No Woman So Fair by Gilbert Morris Page A

was deeply embarrassed by the accident on the bridge and Sarai’s refusal to forgive him for it. He showed much humility and understanding over Sarai’s rejection of him, and as the days passed, Zaroni found herself liking him more and more.
    Zaroni loved flowers and was surprised to learn that Abram knew more about them than most men. He even helped her with some transplanting. Late one afternoon the two of them were working together over a particularly fine specimen he had found outside the city on an early walk that morning and had brought to her as a gift. Zaroni had been very pleased, and now the two talked of flowers as they reset it in a decorative pot. “Not many men love flowers as you do, Abram.”
    â€œI’ve always loved flowers. I suppose it’s because I’m out in the fields all the time. My mother loves them too. I think you’d like her. You two are much alike.”
    â€œReally? That pleases me very much. Perhaps we’ll be able to arrange a visit soon.” She turned to face Abram and saw his embarrassment at her suggestion. Now she drew the young man out by saying, “Tell me more about what you do when you’re home.”
    â€œOh, nothing really exciting.” Abram smiled faintly. “My brother, Nahor, is a shepherd and so am I. We stay with our flocks most of the time.”
    â€œWhat about your other brother? Haran is his name?”
    â€œYes. He manages the family’s business in Ur. He works in town most of the time.”
    â€œAnd your father. What does he like to do?”
    â€œHe likes business.” Abram shrugged. He said no more for a time and then finally admitted, “They think I’m too religious.”
    â€œOh?” Zaroni looked startled. “Is that such a bad thing? I would think it good.”
    â€œThey don’t think so. They say I’m like my grandfather. His name was Nahor, the same as my brother.”
    â€œAnd he was very interested in the gods?”
    â€œWell…not so much the gods. He was interested in one particular God. From what I understand, he thought there was only one God—an all-powerful God.”
    â€œYou mean An, ruler of the heavens?”
    Abram bit his lower lip, then shook his head. “I don’t think so. I don’t think he put his trust in any of the gods of Sumer.”
    â€œI don’t understand that.”
    â€œNeither did the family,” Abram explained, “but my grandfather didn’t believe that any of the gods were very powerful. He was convinced that there was only one God who was supremely powerful…and he struggled to find Him.” Abram shrugged his shoulders and said, “I guess I’m like him, or so my family says.”
    â€œBut you’ve told me that you pray to quite a few of the gods.”
    â€œYes…but I think these stone gods have ears of stone. I don’t think they hear my prayers. And there are so many of them! Gods for the sun, the moon, the rain, the animals, the plants. Even tools! My brother has a stone idol he prays to each morning for the staff he uses to tend the sheep. Imagine! How can anyone know which gods to pray to—and what it will take to placate them?”
    Zaroni had never really thought about their religion in this way. Nor had she ever met anyone who had questioned it as this young man was daring to do. Not knowing how to answer him, she sat quietly waiting for him to continue.
    Abram watched Zaroni’s questioning face and, for a fleeting moment, thought how attractive she was. Like her daughter Sarai, he realized. He had found himself thinking more and more about Sarai. Her harsh attitude toward Abram had not diminished her beauty in his mind. In truth, he had never seen a woman so beautiful in all of his life. But now he put her aside in his mind and said to Zaroni, “I think for most people, religion is a dreadfully miserable affair.”
    â€œYou surprise me,