The next morning I was in my best attire.  Unfortunately my best was not that great, especially when meeting a Pharaoh.  I walked up to Abram and he looked at me like when a parent sees their child headed out the door barefoot and hair not brushed.

Abram Contends With Nebhepetre

As we rode into Memphis with our escort, I could see the surrounding land was cultivated and would be flooded at some points in the year.  The water marks on the terrain told that story. 

The city itself was divided into western and eastern sides.  In between was more cultivated land.  The west and the east would connect at the southern points almost making the shape of the letter U.

Our escort brought us to a temple where we were taken inside.  Upon entering I could see the man who had to be Nebhepetre.  It was unfortunate that he had requested Sarai to be present.  I had a really bad feeling.

“You are Abram?” Nebhepetre asked?
“Pharaoh may you live, prosper, and have health in your great house.  Yes, I am called Abram.”
“You have come looking for land?” he asked.
“Pharaoh, indeed we have come seeking your generosity with tribute.” Abram stated.
“Are you not Chaldean?” Nebhepetre noticed all too easily.
“Yes Great Pharaoh.”

“This is your sister? She is quite beautiful.  I might decide to arrange for you to have land, of course for a price.  Nevertheless, I may owe you greatly if I were take such a beauty as Sarai.” Nebhepetre said.

My hand instinctively felt for my sword at my side which was not there.  I was enraged.  Making a move at this point would be certain death for every member of our group.  Our back was against the wall after so many small yet delicate bad choices.

I could see Abram’s eyes.  It was like a part of him deflated.  He at first had trouble finding his words.  I knew he did not want to say what came next.  The problem was that now he had no choice.  To deny a Pharaoh, or tell him you were lying, was to surrender one’s life and all who were with you.

“Yes, yes great Pharaoh.  You may.” Abram said.
“Excellent.  She is quite exquisite.  You may have your choice of land and I will ensure you have gifts of beasts and fruits of the land.  She is worth it.” Nebhepetre replied.

Nebhepetre motioned for his aids to take Sarai.  Her eyes were searching Abram’s as if pleading and begging to scream the word no.  She then searched mine looking for someone, anyone to defend her.  At this point we had no choice.  Not here, not now, we had to let her go.

Abram’s Mistake Torments Him

Once we had returned to our camp and our escorts were leaving, I made a beeline for Abram.  I was furious.  I wanted to break into Pharaohs house and bust the place up.  Still, I had not received word from our secret messenger concerning my men.

“Abram, what were you thinking?  I knew this would happen!” I said.
“I don’t know what to do.  There is nothing we can do.” Abram sobbed in tears.
“I must go pray.  I must seek God.  I have made a terrible mistake.” Abram said.

He walked away from me going into his tent.  I could hear his cries.  At this moment he needed consolation, and I blew up on him instead.  I shouldn’t have done that.  Still, we need a solution.

The day would pass into early evening while my eyes stayed on the horizon looking for my messenger.  In the Middle Ages the people learned to use messenger pigeons.  There were many problems using birds for spy craft as nomadic people.

Due to complications with birds, I began using dogs.  I learned this from the North American tribesmen.  A dog could track you for days searching for where you went.  A message could slip through dangerous lines without notice.  That is as long as no one was trying to turn your dog into food.

My problem was time.  We had wasted some days along periodic stops, but I was not sure if it was long enough to buy the time we needed.  The night set in, the moon rose, and no message came. 

That night there would be little to no sleep for Abram.  I rested in sleep with a determination that in the morning I would change this situation no matter the cost.

Nebhepetre Is Furious About Sarai

When I woke it was to screaming and horror.  Coming out of my tent with my cane, I held my hand on the hilt of the sword.  Rushing towards Abram I could see we were surrounded by Pharaohs personal guard and military escort.  This was very bad.

For a moment I was thinking Sarai managed to put a dagger through Nebhepetre’s heart in the night.  When I saw Nebhepetre and could hear him screaming at Abram, I knew something else had gone terribly wrong or right.  I drew close enough to hear the conversation but remained as a shadow with the people.

“What have you don’t to me Abram?  You said she was your sister, but she is your wife!  In the night your God plagued my family with disease.  All of us!  Take your wife and what I have promised you and leave my lands.  Do not come here again.” Nebhepetre screamed.

I saw one of Pharaohs guards release Sarai.  She ran to Abram, and Nebhepetre retreated with the help of an aid holding him up to walk.  He looked weak, pale, and as if he had boils.  He and his men pulled back into the city while their security escort went into the fort.

Running up to Abram his eyes met mine.  I was thinking the same thing just as he said it.  “Clay, we leave now.” He said.

I spread the word as quickly as possible. I did everything but shouting that the people needed to pack and that we were leaving immediately.  There was no time to waste.  Rushing back to my tent I found Jared.

“What’s going on Clay?” Jared asked.
“Pharaoh feels like a jilted lover.  We have to go, now.”
“Your message came.”

I looked to see the dog by Jared’s horse.  After handing me the note I read that our men would be on the way to the border.  In reply I wrote “A storm is coming with thunder”.  I slipped the note into the dogs small carrier around his neck.  Jared then gave the dog the command to return.

As the dog ran into the distance we gathered our things.  Within the hour we were on the road headed Northeast.  I wanted to talk to Abram but there just was not time.  I could see him and Sarai were having difficulties as well.  I also did not want to interfere with or make that worse.

Reflecting On My Mistakes

God had watched over Abram and Sarai.  We were allowed to leave alive, for now.  Nebhepetre at least did genuinely fear God’s judgement.  For Pharaoh, his releasing of Sarai and allowing us to leave was an act of negotiation with a God he could not see nor talk to.

While throwing my gear on the horses, I knew that I had been too hard on Abram.  That was my mistake.  How often do we make decisions because its what we think we need to do?  We believe that the course of nature within life drifts us towards the inevitable logical choice.

Once we arrive at that choice, all that is required is a little compromise to make it to the other side.  It happens as naturally as the flow of a current in the river.  I know Abram did not want this.  He did not want to be here nor have his wife be put into that position.

He made a mistake.  From what I knew about the man it was his first real mistake.  Being a man he would make others.  I knew for sure that he was beating himself up pretty bad right about now.

I had failed him in more than one way.  Aside from kicking a man while he was down, I also added to the struggle he is facing in front of Sarai.  I broke his respect in front of her and that was wrong.

I could not help but wonder how Noah managed to keep such a level head in tough situations.  I could see him now sitting in a chair, on a stump, or his favorite log.  He would be looking up into the sky praying.  Then he would spend time trying to listen.

He never broke that silence until he had composure and some sense of direction that God gave him.  By comparison to Noah, Abram was very young.  He would make mistakes.  I should have at least known better.

Shem told me that Abram would need me.  I had seen enough of what Yah could do to know that he didn’t need my strength or men.  My paranoia and fear drove my need and dependence on these things.  Maybe I could now see that what Abram needed was a friend.

He had spent much of his life up to this point alone.  His family did not share his beliefs.  Technically neither did I totally.  I know of God, but I don’t really know Him.  That dividing point separated us.  Nevertheless, I knew enough about Him to realize that while God did not need me, I could try to do more to be a better friend.

After gathering my things I helped others do the same.  It took about three hours to have everyone on the move.  I could not wait to get out of this place.