Tobit 9-14

The heartwarming story of Tobit and his family continues. Tobiah sends his travel companion ahead to recover the money his father had left for safekeeping with his kinsman, Gabael. Raphael returns with Gabael in tow, eager to join the joyful wedding celebration. Knowing his parents must be anxious for his return, Tobias and his new wife depart her parents' home after the two week celebration to head off for Nineveh. They are given a very warm and loving send off. It's a small thing, but to me it reinforces how marriage is (or can be, or should be) a joining in love of two families, not just two individuals.

Meanwhile, Tobit and Anna are very worried about their son, with Anna sure something terrible has happened. When Tobiah nears Nineveh, he and Raphael actually run ahead of the rest of their party, in order to get to Tobiah's parents sooner. His mother, keeping watch of the road (like the Prodigal Son's father, right?), sees him first. Tobiah greets his joyous parents, and then, at Raphael's direction, rubs the fish gall into his father's eyes. Tobit's sight is restored. "I can see you, son, the light of my eyes!" Tobit exclaims. Beautiful.

Raphael finally reveals himself, and urges Tobit and his family to "continue to thank God every day; praise him with song." He goes on to say: 

Behold, I am about to ascend to him who sent me; write down all these things that have happened to you.

Reminds me of Jesus' own Ascension.

Tobit sings a wonderful song of praise. He instructs his son and family about the future:

Now, children, I give you this command: serve God faithfully and do what is right before him; you must tell your children to do what is upright and to give alms, to be mindful of God and at all times to bless his name sincerely and with all their strength.

Tobit dies. Tobiah and his family leave Nineveh, as Tobit had instructed them, and a short time later Nineveh is destroyed.

I love this book. Tobit is a simple man, a family man. Loving and hopeful. He endures patiently and with equanimity, never losing confidence in God and never ceasing to try to do what is right. Unlike the heroes of the Old Testament stories before this, he doesn't do great or miraculous things. Rather, he is a simple man who is faithful of heart.