The Lord

[The Lord was expanded into a portion of the novel The Patriarch and the Lord, ISBN 979-8-9860246-5-3, published 12/26/23 by DCW Press. This novel is Book Six in the series The Beginning of Civilization: Mythologies Told True.]

To be raised in a good working class Southern Baptist Church gives one many Sunday mornings to consider the workings of biblical history and theology. One of the great stories in the Old Testament is the story of Abraham; the grand Patriarch of many nations. That man got around. Abraham was told by his wife, Sarah, who was also his half-sister, to impregnate Hagar, who was Abraham's concubine and Sarah's handmaiden. This union begat Ishmael, who is the Patriarch of the Arab people. Later, Abraham impregnated Sarah, who begat Isaac, from whose line was born Judah, who is Patriarch of the Jews. "The People Of The Book" kept really, really close tabs on all of their ancestors.

Of greater interest to Southern Baptist preachers is the story of Moses and the Ten Commandments. They can really call forth a tremendous amount of good old fire and brimstone from those scriptures. But always, while listening to these sermons, I was wondering --"What's really going on here?"

This fictional story is just that -- a fictional story. But for me, exaggerations and all, it is a story that rings truer than the Supernatural version. It is certainly not historically accurate. But it's my best effort ... and it is submitted with goodwill to all.