Biblical Women Unbound: Counter-Tales

The Unbinding of Sarah .:.

The Unbinding ofSarah .:. It is not generally talked about, but on that dark journey up to Mount Moriah where Abraham was to sacrifice his son to God, Sarah also went along. Naturally, she would go. In the night she heard the voice in Abraham's tent saying , "Take your son and sacrifice him." It was a voice she recognized. That voice and Sarah had laughed together! Sarah rushed into Abraham's tent, but Abraham waved her away. No talk! No time to listen! Preparations to make! He had been more attentive when he sent Hagar from the housewith Ishmael. He had been more reluctant toexpel them. He had caressed that mother, kissed that child. Now he pointed his finger away from himself and without another word or gesture expelled Sarah from his tent. But Sarah stayed to argue. Naturally, she would do that. Maybe Abraham didn't know, maybe he hadn't understood? Noonedisputed that Abraham was a good man, but it didn't do at times like these to be too quick to obey! And since Abraham could think of a hundred questions to put to God about the sinners of Sodom and Gomorrah, surely he might have thought of one or two about their son? "If you had no questions," Sarah cried, "why didn't you Just laugh out loud?" .46. The Unbinding ofSarah The busy Patriarch moved about the tent. His ears, hav. Ing filled with God's voice, could take in nothing else. Preparing , preparing! He knew when to take God seriously. When to question, when to be silent. And when to lie! Who knew that better than the two of them? Years ago it had been. "Save my life!" he'd begged. "Let me tell Pharaoh you are my sister, not wife. We will ask God's intervention, and you may be untouched. But even if Pharaoh should take you, it is my life, my life!" She had not refused him. Abraham had led her as his sister into Pharaoh's palace, past the barbarous guards with flashing swords. Each antechamber was darker than the one before. In the darkening light of the torches' smoky gleam, she passed first through a chamber hung in gold and the green of the sea; next, through one of gold and the blue of heaven; the last was a chamber ofgold and the red of blood. In each room she trembled. In the room of green and gold she whispered, "Are you with me, Abraham?" And her husband answered, "Here I am." In the room of blue and gold she asked, "Are you here, Abraham?" "Yes, I am here." And in the room of red and gold she cried out, "Where are you, Abraham?" But there was no answer. Eunuchs had already seized her, pulled her through the door, and left Abraham outside. Within she was bathed, oiled, perfumed, and brought naked, with bells on her ankles and fine gauze scarves floating about her face, to Pharaoh. Later, God's plague descended and Pharaoh's women could not bear. But that was later. Always that little time lag before catching God's attention. Her husband had once more agreed to something to save his life and was telling the lie this time • 47. Sarah to her! Who could be sure when matters would come to God's attention? During the night Sarah dreams of Hagar. There is no limit to the questions Sarah asks then. -When death stalked your son in the desert, didn't you utter some prayer, some special supplication, that brought God's mercydown? You, whose son survived, can'tyou teach me words that give such blessing? Hagar, no longer handmaid, is decked in full Egyptian robes and tasseUing. She stares outward sybil-like, enthroned. In the perversity of dreams, she is now possessed of Sarah's former youth and beauty. -I offer you ald, former mistress, Hagar answers. Not as measure of my love, but of my power. Your plight's more severe than mine. You, a mortal woman, wished my son's death. God himself desires the death of yours. Here's advice, voice of experience-submit! If you're worthy, reap reward and rescue. Otherwise, your son's as good as dead. -Is that all? -Yes,al!' -No words? No prayer? You, the inventor of prayer? Sarah turnsto go, then turnsagain. She falls to herknees. Weeps. Begs for Isaac's life...