Out of the Miry Clay is a novel that follows Rachel Todd-Elliott and her husband, Christopher as they deal with apocalyptical events occurring near them and around the world. The novel begins with the introduction of a new character: Myra Clayborn. She symbolizes all humanity, born mired in sin, and separated from Almighty God.

In Genesis, the first book of the Bible, God records the beginning of our world, and the creatures that inhabit it. Adam, the first man, was created by God from the dust of the earth: He was clay-born. Adam communed with God in the Garden of Eden until he sinned; on that day his spirit died and he was banished from the garden. In time, Adam died and his body returned to the earth from which he was drawn: ashes to ashes, dust to dust.

Genesis 2:7
7And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul. KJV

All men since Adam are born in sin, separated from God, and in need of a Savior; One that can lift us out of the miry pit and place us on a solid foundation. Jesus Christ is that Savior; He is our Rock of Redemption.

Out of the Miry Clay endeavors to teach that man must obey God or suffer the consequences. Therefore, I combined the calamities occurring around the world—the floods, hurricanes, earthquakes, droughts, famines and the proliferation of diseases—and how they may be directly related to the breaking of God’s laws, the Ten Commandments, by mankind.

The Ten Commandments were given to us by God because He loves us. Obeying them will help keep us safe from varying types of harm and danger. Disobeying them has consequences that bring pain; perhaps not immediately, but ultimately. Therefore, in this novel, my characters come to believe that the disasters occurring around the earth may be more than apocalyptic; they also believe that God could be using them to force men to turn to Him in repentance of their sins while there is still time.

Unfortunately, many people reject the concept of a God who allows people to suffer, and therefore reject the idea that He may use suffering to teach them to obey. They will be left to face the consequences of those beliefs. I believe, however, that the Bible teaches this concept, and that it is clearly delineated in the following passage from the book of Hebrews. The writer of it proclaims that God’s love for His children causes Him to chasten and correct them for their own good.

Hebrews 12:5-11
5And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him:

6For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.

7If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?

8But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.

9Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?

10For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness.

11Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby. KJV