The Wizard and the Prophet
By Anthony Casperson
11-16-24

In my current playthrough of Baldur’s Gate 3, a thought struck me about the story for one of the possible party members. Well, I should say that it is what’s probably the primary “good” version of that story—because the actions of the player can affect the tale’s direction. And while I’ll somewhat spoil Gale’s story, I’ll try to be vague otherwise.

During the game, players learn of the wizardly companion’s background. He’d been a worshipper of Mystra, the game world’s goddess of magic. And in an effort to show his worship to her, Gale delved too deeply into the metaphorical mine of magic.

He discovered something that he’d thought had been lost to his goddess, only to realize that it was totally antithetical to her—hence why she’d not wanted anyone to go there. And what he’d discovered had nearly killed him as it melded into his body.

This aberrant strain of magic sapped his strength as it craved more and more magic. Days, weeks, and months passed while he learned that this thing in his chest could be calmed by “feeding” it magically-enchanted items. The objects also were absorbed along with their magical essence. As well, Gale discovered that if he didn’t “feed” the thing properly, he’d detonate in a city-leveling explosion.

And all of that is his story before the game starts.

Sometime later, Gale found himself abducted by strange alien beings who implanted a tadpole in him in order to create more of their kind in the host. (Yeah, Gale’s got a lot going on, while not outshining his fellow party members’ plights as they all seek a cure to their own tadpoles.)

The player is introduced to Gale’s condition with the aberrant magic when the wizard asks for an enchanted item to consume. It’s weird, but the episode calms quickly. However sometime later, when Gale’s asked for a few magic items to “feed” the thing in his chest, the craving doesn’t soothe like it always had. The demand swells within him.

Eventually, Mystra tells him that she’ll forgive him of his delving too deeply, if he sacrifices himself with that big bada boom to take out the one behind the actions of those alien beings. Something which he contemplates doing multiple times during the game.

Now, in my earlier playthroughs, I’d always balked at the command. Because I worship the God who paid the price of forgiveness himself on the cross. And only after that forgiveness is given, asks us to offer our bodies as living sacrifices. The self-sacrifice is a response to the forgiveness needed.

But with this current playthrough, I realized that through all of the difficulties and trials—all of the terrible events that vie for the chance to be the problem that ends up killing him—Gale remains faithful to his goddess. (Again, that’s in the “good” version of the story.) Even when the command comes down for his sacrifice, Gale never contemplates abandoning his faith in her. At best, he only tries to find another option to take out the one behind the tadpoles. An action which is still trying to accomplish her task for him.

Nothing removes his desire to serve and worship his goddess.

It’s a type of faith that I kinda admire, if I’m being honest. And similar to the type of faith that a number of biblical examples share. But I only have room for one in this blog, so let’s turn to the story of exceptional faith that came from the prophet Habakkuk.

The prophet lived during the final few decades of the southern kingdom of Judah. The northern ten tribes of Israel had already been sent into exile. And the two southern tribes weren’t just following the sinful suit of their northern relatives, but were perfecting just how deep into idolatry a person could get.

Various kings of the nation—most of whom held short reigns—preferred to bow down to idols and the power of other kings rather than the God of Israel. The religious leaders were just as bad, leading the people to ever-worsening atrocities in the so-called worship of deities who asked for sacrifices that Yahweh never would. And the so-called prophets kept proclaiming lies about peace because they had the temple of the Lord in Jerusalem—despite how little they regarded that temple.

A contemporary prophet to Habakkuk even had multiple death threats and assassination conspiracies set against him. The people didn’t seem to like the Lord’s statements of a kingdom from the north—namely Babylon—coming to bring them to exile. Statements which came from multiple prophets who had actually been sent by their God. Prophets whose words from the Lord had reached Habakkuk’s ears. And heart.

And all of that is his story before the book starts.

Habakkuk looks around at all of the selfish evil and idolatry around him and cries out to Yahweh. The prophet knows what the result of all this sin is supposed to be, but looks for some other option. During the first two chapters of the book, Habakkuk asks two questions of God, to each of which Yahweh responds.

The answers aren’t what anyone would consider to be good for the immediate needs of the people of Judah. But it is through them that we get the words quoted multiple times in the New Testament, “the righteous shall live by his faith.”

God’s responses to the prophet are enough to lead Habakkuk to write a poem of praise, which is chapter 3 of the book. And at the very end of this poem, found in Habakkuk 3:17-19, we witness the strange, yet incredible faith that the prophet has in his God.

Even if every good thing in Israel—even if all of the normal comforts like various food and drink—is taken away, still Habakkuk will turn to Yahweh. Despite the loss, fail, and ruin of everything that brings life to the people of Israel, even then the prophet will rejoice in his God.

This joy and rejoicing isn’t some form of masochistic happiness. And Habakkuk’s not promising to put on a happy smile, while feeling like he’s dying on the inside.

No, when verse 18 says, “yet I will rejoice in the Lord,” that word for “rejoice” carries the idea of an emotion finding expression in singing or shouting. It’s the scream of excitement when victory comes after all seemed lost. The unstoppable outcry as a person falls to their knees in utter relief.

And the parallel of that phrase is given at the end of the verse, “I will take joy in the God of my salvation.” The root idea of the word for “joy” here has the thought of circling around. Thus, it brings forth the image of running around exuberantly in circles. It’s the leaping and jumping and high-fiving that we often see when teams win a major competition.

The two words are shown in parallel, therefore they are meant to join in one complete idea. So, Habakkuk shows us a faith that isn’t just barely hanging on after the problems of this life have battered him to pieces. Rather, he provides an example of faith that looks beyond the difficulties and sees the victorious God he worships—the God who will remain even after the troubles find their end.

Even if everything that could go wrong actually does, Habakkuk will still scream the praise of God. It doesn’t matter what things fall apart and fail, he’ll remain faithful to Yahweh.

Why is that? Why will the prophet remain faithful to his God? Because Yahweh is faithful to him. And will be his strength, despite the weakness of his knees. Verse 19 shows us that despite all of Habakkuk’s questions and doubt, Yahweh, the Lord, is the prophet’s strength and power and ultimate resource.

God’s strength is there to lift us up when the trials of this life are too much for us.

That strength might not look how we want it to. We might continue being battered while God’s strength gives us the endurance to continue in the problems. And total victory over the difficulties of life might not come until after Jesus returns. But that doesn’t mean the victory isn’t coming.

So, let’s scream out the praise of God, whether it causes us to fall to our knees or run around in exuberant circles. The victory was made sure at the cross and resurrection. And is coming one day—hopefully soon.

Whatever problems and difficulties we’re experiencing, whatever pain and agony we’re going through right now, remember that God is with us in them. And he’s sure to be victorious. That doesn’t make all of the issues go away with a snap of his fingers, but it does help us make that one more step forward.

Let’s learn from the faith of the wizard and the prophet. And rejoice all the more that we worship the God who paid for our forgiveness before we ever started worshipping him.