Sarah: Women of Genesis: 1 (Women of Genesis (Forge)) Read Online Free PDF Page A

right to trade with Byblos, and the king of Byblos will not trade with someone that Pharaoh deems to be his enemy. This Terah’s claim is in direct conflict with Pharaoh’s authority.”
     
    Abram laughed. “By this very action you prove that Pharaoh has no authority. God has never allowed human sacrifice. Never. It cannot happen. A father does not kill his son in the name of God. So by asking for this, you prove that you and your Pharaoh are the enemies of God.”
     
    “We are the enemies of your god,” said Suwertu. “I have a suggestion, Abram. Get out of Ur-of-the-North tonight, while you still have time. Because if you’re here by morning, you will be taken and offered up as a sacrifice. Your father will, of course, be given every opportunity to raise you from the dead.”
     
    Suwertu rose, bowed to Father, and swept from the house.
     
    Abram sighed. “I see that this marriage is going to cause political complications. Who would have thought Pharaoh would care so much?”
     
    “It’s not Pharaoh, it’s his meddling priest,” said Father. “You’d better leave, Abram. Give me time to work out the political problems.”
     
    “Forgive me,” said Abram, “but you have no lever that you can use to pry us out of this. If I leave, the marriage is off—the king of Ur-of-the-North will be forced to bow to Pharaoh’s will, because Byblos is more important to him than you are. I speak offensively, sir, but I speak the truth.”
     
    “Your words sting,” said Father, “but yes, it is the truth. So I release you from the marriage vow. Go. You can take the flocks with you.”
     
    “On the contrary,” said Abram. “I came here to seal the marriage promise between the daughter of a king of great and ancient lineage with the grandson and heir of another. Nothing has changed, as far as my errand is concerned, except some interference from the lying priest of a false god. What does this nonsense have to do with Lot and Qira?”
     
    “Didn’t you hear him? He’ll kill you.”
     
    “There is more than one way for God to show his power,” said Abram. “Just because Suwertu has a plan does not mean that the plan will be carried out.”
     
    “And just because you trust in your God does not mean that God will regard your life as being important enough to be worth saving,” said Father.
     
    “I trust in God,” said Abram, “not to save me from death, but to save my soul when I die. I expect my father to see to it that the priest of Pharaoh does not shed my blood on an altar in order to perform some stupid test. God does not give signs to prove things to liars.”
     
    “I think you are in grave danger,” said Father.
     
    “I think you’re right,” said Abram. “But there are bears in the mountains, and lions on the savannah, and diseases that kill men in their sleep. Do you know why I can’t die now?”
     
    “Why is that?” asked Father.
     
    “Because I promised Sarai that I would come back for her in ten years.”
     
    Father’s face reddened. “Sarai is promised to Asherah.”
     
    “Asherah is just another name for mother Eve. She was a woman of greatness and nobility, but she was never a god, and she has no use for your daughter, except to see her be married and raise her children to serve God.”
     
    “Are you trying to make me as angry as Suwertu?”
     
    “I speak truth,” said Abram. “I speak the same truth to powerful men that I speak to weak ones. That’s why you can trust every word I say. How many men do you know with whom that is possible? But now, if you’ll excuse me, I must go and see to my other business in the city.”
     
    “I hope you will have sense enough to leave Ur at once,” said Father. “Next time have your father send a trusted servant, and not a son. Especially not such an honest and forthright son.”
     
    Abram smiled. “My father has sometimes told me that nothing is more annoying than the inconvenient virtues of one’s children. God be