by Caryl McAdoo
She sent away her attendants then greeted him with a kiss. “What are you grinning about? I didn’t expect you back so soon.”
A chill started in Abraham’s heart then raced over his flesh. Glory bumps raised on his extremities. “After all these years, Sarah. The Lord has appeared to me again.”
She tilted her head and returned his smile. “What did He say?”
As though the Lord had burned His Word on Abraham’s heart, he repeated exactly what he had heard. At first, his wife only stared, then she shook her head. “But it cannot be, my dearest. I’ve told you. I’m beyond bearing children.”
“The Lord is not a man that He can lie. You, my love, are Sarah, the mother of kings.”
She nodded but didn’t seem convinced. “How are you able to believe this? You know me since my birth. I am too old, Abram.”
“Not Abram. God’s new name for me is Abraham. By faith I believe. It is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not yet seen. ”
“Yes, indeed. I have hoped…for ninety years, I have hoped! But new names do not restore youth. And circumcision? Are you truly going to mutilate your flesh?”
“Yes, before this day’s sun sets, it will be done. I will obey the Lord’s voice in all things, Wife. I long to please Him in all my ways. And why wouldn’t I? Look about…how He has blessed us, dear. And what have I done to deserve His thoughts turning to me? Nothing.”
“You’ve always been so good, Abram…Abraham, since I’ve known you. Good and kind and wise and generous. I know no other man who could compare.”
“Do not call me good. Only the Creator in Heaven is good and true. And yet His thoughts turn to me, and I know how much He loves me…that He’s always thinking of me…and you, dear wife. And you will bear a son next year, so rejoice. Get your tambourine. Call your maidens. Dance and sing. The Lord loves you, and will give you the desire of your heart.”
“We’ll see, old man. We shall see.”
Chapter Eleven
As the men crowded in, Abraham kept his face on his rug, praying. He knew what the Lord had told him, and if his men protested, then so be it. He and Ishmael would start over.
His steward knelt beside him. “My lord, all things are ready as you have requested.”
Abraham pushed himself to his knees then stood. He searched the eyes of those closest. His oldest and most trusted men ringed him. He held his arm out, and his son walked into his embrace. After filling his lungs, he exhaled slowly then spoke in his loudest voice.
“The Lord God appeared to me this day. He and I have entered into a covenant. All the land of Canaan, He has given to me and mine as an everlasting possession. As a sign of this covenant, I—and all the males in my house—shall be circumcised in the flesh of our foreskin.”
Eyes widened. A few heads nodded. But most stood stone still.
“Those who do not bear this mark will be cut off, and from this day forward, every male born in my house or bought with money will be circumcised on his eighth day of life.” He held out his hand. Eliezer placed a knife in it. “I will be first. Then my son.”
Hagar couldn’t stand it any longer. Ishmael—along with all the men and boys—had been in his father’s tent for too long, and she hated not knowing why. She dared not draw near enough to hear. What she’d like to do would be to slip inside and see for herself. Instead, she ran to her mistress’ tent and threw herself at Sarai’s feet.
“Mother, they have been in there far too long.” She looked up. “Do you know what they are doing? Is Ishmael safe? Eliezer had a young man sharpening many knives before. I saw it with my own eyes.”
“I know. It is grievous butchery to think of it. But the Lord appeared to my husband, told him to change our names—he’s to be known as Abraham, and I am now Sarah—and he did share with me exactly what his God required of him and of all the males in our household.”
“What? Will you tell me? I’ll find out, you know it.”
“To be mutilated, circumcised in the flesh of their foreskins.”
“No! Ishmael, too?”
“All. Those born and those bought. Men who refuse will be put out and on their own. Best be glad you are a maid. I know I am thankful I’m a female.”
“But how then will my son father his twelve princes?”
Sarah extended her hand, silencing her servant, then proceeded to explain what circumcision meant. “From this day forward, each male child will be mutilated on the eighth day of his life.”
Why would Abram’s—no, now Abraham’s—God require such a thing? “Does it hurt?”
“Silly woman. How would I know such a thing? My guess is that it certainly would be painful. I suppose we’ll see soon enough.”
Hagar backed away a step. “With your leave, Mother, I must make preparations. My son will need me.”
Sarah waved the girl off. She hadn’t considered Abraham’s well-being after the act of obedience. Was there anything her husband would deny his God? Did the idiotic word that she herself would bear a son—which in no way could be true—negate all the other things her husband’s God had said?
Oh, if only it could be true. To have a baby, a rightful heir. Many years had passed since her womb might still be fertile enough to conceive, but no longer. It had died. Does anything that is dead rise again to life? No. She walked to where she kept her polished piece of silver. Her reflection lied, claimed she wasn’t old at all.
No matter, eighty and ninety in those days was surely old, and her husband one year away from one hundred. Abraham. She understood the Lord calling him that, but if the Almighty lied about her bearing, could she put credence into anything He said? Of course, she could never confront her beloved.
That man would never quit believing! If his God told him the sun was going to stay in the sky and neither set nor rise…he would say it was so.
After the evening meal, she brought healing ointments and ministered to her husband. The following day he and the other men waxed so sore that Sarah sent her maidens out with the herds. By the fourth day, Abraham reported the worst over. On the seventh, he arose good as new. Except he remained an old man.
By the second set of seven days after the mass mutilation, all returned to the same as before except for the horrible heat. The tent became so sweltering, Abraham sat in his door, while she and three of her servants worked on her rug in the back with the wall flapped up where if a little breeze stirred the air….
A double hand’s worth of sun before long shadow, her husband rushed in. “Quick, Sarah. Knead three measures of fine meal and bake them on the hearth.” He nodded toward the youngest of her three. “You, fetch water to wash the feet of our guests. And you.” He pointed toward the others. “Bring towels and oil.”
“Guests? Where are they?”
“Out under the tree, and I’ll need butter and milk, too.”
He turned.
“Abraham, who are they that have come?”
He turned back. “The Lord, with two of the biggest men I’ve ever seen.”
“The Lord? He is here? With two other men?”
“Yes, wife. Now do as I bid, and do not detain me further.”
She hurried to comply while her husband ran toward the herd. Shortly, he returned and gave the calf to one of the young men to slaughter and dress. She stifled a giggle over how he paced and fretted until all was ready then hurried to put it out before the three visitors himself. Then he stood by while they ate.
Could it be true that one really was the Lord? If anyone would know…her husband certainly would.
She dismissed her servants, then crept around the tent’s wall until she stood next to the door flap and listened. There, she could hear without being seen. Perspiration trickled down the middle of her back.
“Where is Sarah, your wife?”
“Inside the tent.”
“I will certainly return unto you according to the time of life, and Sarah your wife will have a son.”
A wry laughed es
caped, and she covered her mouth. Her heart whispered, after growing so ancient, was she to have pleasure? Her husband being old also?
“Wherefore did Sarah laugh? Saying shall I of a surety bear a child which am old? Is anything too hard for the Lord? At the time appointed, I will return unto you, according to the time of life, and Sarah will have a son.”
She stepped into the door. “Lord, I laughed not.”
Her mouth and throat went so dry, it was a wonder she could speak at all. Her heart thundered. Was that man really God Almighty? Had she ruined it for herself by laughing?
“Nay, but you did laugh.” He stood and looked south toward Sodom.
Abraham walked along with them as they went on their way.
The Lord looked to the others then right at Abraham. “Shall I hide from Abraham the thing that I do? Seeing that Abraham will surely become a great and mighty nation and all the nations of the earth will be blessed in him.
“For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the Lord, to do justice and judgement, that the Lord may bring upon Abraham that which He hath spoken of him.
“Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grievous, I will go down now and see whether they have done altogether according to the cry of it which is come unto me. And if not, I will know.”
The other two walked on, but Abraham walked ahead, turned around, and stood before the Lord who drew near. “Will you also destroy the righteous with the wicked? What if there be fifty righteous? Will you still destroy and not spare the place for the fifty righteous men therein? That would be far from You to do such a thing. To slay the righteous with the wicked? Why should the righteous be treated the same as the wicked? How could it be right? Will not the Judge of all the earth do right?”
“If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare all the place for their sakes.”
Abraham nodded, but it wasn’t enough. A boldness came upon him.
“Behold now, I which am but dust and ashes have taken upon myself to speak to You, Lord. But tell me, if there lack five of fifty, will you destroy all the city for the lack of five?”
“If I find there forty and five, I will not destroy it.”
“And what if only forty?”
“I will not do it for forty’s sake.”
The boldness waned, but he spoke anyway. His nephew Lot lived there with his wife and daughters. “Do not be angry, Lord. What if thirty righteous men be found in that horrible city?”
“I will not do it, if I find thirty there.”
“Behold now, since I’ve taken upon myself to speak to You, what if there are twenty?”
“I will not destroy it for the twenty’s sake.”
The boldness gone, but…how could he stop? He had to ask once more. “Oh, please do not be angry, and I will speak yet but this once more. What if only ten, Lord?”
“I will not destroy it for ten’s sake.” Then the Lord walked on toward Sodom, and Abraham returned to his tent.
That night, he stayed on his knees, beseeching the Lord on his brother’s son’s behalf. Early the next morning, he arose and went outside. Smoke billowed in the sky as if from a huge furnace, rising higher still, where once Sodom and Gomorrah had sat, south of the Salt Sea.
Chapter Twelve
From his balcony, Abimelech watched as Phichol and his troop neared. Soon he would know and then could decide his best course action. If the rumors proved true, and it really was Abram who approached, what chance did he have if his coming meant war?
Footfalls preceded a light tap on his door and pulled him back into his map room. “Enter.”
His chief captain crossed the threshold, bowed his head, then brought his fist against his chest. “My lord, I have news.”
“Is he armed for war?”
“No, my king. He comes to sojourn here in Gerar.”
What news. “And does his coming have anything to do with the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah?”
“He didn’t say, but if I may speak, sire.”
A slight nod bade him continue.
“I see an opportunity.”
“How so?”
“In the man’s sister. A mature woman, perhaps a few years younger than yourself, my lord, but fairer by far than any I’ve ever laid eyes upon.”
“Abram’s sister you say?”
“Yes, except now, he calls himself Abraham, and the lady, Sarah.”
“Beautiful is she?”
“Yes, my king, and if….”
Abimelech waved his servant silent. No need for the man to state the obvious. “Take five hundred—no—make it a thousand pieces of silver with you and bring back to me my newest wife. Tell my brother Abraham that we will have a grand feast after his sister’s week of purification.”
As usual, Phichol showed little emotion, only his usual look of obedience as he took his leave, but Abimelech saw the pleasure in the man’s eyes. This Abraham whose god everyone feared, along with all the sojourner’s possessions, would become part of his kingdom. A timely wedding would soon be celebrated across the land.
That evening, his captain returned with the lady to his throne room. Mature, yes, but fairer than a thousand sunrises, beautiful beyond measure, and the grace of her movement matched her splendor. It pleased him that she neither bowed nor scraped before him. As though being a king was a small thing, and she above it.
Soon, she would know otherwise.
“And you are?”
“Sarah, sister to Abraham.”
He nodded. “My servants will see to your every need.” He clapped his hands and from behind the curtains, two maidens appeared and escorted the woman to her quarters.”
That night, before he chose a bed partner, the screams and cries of those who’d come full term soured his stomach. Why did childbearing have to be so hard? He tossed and turned, unable to achieve any comfortable position.
The next morning, the midwife sought him out even before he broke his fast.
“My lord.” She lowered her eyes as though he was hard to look at. “Your wives, sire, who are ready to deliver…something strange has happened. It’s as though their wombs have been closed. The babies are ready, but the mothers.…”
“What has this to do with me? You see to it.” He turned, rubbing the back of his hand and up his forearm for it itched as a fire. And his face, too, burned. The old hag ran in front of him.
“Sire, the other midwives report the same. Something—or someone, my lord—has caused this evil to befall us.”
With a brush of his fingers toward the door, he dismissed the woman then sought out his queen. Entering his throne room, her eyes widened. “My Lord, your face….”
Touching it, a thick moisture wet his fingertips and left his cheeks fiery. “Does mine have the same sores as yours?”
Tears filled her eyes, but she had no answers for his questions on why the plague befell his palace, nor did any of his advisers. Lying perfectly still that night, with benefit of neither wine nor song, he fell into a fitful sleep until a light so bright that he had to shield his eyes appeared to him in his dream.
Behold thou art but a dead man for the woman which thou hast taken
for she is a mans wife
“Lord, wilt you slay also a righteous nation? He said, “She is my sister.’ And she herself said, ‘He is my brother.’ I swear I never meant to take another man’s wife. It’s with innocent hands I have done this.”
Yea I know that thou didst this in the integrity of thy heart for I also withheld thee from sinning against me therefore suffered I thee not to touch her
Now therefore restore the man his wife for he is a prophet and he shall pray for thee and thou shalt live and if thou restore her not know thou that thou shalt surely die
thou and all that are thine
Even before the sun rose, Abimelech got out of his bed and roused his servants and chief men. His boils had
worsened through the night. As he spoke, he couldn’t disguise the fear in his heart, and it became evident in his servants’ eyes. There was only one thing to do. He faced Phichol. “Send word. No, go yourself. Bid Abraham to come and retrieve his wife.”
Soon, but not fast enough, the man stood before him in his throne room.
The mere sight of the sheep herder rubbed him raw.
“What have you done to us?” He extended his arm, palm up, and did his best to keep anger from his tone, but it wasn’t easy. “What have I done that offended you? Why have you brought on me and on my kingdom this great sin? Treated me treacherously? You’ve done deeds to me that ought not to be done. What do you have to say? Why have you done this thing?”
The man stood quiet before him. Was he thinking what to say? The silence roared, but Abimelech determined he would speak no more until the wanderer answered his question. After all, he was the king and could have the man’s head lopped off with one command. The trespasser should fear him, but he witnessed no evidence of it.
Finally, Abraham opened his mouth. “Because I thought, surely the fear of God is not in this place. I believed you and your army would slay me for my wife's sake. But I never lied or dealt treacherously. Indeed she is my sister, the daughter of my father, just not of my mother. According to our custom, she became my wife.”
Ha! So he was afraid! Yet, the intensity of the man intimidated him—the king! No man in his life had such an effect on him before. While he thought how to answer, the man went on.
“In the beginning, when God caused me to wander from my father's house, I said to her, please afford me your kindness that at every place—wherever we may come—say of me, he is my brother. And so, my lovely and innocent wife has submitted to my request. My Lord, the God of Abraham, has kept her and protected me against my would-be enemies as I go.”
“It is not my desire to be called the enemy of Abraham.”
The maids escorted Sarah into the room dressed in the manner of the kingdom in layers of delicate fabrics the colors of the sunrise. Abimelech hated that she’d married the lowly Bedouin when he could have rewarded her beauty and enjoyed her pleasures so much more, but….
