“I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.” ~ Ezekiel 36:26
After a while, “the king, who had remembered [Talia], found an occasion to go hunting and came to see her. Finding her awake and in the company of two painted eggs of beauty, he was stunned with joy and told Talia who he was and what had happened. They made friends and a strong bond was established, and after staying several days with her he took his leave with the promise that he would return and take her away with him. He then went back to his kingdom, where he mentioned Talia and the children at every chance he got…”[1]
As I discussed last time, Talia speaks for the high-born women of the past. Historically, a noblewoman’s worth was based on her ability to produce children, especially sons. When a woman bore a healthy son, she secured her position and power. (This is the world’s view, not God’s!)
It is no accident, then, that the king comes back to Talia and develops a “strong bond” after she has the children (named Sun and Moon). Talia and the king are not in love, but the birth of their children gives them both what they desire: the king has a son, and Talia’s position is secure.
Talia speaks for women who really have no hope of falling in love; their hope is just to be provided for. A babe is such a fragile, vulnerable stepping-stone to security! Yet this is how it was for much of our history. I find this extraordinarily tragic.
But God redeems every situation. The beautiful part of this story is that Talia’s awakening inspires the king’s heart to change.
And the change is drastic. I think we can all agree on the fact that the king is a cad. He takes advantage of a sleeping woman, and then forgets about it. When he remembers, he decides to go back for more…And he is not expecting to find her awake.
If anyone can be described as having a heart of stone, this would be our guy.
But look at what happens! Talia awoke to the need of her children, and because Talia heeded the call of love the king’s heart begins to awake, too. He takes joy in his children, as well as Talia! Because of Talia’s witness, his heart of stone is replaced by a heart of flesh.
This is the power of Love offered to us at the Cross. God takes our heart of stone – our uncaring, selfish, callous heart – and turns it into a heart of flesh – full of love, joy, and peace. This change then becomes a beautiful testimony to God’s saving grace, for when others see it, God begins to change their hearts, too.
If Talia’s tale was told in our time, this would be the end. The king would marry her, and they would live happily ever after…
But the king was a cad, remember? As it turns out, he already has a wife…
Sources
[1] Basile, The Tale of Tales, p. 414
