Talkalone--Allan Eubank--Hosea
by Parthenia Stout
Only God could hook up Hosea with this tribe and Allan Eubank . But then God can do anything for He is the Creator and has all the answers to life.
A man called A. Hovemyr had done a lot of study on the Karen tribe including the Talkalone and had contacted Allan Eubank for his information as he had been with this tribe many years and had learned so much of their background. It seems that one Karen man had gone from the straight and narrow path of most Karens thinking he wanted to be the king they were looking for. He had joined up with another Karen who had gone into Buddhism and that became a stronghold of the enemy. Like any cult he had great influence over many tribes around him as he had convinced them he was the head man. Nothing was done outside of the head man as he was in authority.
The tale was that after the 7th leader the millennium would come. Like any cult much of the truth was included like the number 7 which is very much in evidence in all their teachings and is Biblical. This leader was the first head man Allan had found and talked about the Bible and being saved, but he would not budge nor let any one else under his rule. That is one reason why it took so long for Allan to get the gospel message to these Karen that God loves so much. The guy died and then others died and then they included the 8th man as the head which was not supposed to be as the millennium had not come. (Sounds like Christians who thought Jesus would come and he didn’t! Jesus said only his Father knew the exact date and so far He is not telling. Yes, we are to watch and pray but to continue to follow Jesus in the work he has called us to do.)
Then I met Allan at a prayer meeting where he was so excited that he had heard those who had accepted Jesus as their Saviour wanted to be baptized. I went out to their church to meet with him Sunday 8-31-08, and he had little time to talk as he is always busy on Sunday. He is so gracious and kind and so loving. He told me that he had baptized only a few and was a bit discouraged as he had expected more. So I shared with him what God had directed me to in Hosea.
This last week waiting for news of the baptism I had been praying and looking at the scriptures remembering all that Hovemyr and others told about the history of this tribe, and the long time Allan had been with these people. A very long time and so hard to get to --some say 28 years and Allan said more like 50. And God popped into my head Hosea. Please read the first 2 chapters.
After Jesus died and the temple was destroyed in 70A.D. the Jews were taken into exile and the prophet Hosea said the Jews were deported into Babylon. Hosea’s word from the Lord was that they had committed whoredoms in departing from the Lord. God gave Hosea examples so the people could see through a wife of whoredoms and the children were named for the battle to come with God who was angry with their unfaithfulness. In verse 7 God is out to save them from their sinful ways. But as they are-- in their bowing to idols---he will not be their God nor will they be his people. Verse 10 is very important for the Karen for they are so numerous they are hard to count and in the place where it is said unto them you are not my people the faith of God arises and he said --there it shall be said unto them, Ye are the sons of the living God. (There in the Talkalone tribe this could be said as well of those who received Christ!) (Interesting to note verse 11 as these children will appoint themselves one head that is Jesus and the word Jezreel was a town in the mountainous district of Judah--- and these Karen people live in the mountains.
In chapter two Hosea is told to talk to your family and to plead with your mother to put away her whoredoms and her adulteries and this is just what Allan has been doing --pleading and pleading ---and now the fruit is coming. The Talkalone has begun the process of repenting and accepting water baptism which is --the old man is buried --and the new man is now under the true head --Jesus Christ.
When I got to verse 2:6 I began to pray should we hedge up the enemy or the ones who have been baptized? For it is to keep them separated. The next morning God gave me Job. Satan had accused God of putting a hedge around Job (1:10). So I prayed the hedge around the ones who belong to God. Keep praying for these that they will be mighty warriors and share their new found faith so that more will come to the Saviour. There are many who are watching to see if Jesus is stronger than the evil spirits. May the Holy Spirit give them the power of the Cross as Paul said, “For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.”
To Jesus may we all bow in wonder at His grace and love!
