked around the corner. Then he motioned for me to come.

“Look.”

My mouth dropped open. What I saw was a man. But this man was so wrapped up in webs he looked like an Egyptian mummy or something. Only thing is, the foolish guy did not care! The man looked drunk and loopy and was heading straight for another massive web.

“When those spiders get a hold of these men they start to lose their mind. They go crazy, get delusional, get sleepy, lose their strength and fight, and become passive. They’re chained into this witchcraft.” Stephen looked sad.

 I turned my head away quickly. I certainly didn’t want to watch that pathetic guy die.

Stephen noticed me turn. “No. You must look!”

I looked back up and then my heart dropped to my stomach in shock.

“John?!” This was seriously unbelievable.

 “That’s my friend, John!” I frantically whispered. “We need to help him.”

“He’s a hopeless case, Jacob. He doesn’t want freedom. But you can try to talk to him if you want.”

 

I ran over to him. “John! John!”

He looked up or around or something. He wasn’t focusing. “Jacob….?”

“John, wake up! Don’t go to that web! That spider is ready to kill you! You’re the one that warned me about Bella and now here you are heading to your own spider death.”

“Nooo…. Jacob…” John slurred. “It’s fe-ine… This is theeee life, man! And heeeeey, I wouldn’t even care if she killed meeee. She’s a hot and purdy one and that there is all that matters, riiiiiiight?” He laughed deliriously and pushed me away so he could finish his journey towards the web.

I walked slowly back to Stephen as tears begin to well up in my eyes.

“Don’t turn away.” Stephen warned.

I slowly looked back and then almost threw up. It was Bella! The man that had warned me about her was now her next meal.

“That could be you.” Stephen spoke as I began to sob uncontrollably.

“I know! I know!”

 

Job 18: 7: “The steps of his strength shall be straitened, and his own counsel shall cast him down.”

 

It was a silent drive back up the mountain. I walked into the house and sat down with zero hope. I looked up at Stephen and Pearl’s eyes hoping for some kind of reassurance, faith, anything.

“Are there others like you anywhere?” I asked as the tears glistened in my empty eyes.

“Yes.”

“How can I find this island? That island of Patmos?”

“You’re going to have to repent of your sins, put your faith and trust in what your resurrected God and Creator, Jesus, did for you on the cross, and then run north. You need to overcome your fears with faith.”

 

1 John 4:18: “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.”

 

“Once you get there,  you’ll need to board the ship called “Deliverance.”

 

1 Timothy 6: 11-12: “But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.”

 

I looked back up at their eyes and saw tears. They were weeping!

“And, Jacob,” Stephen continued, “When you get the strength, help, and deliverance that you need, come back and help fight against this nasty spirit that is overtaking our land. We can try to save a few people. Most don’t want deliverance but, by God’s grace and strength, may we save at least a few!”

 

Nehemiah 4:14: “And I looked, and rose up, and said unto the nobles, and to the rulers, and to the rest of the people, Be not ye afraid of them: remember the Lord, which is great and terrible, and fight for your brethren, your sons, and your daughters, your wives, and your houses.”

 

I felt a spark of manhood, courage, and bravery come back into my soul. I knew what I had to do if I would die doing it. But first, I needed deliverance for myself.

 

Psalm 44:4: “Thou art my King, O God: command deliverances for Jacob.”

 

Before I began to run, Pearl handed me a folded up paper and told me to read it when I got on the ship.

 

And I ran. Boy, I ran! With all the strength I could muster. Even with nasty screaming spiders calling out to me left and right. I just looked straight on and ran. I did not stop until I had boarded that Deliverance ship and was well on my way to something better.

When I opened the paper I saw that it was a poem entitled “Run”. It read,

 

 

                     “RUN”

Run, pilgrim, run!

With patience pursue the prize.

Fix your face like a flint.

Don’t seek behind or side to side.

 

Run, Christian, run!

Worldly weights are for the weak.

Lay aside the lawless life.

The Master molds the lowly meek.

 

Run, soldier, run!

Do not fall or fail or faint.

Flee the foolish foe’s sly folly.

Stand up strong; fight with the saints.

 

Run, Remnant, run!

Jesus joyfully joined the journey.

Enduring the cross despising the cost.

Will you want to be counted worthy?

 

Run, Beloved, run!

Lay hold on Him with humble hands.

You need the strength of the Saviour

To enter Heaven’s Promised Land.

 

Run, Runner, run!

 

 

And then, dear reader, I awoke.

 

It really was a nightmare. But I now had a chance to correct my mistakes before they actually happened. Few ever do. And you, yes you, don’t be the majority. Flee from the spiders and run to Jesus before it’s too late. This could be your last chance.

 

Life or death?

Jesus or Jezebel?

 

It’s your choice….

 

 

 

AMEN.

 

 

The “spiders” in this story are “siren Jezebels.” The men who fall into their traps are “Ahab” men. The true women of God are “virtuous woman.”And those men who actually stand up and fight against the Jezebels are “Patriarchs”.  Who are you?

Judges 16: 4-20 “And it came to pass afterward, that he loved a woman in the valley of Sorek, whose name was Delilah. And the lords of the Philistines came up unto her, and said unto her, Entice him, and see wherein his great strength lieth, and by what means we may prevail against him, that we may bind him to afflict him; and we will give thee every one of us eleven hundred pieces of silver. And Delilah said to Samson, Tell me, I pray thee, wherein thy great strength lieth, and wherewith thou mightest be bound to afflict thee. And Samson said unto her, If they bind me with seven green withs that were never dried, then shall I be weak, and be as another man. Then the lords of the Philistines brought up to her seven green withs which had not been dried, and she bound him with them. Now there were men lying in wait, abiding with her in the chamber. And she said unto him, The Philistines be upon thee, Samson. And he brake the withs, as a thread of tow is broken when it toucheth the fire. So his strength was not known. And Delilah said unto Samson, Behold, thou hast mocked me, and told me lies: now tell me, I pray thee, wherewith thou mightest be bound. And he said unto her, If they bind me fast with new ropes that never were occupied, then shall I be weak, and be as another man. Delilah therefore took new ropes, and bound him therewith, and said unto him, The Philistines be upon thee, Samson. And there were liers in wait abiding in the chamber. And he brake them from off his arms like a thread. And Delilah said unto Samson, Hitherto thou hast mocked me, and told me lies: tell me wherewith thou mightest be bound. And he said unto her, If thou weavest the seven locks of my head with the web. And she fastened it with the pin, and said unto him, The Philistines be upon thee, Samson. And he awaked out of his sleep, and went away with the pin of the beam, and with the web. And she said unto him, How canst thou say, I love thee, when thine heart is not with me? thou hast mocked me these three times, and hast not told me wherein thy great strength lieth. And it came to pass, when she pressed him daily with her words, and urged him, so that his soul was vexed unto death; That he told her all his heart, and said unto her, There hath not come a razor upon mine head; for I have been a Nazarite unto God from my mother's womb: if I be shaven, then my strength will go from me, and I shall become weak, and be like any other man. And when Delilah saw that he had told her all his heart, she sent and called for the lords of the Philistines, saying, Come up this once, for he hath shewed me all his heart. Then the lords of the Philistines came up unto her, and brought money in their hand. And she made him sleep upon her knees; and she called for a man, and she caused him to shave off the seven locks of his head; and she began to afflict him, and his strength went from him. And she said, The Philistines be upon thee, Samson. And he awoke out of his sleep, and said, I will go out as at other times before, and shake myself. And he wist not that the Lord was departed from him.”

 

Proverbs 5:3-13 “For the lips of a strange woman drop as an honeycomb, and her mouth is smoother than oil: But her end is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a two-edged sword. Her feet go down to death; her steps take hold on hell. Lest thou shouldest ponder the path of life, her ways are moveable, that thou canst not know them. Hear me now therefore, O ye children, and depart not from the words of my mouth. Remove thy way far from her, and come not nigh the door of her house: Lest thou give thine honour unto others, and thy years unto the cruel: Lest strangers be filled with thy wealth; and thy labours be in the house of a stranger; And thou mourn at the last, when thy flesh and thy body are consumed, And say, How have I hated instruction, and my heart despised reproof; And have not obeyed the voice of my teachers, nor inclined mine ear to them that instructed me!”

 

Proverbs 30:20-23 “Such is the way of an adulterous woman; she eateth, and wipeth her mouth, and saith, I have done no wickedness. For three things the earth is disquieted, and for four which it cannot bear: For a servant when he reigneth; and a fool when he is filled with meat; For an odious woman when she is married; and an handmaid that is heir to her mistress.”

 

Revelation 2:20-25 “Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols.And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not. Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds. And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works. But unto you I say, and unto the rest in Thyatira, as many as have not this doctrine, and which have not known the depths of Satan, as they speak; I will put upon you none other burden.But that which ye have already hold fast till I come.”

Job 8:13-14 “So are the paths of all that forget God; and the hypocrite's hope shall perish: Whose hope shall be cut off, and whose trust shall be a spider's web.”

Proverbs 30:28 “The spider taketh hold with her hands, and is in kings' palaces.”

She says, “Catch me if you can!”