As I reread the Old Testament I find myself intrigued by the stories therein. I am presently intrigued by stories of shocking surprises. My intent here is to group those stories together and try to imagine how the recipients of those surprises felt.

First was the shock experienced by the people in the days of Noah when it finally began to rain. They had been warned. They scoffed. They were told to repent, and refused. They mocked Noah and even sought his life. They made fun of the supposed lunatic who was building the large ship in a high place far from water. Noah and his project were famous. Noah was a fool. And then it began to rain. It didn't just rain: It poured. Small streams quickly became raging torrents. The low places filled with water. Going outside was out of the question until water began pouring into their homes. Houses and towns and people were washed away. Everyone suddenly wanted desperately to be up where they could plead to be allowed to get on board the boat. Everyone was suddenly a believer, but it was too late.

Then I think of the shock the brothers of Joseph received when he revealed his identity. The powerful man to whom they were bowing and paying obeisance was the younger brother whom they had cruelly, and without compassion, sold into slavery. They were worthy of retribution and death. They knew it. They were afraid, and yet they were spared. The Lord still had a use for them. They were more fortunate than the people of Noah's day.

Adonijah wasn't. Adonijah had everything set in place so that he would be crowned king. It was going to be a coronation day like no other. "He prepared him chariots and horsemen, and fifty men to run before him. "1 Kings 1:5). He had Joab, the leader of the army, and Abiathar, the priest, supporting him. He had gathered hundreds or thousands of people to the great feast that would precede his crowning. All of his brothers were there except Solomon, whom he purposely did not invite. Neither did he invite his father, the king, nor Nathan, the prophet, nor Solomon's mother, Bathsheba. He would deal with them later, after he was crowned and in control. Solomon was to be David's successor, and Adonijah knew it. Solomon would have to be eliminated.

The great feast was just ending when Jerusalem suddenly rang with the sound of trumpets, shouting, cheering, and a great noise. (1 Kings 1 and 2). A runner burst into the assembly with the news that King David had just had Solomon crowned king of Israel. The great crowd which had gathered to witness the crowning of Adonijah melted away. Those people were supporting a usurper. Their very lives were in danger. The crowd disappeared, and every man ran for home. A minute or two later Adonijah was alone. Surprise! One minute he was glorying in his greatness, and the next he was alone.

Adonijah: almost king, absolutely alone.

One needs to purposefully surround himself with righteous people. Otherwise, one is in danger.

In the days of Noah there were only eight righteous people to be found in the world.

In the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah there were but four.

After the expulsion of Alma and Amulek from Ammonihah there were none. Ammonihah was annihilated.

To avoid such unpleasant surprises, one needs to keep oneself in good company.