God has promised."
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Although he is asking her to do something extraordinary, something unimaginable, she knows she must trust him.
Sarai squeezes Abram's hand and smiles. "Take us there."
Abram sets out with Sarai, his nephew Lot and his wife, and a small group of friends and servants. They travel north and west, following the ancient roads of what we now call the Fertile Crescent, trusting God to lead them to the land he has promised Abram. Their journey takes them through a city known as Haran and finally to a bountiful land of water and palm trees that offers a green oasis in an otherwise barren desert. But the land is not enough for all of Abram's party and their animals. Making matters worse, seeds of dissension are sown by Lot's wife, a jealous and small-hearted woman who chafes at Abram's authority for forcing her to relocate. It soon becomes a
standoff, with Abram and his followers on one side, and the followers of his beloved nephew Lot on the other. Finally, after much conflict, Lot tells his uncle, whom he loves like a father, that he and his tribe must leave the larger group for greener pastures, for the wretched and sinful city of Sodom. It is a sad time.
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Years pass.
Abram is now ninety-nine years old. Sarai is ninety. They now live in an oasis near a place called Mamre--amid palm, cedar, and fig trees and clear running water--still dwelling in the tents they have called home for so many years. This is not paradise, nor is it the land Abram envisioned when he and his followers, who some call Hebrews, struck out on their own so long ago.
One hot afternoon, as Abram sits before his tent, the Lord appears to him. "I am God Almighty," he tells Abram, who falls facedown on the ground.
"I will confirm my covenant between me and you," God continues. "And I will greatly increase your numbers."
God orders that Abram change his name to Abraham, which means "father of many nations." From now on, Sarai will be called Sarah, for "princess."
And then God makes an outrageous promise to Abraham: Sarah will give birth to a son. "She will be the mother of nations. Kings of peoples will come down from her."
Abraham laughs at the idea. He does not believe that Sarah can give birth.
But God insists, and says that a long line of earthly kings will be brought forth from this lineage.
The words settle on Abraham's heart, filling him with a joy he has never known. He cannot wait to tell
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Sarah. Abraham turns to God to offer his thanks. But God has already gone.
One day not long after, Abraham sees three powerful and mysterious men in the distance walking toward his camp. They wear robes made of fine fabric.
On two of the men he can see the outlines of weapons beneath their garments, yet they do not appear menacing. Instead, they have the quietly intense presence of holy men. Abraham feels an instant connection with them, and as is his custom, he enjoys playing the part of the good host. Yet these men are somehow different, and he treats them with more respect.
Abraham's instincts are correct. Two of the men are angels. The third is God disguised in flesh. Abraham has heard God's voice but does not recognize him.
"Welcome," says Abraham. "You are most welcome. Please sit down." He indicates a spot where they can rest in the shade.
"Are you hungry?" he asks. Without waiting for an answer, Abraham orders a servant to bring food.
"Have you traveled far?" Abraham continues.
"Yes, a very long way," answers one of the angels. A long silence ensues.
"Where is your wife?" asks the other angel.
Abraham points to their tent. "In there."
Inside the fabric walls of their tent, Sarah hears
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strange voices, but she is weary and in no mood to entertain travelers.
The Lord then speaks: "I will surely return to you about this time next year, and Sarah, your wife, will have a son."
Sarah laughs to herself as she overhears this. Surely this man, whoever he is, does not know that Abraham's wife is very advanced in age and cannot have children.
"Why did you laugh?" the Lord says to her.
Sarah almost jumps out of her skin. She whirls around to see who is speaking to her, but no one is in the tent. I didn't laugh, she thinks to herself.
"You did," the Lord says. His voice is kind. Once again, Sarah spins quickly to see who is playing this trick. But she is