LIES THAT ALLOWED SURVIVAL

Terah felt in danger living in Baghdad. Political changes hadn't been foreseen just a few years ago. Fights, quarrellings and battles were everyday occurrences all around the city. Living so close to death doesn't give much hope to whomever wants to have a family life. Abram, his son was already married but didn't have children yet, was it healthy to start a family under these circumstances? Terah was also responsible for his teenage grandson, Lot, the son of his deceased Haran (35). Taking care of them in the midst of religious intolerance was too heavy for him. Too much blood shed lately and the foreign army running the country was overwhelming...a decision had to be taken.

At the risk of losing his life and his family, living in a besieged city (that had been the same place where the Garden of Eden was placed by God and where Adam and Eve lived so peacefully by the side of the Euphrates) (36) he departed from dusty Baghdad looking for some peace elsewhere. North seemed the best for opportunity. They hid themselves from the military troops while traveling north as close as possible to the river. They hid behind rocks, in deserted caves with their only goal in mind: cross the frontier.

After a tiring travel, they got to a city very close to where Troy was located. They had to make room to new traditions, new city, new people, new language…not for long.

Famine and starvation settled almost right after they arrived. They were obligated to leave their village once again and headed towards Egypt, filled with farmlands and barns full of grains that would feed the whole nation for years and years. Decision was easy.

Abram whispered in Sarai's ear: "Behold now, I know that thou art a fair woman to look upon" (37) just when they were about to get to Egypt, the biggest country in the area. He continued: "Thou art a fair woman to look upon; therefore it shall come to pass, when the Egyptians shall see thee, that they shall say, this is his wife: and they will kill me, but they will save thee alive. Say, I pray thee, thou art my sister: that it may be well with me for thy sake; and my soul shall live because of thee" (38). They agreed, and they did it as agreed; he pimped his "sister". A couple that took advantage of her natural beauty and started to climb up the ladder of social prestige and financial wealth in the big and great empire of the Pharaoh. Common Egyptians coveted Sarah and soon, before she realized how popular she became, she was commended to the princes of the Empire. Abraham was a successful businessman as a result of his friendship with Egyptian noble men and his wealth was visible in the amount of sheep, oxen, camels, asses and menservants and maidservants (39). Abraham just closed his eyes to what was happening between his wife and the noble men of Egypt, who praised her "services", and took her to Pharaoh's palace. And because of Sarai, Abram's wife, Pharaoh and his house were plagued with great plagues (40). She carried illness in her womb, she wasn't aware of it, but all men that had intercourse with her would suffer of the plagues: pain in the joints, discharge, and malaise. The only thing she was aware of is that she could not get pregnant, and she tried very hard to have a son that would be counted among the heirs of the Empire.

What is this that thou hast done unto me? Questioned Pharaoh to Abram. Why didst thou not tell me that she was thy wife? (41) Why saidst thou, she is my sister...Now therefore behold thy wife, take her and go thy way. He took his wife, all that he had...and left Egypt.

And Abram went south and dwelled between Kadesh and Shur (42), and again he said of his wife: “she’s my sister” (43) in front of Abimelech king of Gerar. The King took her home. When the king discovered he had been tricked and that his house was somehow cursed because of his action he took sheep, oxen, women servants, and a thousand pieces of silver and gave them to Abraham and restored him Sarah his wife (44). This episode was the last pimp action in Abraham’s life but whatever he did before was enough to help him settle as a rich man without worrying for the future.

Lies, lies and more lies

35 Genesis 11:31
36. Genesis 2:8,10-14
37. Genesis 12:11
38. Genesis 12:12-13
39. Genesis 12:15-16
40. Genesis 12:17
41. Genesis 12:18
42. Genesis 20:1
43. Genesis 20:2
44. Genesis 20:3-16