Bible Story: Tobit (The Book of Tobit)

Today, the bible story that I would like to share with you is the book of Tobit. Tobit was from the tribe of Napthali and was exiled in the city of Nineveh. He had only one son and its name is Tobias. Tobit was generous man, he helped the poor, the widows, the orphans, and the foreigners. He also bury the dead that had been thrown outside the city wall. One day, after he buried a body, he slept in his courtyard and sparrow warm droppings fell on his eyes and he got blind. He prayed to God to bring all his troubles to end. He rather die than live in misery. At the same day, Sarah, the daughter of Raguel was also praying to God to show mercy on her because she received insults from her father’s servants. Sarah had been married for 7 times but a demon killed each husband before the marriage could be consummated.

God heard their prayers so he sent Raphael, an angel to help them.  One day, Tobit asked his son to go to Media to get his money from Gabael. He also hired Raphael as the travel companion of his son. Tobias went along with his dog in the journey. So they walked until sunset and camped in the Tigris river. Tobias washed his feet and suddenly a huge fish swallow one of his feet. Raphael told him to catch the fish and take the gall bladder, heart, and liver. The heart and liver will be used to drive out a demon and the gall bladder is a medicine for the eyes.  

When they reached Media, Raphael told to Tobias that they will stay with Raguel and Tobias will marry Sarah – a sensible, brave, and very beautiful woman. Tobias raised his concern regarding the news that Sarah’s 7 husband dropped dead on his wedding night. Raphael said, don’t worry about the demon. Marry Sarah. So Tobias began to fall in love with her and looked forward to marrying her.

After the wedding ceremony and the meal, it was time to go to bed and Tobias took the heart and the liver out of his bag and placed them on the burning incense in the room and the smell drove the demon away and fled to Egypt. Raphael chased the demon and bound the hand and foot.

The parents of Sarah were anxious and actually asked its servant dig a grave for Tobias and to check if he is already dead. The servant checked and saw that the newlyweds were sleeping.  Raguel praised God.

At the wedding feast, Tobias asked Raphael to  go to Gabael’s house to get the money and invite him in the wedding feast. Everything went well except Tobias parents were getting worried because it has been two weeks and Tobias was not back.

Tobias plead his father in law to allow him to go back and he agreed. So he brings his wife, and half of Raguel’s property. As soon as he saw his father Tobit, he put the gall bladder on his hand and blew on his father’s eyes. Tobit see again and then welcome Sarah’s arrival.

Raphael talked to Tobit and Tobias and told them that God sent him to cure Tobit and to rescue Sarah from her troubles. He is an angel. They got terrified but Raphael said to them -  “Don’t be afraid; everything is alright. Always remember to praise God.”

What lesson we can get from this story is to always trust God. Pray to him and tell to him all our troubles and concerns. He is our saviour; our healer; our father who loves us.  God bless us all.