No Woman So Fair by Gilbert Morris

presence, she could not hide her sadness.
    â€œLook, Sarai, I’ve made up my mind. We’re going to spend some time in town.”
    Sarai brightened up. She had learned to live in the desert with her only companions the shepherds and the few other women who followed their husbands’ flocks. They were not that far from town, and they went in from time to time for supplies and to visit their families. And yet she spent most days alone in their tent waiting for Abram to come home, after doing the few chores she had for just the two of them. She had found the loneliness overwhelming, and now she dashed the tears from her eyes. “Really?”
    â€œYes. We’ve had a good year, so we’re going in, and we’re going to buy you a whole new set of clothes, some jewelry, and a beautiful ring, and we’re going to see your mother and your family again. Maybe we’ll take a second honeymoon on that boat. Would you like that?”
    â€œOh yes!” Sarai threw her arms around him, and Abram patted her shoulder. At least for a time this would take Sarai’s thoughts from her barrenness.
    ****
    The fact that Gehazi was completely and utterly dependable permitted Abram to leave the flock for an extended time. He took Sarai to her home in Ur, where they were royally greeted as always. Her mother, especially, was delighted that they could stay for a while, and they spent two weeks there being entertained. After that they went upriver on the same boat they had used for their honeymoon. This time they went even farther than Babylon, and when they returned, the boat was loaded with gifts for everyone. Babylon had a thriving market, and Sarai had spent days there picking out the most delightful gifts she could find.
    When they returned, they stayed at Terah’s house in a large room built especially for them. They were comfortable, and yet there was a sadness in being with Abram’s family. Milcah, the wife of Nahor, had given him three sons, and Dehazi, the wife of Haran, had borne him a son, whom they called Lot. Sarai loved babies, and she spent every minute of her day helping to care for the two infants and playing with the older nephews. She tried to keep her sadness from Abram, but he was aware of it all the same.
    After staying a month at Terah’s house, Abram’s father approached him, and Abram knew almost instantly that Terah was troubled. The older man insisted that they sit down, and he asked a servant to bring wine. For a time they talked of the flocks and herds and of the family trading ventures. It was the kind of talk Abram expected from Terah, for his father was primarily a man of business. His father acted nervous, however, and Abram kept waiting for him to bring up what he really wanted to talk about. Finally Terah cleared his throat and got to the point. “Son, I spoke with the high priest yesterday. He’s been asking about you.”
    â€œOh? What about, Father?”
    â€œI think…” Terah faltered and lifted his cup. He drained it and said, “Well, he told me you haven’t made an offering to Ishtar in a long time.”
    â€œWell, that’s true enough.”
    Terah stared at his son, waiting for an explanation. Abram gathered his thoughts, then asked bluntly, “Father, do you really think Ishtar has any power?”
    Terah’s jaw dropped. “What are you talking about?”
    â€œI mean just that. Do you really think that a block of stone has any feelings? That Ishtar knows anything?”
    â€œIt’s dangerous to talk like that, son! The goddess might hear you.”
    â€œFather, Ishtar is made out of stone. Her ears are stone. How can stone ears hear anything?”
    Terah was stunned by what Abram was saying. He himself was a solid individual who thought of little beyond the profit he could turn in a day. He liked his comfort, and he was fond of his family, but like all other dwellers of Sumer, he was deathly afraid