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Abram's Lie · The Chosen People

• 0:00
  Speaker 1: This is an iHeart Podcast. Guaranteed human.
• 0:04
  Speaker 2: Previously on The Chosen People.
• 0:08
  Speaker 3: Don't you sometimes wonder what it would be like to
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  Speaker 3: have a nation all of your own? To make a
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  Speaker 3: name for yourself rather than relying on the name of another?
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  Speaker 2: Lots questions stung. Abram had a dysfunctional relationship with greatness
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  Speaker 2: and legacy. Having no child of his own or any
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  Speaker 2: hope for one on the horizon, he knew whatever he
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  Speaker 2: gained would be dispersed among his servants and relatives. Nothing
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  Speaker 2: would live on beyond him. Abram didn't aim for greatness. Instead,
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  Speaker 2: he remained reliable, steady, and predictable.
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  Speaker 4: Abram.
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  Speaker 5: Who's there?
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  Speaker 2: Abram could feel the presence of the voice, but couldn't
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  Speaker 2: capture its source.
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  Speaker 6: Abram, you are to go out from your land Leave
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  Speaker 6: your father's house and your relatives behind and go to
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  Speaker 6: the land I will show you.
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  Speaker 2: Images of a future Abram could barely understand flickered in
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  Speaker 2: and out of focus in his mind's eye faster than
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  Speaker 2: he could discern. But the intent was clear. He was
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  Speaker 2: to have a legacy like the one Lot pined for.
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  Speaker 7: You have to trust me, Sarai. I have weighed the cost, but...
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  Speaker 7: More importantly, I know in my heart we must follow
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  Speaker 7: the words of this god.
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  Speaker 1: Abram, look at me. Are we to upend our entire
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  Speaker 1: way of life on the words of a random god?
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  Speaker 2: Abram didn't know why this god chose him. He wasn't
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  Speaker 2: a substantial or charismatic man. He wasn't even the greatest
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  Speaker 2: in his household. How would he accomplish all it had foretold?
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  Speaker 2: Even still, With this god's voice reverberating in his mind,
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  Speaker 2: he felt a confidence flicker in his heart. He could
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  Speaker 2: become great. Abram and Lot were exhausted after overseeing the
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  Speaker 2: gruelling sojourn south through the notoriously treacherous desert called the Negev.
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  Speaker 2: A devastating famine had swept through the land. It compelled
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  Speaker 2: their band of expatriates to carry their wealth on the
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  Speaker 2: backs of donkeys and their treasures on the humps of
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  Speaker 2: camels until they were eventually forced to enter the lions'
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  Speaker 2: and vipers' territory on the long, barren desert road to Egypt.
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  Speaker 2: The Egyptians and Canaanites reaped the benefits of long-established, prosperous
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  Speaker 2: trade routes, so seeking help and refuge in Egypt was
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  Speaker 2: the only option for Abram and Lot's people. Relieved but
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  Speaker 2: wary of their new neighbors, They were finally settling their
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  Speaker 2: tents and livestock in the unoccupied lands outside of the
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  Speaker 2: city of On, the gateway city to the mighty Egyptian nation.
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  Speaker 4: Abram! Abram!
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  Speaker 5: What did I tell you? No, no, don't look over.
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  Speaker 5: But listen carefully. That's the fifth time I've caught them
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  Speaker 5: staring today.
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  Speaker 4: At Sarai? Yes.
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  Speaker 3: Oh no, now they're whispering between themselves.
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  Speaker 2: Abram chanced a look over to the Egyptian officials patrolling
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  Speaker 2: their camp, a condition of the temporary occupation of their lands.
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  Speaker 2: Sure enough, the men's eyes lingered on his wife, again
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  Speaker 2: and again taking their fill. An uneasy pit formed in
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  Speaker 2: Abram's stomach, and he struggled to master the fury and
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  Speaker 2: fear rising within him.
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  Speaker 3: I should tell her to go inside and stay out
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  Speaker 3: of sight.
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  Speaker 5: Oh no, that won't do any good. They've already seen her.
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  Speaker 3: Do you think they know she's my wife? Have you
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  Speaker 3: or any of the servants spoken to them?
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  Speaker 8: Me?
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  Speaker 5: No way! I haven't said a word. What do you think, Abram?
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  Speaker 5: What do you think they'd do if they... if they
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  Speaker 5: wanted her?
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  Speaker 3: I fear what would happen to me, or you, or
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  Speaker 3: any of our household or workers, for that matter, if
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  Speaker 3: they were to decide to take her from me by force.
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  Speaker 3: I'm no good to any of you dead. I can't
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  Speaker 3: carry out this calling if I'm dead. Perhaps, perhaps there's
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  Speaker 3: a way to save myself.
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  Speaker 2: Abram fell silent for a long while. The stress of
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  Speaker 2: responsibility and the fear of failure squeezed his chest. A
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  Speaker 2: thousand different future scenarios raced through his mind. He thought
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  Speaker 2: about all the potential dangers and avenues of destruction. He
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  Speaker 2: thought out loud beside his nephew, spiraling.
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  Speaker 3: This is a brutal land. If they want Sarai, they're
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  Speaker 3: not going to ask. They'll take her and kill me.
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  Speaker 5: Then what? Everyone here will scatter.
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  Speaker 3: My father's wealth will be gone, and the legacy I
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  Speaker 3: was called to carry will disappear. Let's say they ask
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  Speaker 3: about her.
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  Speaker 5: What will you say? What will you do?
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  Speaker 3: If I tell them she's my wife, they'll kill me.
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  Speaker 3: But if I tell them she's my sister... They'll probably
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  Speaker 3: spare me. You realize this ruse would mean that you
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  Speaker 3: could lose your wife. Yes, but perhaps it would also
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  Speaker 3: allow me the benefit of time. It's time to find
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  Speaker 3: a way out. We've only just reached safety and can't
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  Speaker 3: risk upsetting or offending our hosts. Yeah, not to mention,
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  Speaker 3: we'd probably benefit from any potential suitors Sarah might have.
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  Speaker 5: But... I'm sorry, Uncle.
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  Speaker 4: I'm sorry.
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  Speaker 3: But you have to admit, gaining the Egyptians' favor and
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  Speaker 3: filling our coffers wouldn't exactly hurt.
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  Speaker 5: I mean, look at us, Abram. Look at the state
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  Speaker 5: of our clothes. Look at how the numbers of our
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  Speaker 5: herds have dwindled.
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  Speaker 6: We're practically skeletons.
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  Speaker 3: This famine has taken its toll on all of us.
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  Speaker 5: I admit we could use the resources. Abram, Abram, I
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  Speaker 5: get it.
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  Speaker 1: This is a tough spot to be in, believe me.
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  Speaker 3: I know. Frankly, I think if we're going to be
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  Speaker 3: in this precarious situation, why not benefit from it?
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  Speaker 2: I'm sorry it has to be you, but I'm certain
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  Speaker 2: no one's given.
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  Speaker 3: My wife a second glance with the way she frets
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  Speaker 3: and fusses over our daughters day and night.
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  Speaker 5: No one would mistake her for an unmarried.
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  Speaker 4: Woman, believe you me.
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  Speaker 3: Be that as it may, I don't envy the conversation
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  Speaker 3: you're about to have with your wife.
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  Speaker 2: Later that day, Abram steeled himself as he drew back
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  Speaker 2: the entrance of their tent. Sarai was seated inside amending
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  Speaker 2: one of his tunics. Though far past her prime, Sarai
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  Speaker 2: was undeniably beautiful, every bit as regal and striking as
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  Speaker 2: befitted their noble bloodline. Though Abram had known her since
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  Speaker 2: they were children, and they had been married for well
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  Speaker 2: over half their lives, there were still moments when her
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  Speaker 2: beauty took his breath away. Abram was lost in his
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  Speaker 2: thoughts again, pausing at the tense entrance. He was vibrating
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  Speaker 2: in place, nearly shaking with paranoia and self-doubt. His love
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  Speaker 2: for Sarai ran deep, but the uncertainty of the future
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  Speaker 2: plagued his mind. He was lost in an imaginary world,
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  Speaker 2: unable to escape. His stillness at the entryway drew her gaze,
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  Speaker 2: and he smiled tenderly. Pleased, she smiled warmly back.
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  Speaker 1: What is it, Abram?
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  Speaker 3: Sir, I must ask you something. It's very important that
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  Speaker 3: we are aligned in this matter.
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  Speaker 1: I am your wife. You are my husband and lord.
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  Speaker 1: You know I will support you.
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  Speaker 3: Yes, you are steady as the northern star, my dear.
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  Speaker 3: I couldn't have asked for a better wife. In fact,
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  Speaker 3: this is the matter I must speak to you about.
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  Speaker 1: You're making me nervous with that tone. What is it?
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  Speaker 3: You've drawn the attention of Pharaoh's officials. And because of that,
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  Speaker 3: we should be prepared to tell them you're my sister,
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  Speaker 3: not my wife. This is for your protection as well
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  Speaker 3: as my own. If you've drawn the eye of a
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  Speaker 3: prominent Egyptian as your brother, my life would be spared.
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  Speaker 1: So you'd lie.
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  Speaker 5: It's not an outright lie. We do share a father.
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  Speaker 1: Abram, you would tell a half-truth and deny me the
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  Speaker 1: protection of my husband? Lie to spare yourself and ship
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  Speaker 1: me off to an Egyptian warlord?
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  Speaker 2: Abram winced. His resolution wavered at her directness. In its
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  Speaker 2: wake came guilt, and he was ashamed to admit it.
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  Speaker 2: Instead of listening to his wife's hurt, Abram became defensive,
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  Speaker 2: The cost of the mission was too great to feel
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  Speaker 2: remorse for his plan now. The guilt lingered, but he
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  Speaker 2: shoved it down and again summoned his resolve.
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  Speaker 3: Sir, I don't think you fully grasp the danger we
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  Speaker 3: are in, that I am in. I've seen more of
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  Speaker 3: the world than you. I know what these foreign men
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  Speaker 3: would do to a man with the wife they desire.
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  Speaker 1: And so you would oversee the bidding for my hand,
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  Speaker 1: accept the favors of my suitors? This is something you
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  Speaker 1: could abide by?
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  Speaker 3: Sarai, this gives me no pleasure. But in this way,
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  Speaker 3: we would preserve our future family and secure our future.
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  Speaker 3: Who would lead our people if not me? You know
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  Speaker 3: this god has compelled us to leave our home. We've
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  Speaker 3: already strayed too far from the land I was promised.
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  Speaker 3: I must prevent any other missteps. This pretense could spare
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  Speaker 3: my life and buy me the time to right the course.
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  Speaker 1: And you are to achieve what was promised to us.
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  Speaker 3: Alone. It is my weight to bear. My responsibility to
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  Speaker 3: trust in my destiny. I'm not asking you to have
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  Speaker 3: the same faith I have. But I am asking that
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  Speaker 3: you trust me. Your preservation is also my responsibility. And
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  Speaker 3: this is the only way I see both of us surviving,
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  Speaker 3: should the inevitable come to pass. We don't have time
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  Speaker 3: to flee. And this ruse will buy me the time
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  Speaker 3: I need to plan a way out. I will not
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  Speaker 3: fail you.
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  Speaker 1: You would abandon me here?
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  Speaker 5: You don't understand.
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  Speaker 1: You're right about that, Abram. I don't understand. But I
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  Speaker 1: also don't have the benefit of denying your will. So
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  Speaker 1: here I am, a bride for sale to the highest bidder.
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  Speaker 2: And, as it had before, that settled the matter. What
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  Speaker 2: Abram and Lot had feared and predicted did indeed come
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  Speaker 2: to pass. Soon after Sarai's disheartening conversation with her husband,
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  Speaker 2: Pharaoh's officials called. To Sarai's surprise, Pharaoh himself had taken
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  Speaker 2: an interest in her. He had recently built an estate
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  Speaker 2: in the city of On to more firmly take a
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  Speaker 2: foothold at his nation's border, in light of the influx
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  Speaker 2: of migrants pouring in in response to the famine in
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  Speaker 2: the land. Widely known as a man who appreciated art
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  Speaker 2: and beautiful things, beautiful women included, he paid close attention
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  Speaker 2: to the reports of the more attractive women who arrived
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  Speaker 2: in their caravan from Canaan. What had taken place in
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  Speaker 2: the weeks since was a flurry of attention and favors,
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  Speaker 2: all to Abram's benefit and to the delight of Lot
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  Speaker 2: and his wife, who benefited by association. Meeting no resistance
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  Speaker 2: from Abram, Sarai had been taken to Pharaoh's household and
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  Speaker 2: added to his harem of women. At first, Sarai could
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  Speaker 2: not stomach the adjustment, but she was surprised to find
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  Speaker 2: how quickly she warmed to the Pharaoh's affections. Pharaoh was
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  Speaker 2: pleased with her. and began to court her outright. Abram,
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  Speaker 2: her brother, receiving gift after gift. As their flocks and
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  Speaker 2: coffers grew, Sarai hated herself for it, and regretted how
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  Speaker 2: she had behaved in her vanity at being preferred by Pharaoh.
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  Speaker 4: It all felt like a.
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  Speaker 2: Great betrayal of everything she had known her entire life,
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  Speaker 2: but she had to admit that she had not felt
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  Speaker 2: cherished in a long time. Abram had become distant and
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  Speaker 2: preoccupied of later, taking on his responsibilities as burdens, never
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  Speaker 2: asking for help, and blindly trusting in a god she
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  Speaker 2: had yet to see or hear herself. She had long
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  Speaker 2: held back her doubts about this promise to Abram about
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  Speaker 2: having a family. They had tried for years to produce
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  Speaker 2: an heir and failed. Baron was her badge. This wouldn't
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  Speaker 2: likely deter the pharaoh, as he had plenty of women
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  Speaker 2: to carry his children. Instead, he seemed determined to make.
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  Speaker 4: Her a wife regardless.
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  Speaker 2: A prize he could flaunt in the faces of her people,
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  Speaker 2: indebted as they were to him as they were forced
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  Speaker 2: to inhabit his land. She knew the courting period was closing,
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  Speaker 2: perhaps even that evening, since Pharaoh had asked Sarai's family
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  Speaker 2: to dine with him. Sarai was unsure whether or not
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  Speaker 2: Abram had devised a way to get her out of
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  Speaker 2: this impending commitment to Pharaoh, but her anxiety grew each day.
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  Speaker 2: There was a finality to this predicament that left a
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  Speaker 2: pit in Sarai's stomach, And if she was made to
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  Speaker 2: go through with this marriage to Pharaoh, would Abraham be
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  Speaker 2: forced to abandon the promise he had uprooted their lives for?
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  Speaker 2: And if she did, even the slim hope of ever
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  Speaker 2: having a child.
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  Speaker 4: Would be impossible.
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  Speaker 2: Sarai dared not hope for a miracle as grand as that,
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  Speaker 2: but perhaps she could ask this God for rescue from
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  Speaker 2: her impending marriage to Pharaoh. Perhaps she could muster a
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  Speaker 2: bit of faith in Abraham's God if he rescued her
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  Speaker 2: from these circumstances. Abram was seated in the seat of
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  Speaker 2: honor at Pharaoh's table. Pharaoh was lounging at the head
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  Speaker 2: of the great table. Meats, cheeses and fruit laced the table. Abram,
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  Speaker 2: Lot and his wife sat as guests, partaking in the
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  Speaker 2: king's decadence. Pharaoh was an imposing man with thick arms
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  Speaker 2: and a deep voice. His clean-shaven face revealed his broad
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  Speaker 2: jaw and muscular neck. Abram trembled in his presence. He
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  Speaker 2: was a man of power. not just physically, but militarily.
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  Speaker 2: Abram's entire company could be wiped out instantly if he
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  Speaker 2: met the ire of Pharaoh. For that reason, he trod lightly.
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  Speaker 2: Sarai's dignity may be the price he had to pay
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  Speaker 2: for his safety. Sarai tried to catch his eye or
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  Speaker 2: read his face for any sign of reassurance, but Abram
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  Speaker 2: fixed his eyes anywhere but his wife. Sarai's heart began
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  Speaker 2: to sink, and she desperately reached out in a silent
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  Speaker 2: prayer to his God. hoping beyond hope that deliverance would come.
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  Speaker 8: Sarai, my beauty, you seem distracted this evening. Are you
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  Speaker 8: not delighted to hear that your brother Abram and I
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  Speaker 8: have finally agreed on your dowry?
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  Speaker 5: You are to be one of my brides at last.
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  Speaker 1: Oh, I am, my lord. Thank you. Your generosity is overwhelming.
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  Speaker 1: You have already shown me such kindness that I could
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  Speaker 1: hardly hope for anything more. You honor me, and you
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  Speaker 1: honor my family as well. Especially my faithful brother.
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  Speaker 4: Quite right.
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  Speaker 8: His honor has proven true, and I have made him
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  Speaker 8: a wealthy man because of it. Your family will live
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  Speaker 8: in luxury and above your stations. Sure to be the
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  Speaker 8: envy of the other refugees in my country.
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  Speaker 3: Hear, hear! We drink to you and your hospitality, oh
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  Speaker 3: illustrious ones.
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  Speaker 1: We are in your debt and your loyal servants, your highness.
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  Speaker 2: Sarai watched Abram as they all lifted their cups to
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  Speaker 2: honor the pharaoh, but he said nothing.
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  Speaker 1: How soon until we can begin preparations, my lord?
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  Speaker 8: So eager, my beauty. We can begin making arrangements tomorrow.
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  Speaker 1: Oh, Sarai, you must let me help you. As you know,
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  Speaker 1: I've had so much experience in these matters.
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  Speaker 8: Yes.
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  Speaker 2: The conversation prattled on and washed over Sarai without her
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  Speaker 2: contribution as she continued to watch Abram's disengagement from across
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  Speaker 2: the table. It wasn't until a pretty serving girl appeared
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  Speaker 2: at his elbow to take a plate away that he
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  Speaker 2: re-engaged with the world around him.
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  Speaker 3: Thank you.
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  Speaker 5: What is your name?
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  Speaker 4: My name is Hagar.
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  Speaker 1: Is there anything else I can get you, master?
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  Speaker 5: No, thank you. I don't need anything, Hagar.
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  Speaker 8: Abram, has my servant piqued your interest? Consider her a
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  Speaker 8: part of my dowry, a gift for bringing me such
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  Speaker 8: a lovely wife.
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  Speaker 5: Your generosity knows no bounds, Pharaoh.
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  Speaker 2: And though she knew her husband did not intend to
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  Speaker 2: wound her with these words, she fumed that the only
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  Speaker 2: kindness her husband seemingly had to spare was for some
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  Speaker 2: stranger and not his own wife. She managed to sit
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  Speaker 2: quietly for the rest of the feast, speaking only when
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  Speaker 2: a response was warranted. Later, alone in her quarters for
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  Speaker 2: the night, she wept in the silence that everyone had
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  Speaker 2: abandoned her. Deliverance, she thought, was not coming. She looked
• 18:15
  Speaker 2: out her window, staring up at the stars. She was
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  Speaker 2: anxious and afraid. But in that moment of sorrow, an
• 18:24
  Speaker 2: otherworldly stillness settled around her. She couldn't quite understand it,
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  Speaker 2: But the presence of God was with her at that moment.
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  Speaker 2: It had a weight to it, and she could have
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  Speaker 2: sworn she felt some comforting arms wrap around her. That night,
• 18:41
  Speaker 2: under a canopy of stars and uncertainty, Sarai, despite her tears,
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  Speaker 2: felt comforted. Abram had failed her, but the God of
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  Speaker 2: Abram wouldn't. That night, working in the margins of Pharaoh's dreams,
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  Speaker 2: God was at work, He would come to defend her.
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  Speaker 5: Wake up!
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  Speaker 2: Abram opened his eyes to see two spears inches away
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  Speaker 2: from his throat. Pharaoh's men had entered his tent, poised
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  Speaker 2: to strike if he struggled or screamed.
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  Speaker 5: What's happening? Why have you come here?
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  Speaker 2: Silence!
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  Speaker 5: Pharaoh has summoned you. Follow us or feel the tips
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  Speaker 5: of our spears.
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  Speaker 2: Abram wrapped himself up and followed the men to the palace.
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  Speaker 2: Once again, his mind raced with imaginary scenarios. Had Sarai
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  Speaker 2: given up? Had she conspired against him? Was Pharaoh going
• 19:36
  Speaker 2: to kill him or go back on his word? Abram
• 19:39
  Speaker 2: shuffled on his feet nervously in the receiving hall of
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  Speaker 2: Pharaoh's palace, and what was stranger still was that the palace,
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  Speaker 2: usually humming with activity from servants, merchants, guests, and officials,
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  Speaker 2: was eerily quiet. Abram heard rumors that a sudden sickness
• 19:56
  Speaker 2: was rampant in Pharaoh's household. It wasn't unusual for a
• 20:00
  Speaker 2: disease to sweep through a city, but if the rumors
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  Speaker 2: were to be believed, the sickness seemed only to affect
• 20:06
  Speaker 2: those inside the palace grounds. The accounts also claimed that
• 20:10
  Speaker 2: they were miraculously healed when people.
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  Speaker 4: Left the premises.
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  Speaker 2: It was almost as if an angry god had cursed
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  Speaker 2: Pharaoh and his household. In a rare, fleeting moment of
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  Speaker 2: concern for his wife, Abram wondered if Sarai had also
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  Speaker 2: fallen ill. Perhaps that was why Pharaoh had summoned him,
• 20:30
  Speaker 2: to tell him news of his wife's death. As if
• 20:33
  Speaker 2: in response to his thoughts, Pharaoh stormed into the receiving hall.
• 20:37
  Speaker 2: And Abram dropped to his knees in reverence for the
• 20:40
  Speaker 2: ruler and his soon-to-be brother-in-law.
• 20:43
  Speaker 4: Stand, Abram.
• 20:45
  Speaker 2: Abram stood but waited for Pharaoh to speak first. He
• 20:49
  Speaker 2: could not help but notice the paleness of his skin
• 20:52
  Speaker 2: and the glassiness of his eyes. He wondered if the
• 20:55
  Speaker 2: Pharaoh was afflicted by this mysterious illness as well.
• 20:59
  Speaker 4: What have you done to me?
• 21:02
  Speaker 3: Your Highness, forgive me, but I do not understand your meaning.
• 21:07
  Speaker 2: When Abram looked up at the pharaoh, he quickly averted
• 21:10
  Speaker 2: his eyes again. It was hard to tell, and he
• 21:13
  Speaker 2: didn't want to be caught staring too long. But the
• 21:16
  Speaker 2: skin visible at his collar and sleeves looked raw and
• 21:19
  Speaker 2: red from scratching, perhaps from boils. He was a ghastly sight.
• 21:25
  Speaker 4: Don't you?
• 21:27
  Speaker 8: This disease upon my household, upon my very person, has
• 21:33
  Speaker 8: come over us too quickly to be something new. The
• 21:37
  Speaker 8: natural world. Which of your backcountry gods have you called
• 21:43
  Speaker 8: upon to curse me?
• 21:46
  Speaker 5: Your Highness, I would never... No, no.
• 21:51
  Speaker 4: You deny your involvement in this matter.
• 21:54
  Speaker 5: Forgive me, Pharaoh.
• 21:56
  Speaker 3: I do not know how this came to be or
• 21:58
  Speaker 3: if anyone has been involved. But you must believe me,
• 22:01
  Speaker 3: I had no part in it.
• 22:06
  Speaker 8: No, I don't believe someone as lowly as you could
• 22:11
  Speaker 8: call harm upon me.
• 22:15
  Speaker 2: Pharaoh paused and fixed Abram with an unflinching and inscrutable stare.
• 22:21
  Speaker 2: Abram remembered that the Egyptians considered their pharaohs to be
• 22:24
  Speaker 2: gods themselves when they ascended to their thrones. He also
• 22:28
  Speaker 2: remembered that the Egyptians were deeply superstitious, though, given what
• 22:33
  Speaker 2: had happened... Abram could not say he could take issue
• 22:36
  Speaker 2: with that way of thinking.
• 22:39
  Speaker 8: You could not do this to me. But perhaps there
• 22:44
  Speaker 8: is something I have done to anger the gods.
• 22:48
  Speaker 3: Surely you have done nothing wrong, your highness. You have
• 22:51
  Speaker 3: treated both your subjects and even strangers like myself with
• 22:56
  Speaker 3: great kindness.
• 22:59
  Speaker 4: We happen to agree on this matter. I am Pharaoh.
• 23:04
  Speaker 4: I am the image of Ra.
• 23:07
  Speaker 8: I am the morning and evening star, acting as an
• 23:11
  Speaker 8: arm of the gods themselves. I have consulted my priests,
• 23:16
  Speaker 8: and we cannot find any reason that justifies this wrath. Unless,
• 23:21
  Speaker 8: of course, I have caught the eye of another god.
• 23:25
  Speaker 8: A foreign god?
• 23:28
  Speaker 4: Abram?
• 23:31
  Speaker 8: Have you been completely truthful with me?
• 23:36
  Speaker 5: Your Highness, what are you accusing me of?
• 23:42
  Speaker 8: There's been a bit of gossip that has reached my ears.
• 23:46
  Speaker 8: I admit, I didn't want to believe it initially, because
• 23:50
  Speaker 8: you enthusiastically encouraged my actions.
• 23:54
  Speaker 5: Surely an honest man such as.
• 23:56
  Speaker 8: Yourself would not accept gift after gift... if he did
• 24:00
  Speaker 8: not desire the courtship to come to fruition.
• 24:04
  Speaker 2: Abram's heart caught in his chest. Adrenaline pulsed through his
• 24:08
  Speaker 2: body as every fear he had in coming to this
• 24:10
  Speaker 2: place became realized.
• 24:12
  Speaker 4: Abram, who is Sarai to you?
• 24:17
  Speaker 5: Your Highness, I beg forgiveness.
• 24:20
  Speaker 3: Sarai is my wife, just as your spies have surely
• 24:26
  Speaker 3: told you. The gossip, it's true. I was afraid of
• 24:30
  Speaker 3: what would happen to me if a man desired my wife.
• 24:34
  Speaker 3: I never guessed that she would be chosen by the
• 24:37
  Speaker 3: most powerful man in the world. I didn't know how
• 24:40
  Speaker 3: to escape my deception, which had gone on for too long.
• 24:45
  Speaker 3: Forgive me, and take pity on a man who fears
• 24:48
  Speaker 3: not for his own life, but for the lives of
• 24:51
  Speaker 3: many that he is responsible for.
• 24:54
  Speaker 5: Please, spare my life. Please best arise as well. She
• 24:59
  Speaker 5: was only doing what I asked of her.
• 25:03
  Speaker 3: Oh.
• 25:05
  Speaker 8: You dare beg me for mercy? You received treasures from
• 25:13
  Speaker 8: my trove based on a lie, and you dare ask
• 25:18
  Speaker 8: for more?
• 25:20
  Speaker 5: You don't deserve my mercy.
• 25:23
  Speaker 8: You deserve to hang for the crows to Slowly peck
• 25:27
  Speaker 8: at your eyes. Nevertheless, if your god is powerful enough
• 25:41
  Speaker 8: to wipe out my household, I have no choice but
• 25:46
  Speaker 8: to spare your life. And Sarai's too. I believe that
• 25:53
  Speaker 8: she is as innocent as I am.
• 25:56
  Speaker 4: In this matter.
• 25:57
  Speaker 5: Thank you, Lord Pharaoh. Thank you for.
• 26:00
  Speaker 8: Do not thank me as if we are friends forgetting
• 26:02
  Speaker 8: a quarrel.
• 26:04
  Speaker 4: I want you and your God far away from me
• 26:08
  Speaker 4: and my land.
• 26:10
  Speaker 8: Take your wife and take the flocks and gifts I
• 26:13
  Speaker 8: have given you.
• 26:14
  Speaker 4: That should assuage your.
• 26:16
  Speaker 5: God and lift the plagues from my household.
• 26:20
  Speaker 2: Abram sighed in relief and sagged to the floor. His
• 26:24
  Speaker 2: heart still beat wildly in his chest, but he thanked
• 26:28
  Speaker 2: Pharaoh profusely, even as his attendants brought forth a perplexed
• 26:32
  Speaker 2: Sarai and ushered them out. Abram was relieved to observe
• 26:36
  Speaker 2: that she didn't appear to be sick. Abram could only
• 26:40
  Speaker 2: assume she was the sole exception to the curse that
• 26:43
  Speaker 2: had wreaked havoc on Pharaoh's household. Abram wasn't sure how
• 26:47
  Speaker 2: to apologize, so he didn't.
• 26:49
  Speaker 5: Are you all right?
• 26:51
  Speaker 7: Yes.
• 26:52
  Speaker 3: Yes.
• 26:54
  Speaker 2: Abram and Sarai hurried from the palace to make arrangements
• 26:57
  Speaker 2: to leave immediately, for fear that the Pharaoh might change
• 27:01
  Speaker 2: his mind. As they fled, Sarai kept her eyes on
• 27:05
  Speaker 2: the ground ahead of her, but the same awe he
• 27:07
  Speaker 2: felt was written all over her face. The God who
• 27:11
  Speaker 2: had called them out of Haran and led them to Canaan.
• 27:14
  Speaker 4: Was at work.
• 27:16
  Speaker 2: Even the words Pharaoh uttered were seemingly placed in his
• 27:20
  Speaker 2: mouth by Abram's God, as if to remind Abram of
• 27:23
  Speaker 2: the call that had been bestowed upon him.
• 27:27
  Speaker 6: Abram, you are to go out from your land.
• 27:32
  Speaker 2: Abram felt rebuked by Pharaoh's words, by God's words, and
• 27:36
  Speaker 2: knew that despite his assuredness that he was doing what
• 27:40
  Speaker 2: he thought was right, he never should have left the
• 27:43
  Speaker 2: land he had been promised. His mistakes had almost cost
• 27:47
  Speaker 2: him and Sarai their integrity and their lives. Abram pondered
• 27:52
  Speaker 2: on all that had happened and resolved never again to
• 27:55
  Speaker 2: leave the land his God had promised. Surely his God
• 27:59
  Speaker 2: has proven himself to be a mighty rescuer and trustworthy
• 28:04
  Speaker 2: beyond his comprehension. Steve Gatina, Max Bard, Zach Schelleberger and
• 28:17
  Speaker 2: Ben Gammon are the executive producers of The Chosen People,
• 28:21
  Speaker 2: narrated by Paul Coltofianu. Characters are voiced by Jonathan Cotton,
• 28:26
  Speaker 2: Aaron Salvato, Sarah Seltz, Mike Reagan, Stephen Ringwald, Sylvia Zaradoc,
• 28:32
  Speaker 2: Thomas Copeland Jr., Rosanna Pilcher and Mitch Lashinsky. Music by
• 28:37
  Speaker 2: Andrew Morgan-Smith. written by Aaron Salvato, Brie Rosely, and Chris Baig.
• 28:43
  Speaker 2: You can hear more Prey.com productions on the Prey.com app,
• 28:47
  Speaker 2: available on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.
• 28:50
  Speaker 2: If you enjoyed The Chosen People, please rate and leave
• 28:53
  Speaker 2: a review.
• 28:54
  Speaker 1: This is an iHeart Podcast. Guaranteed human.