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Richard McBeeArtist & Writer

Richard McBeeArtist & Writer

Sarah’s Trials

HomeAll Portfolio items...Sarah’s Trials

Richard McBeeArtist & Writer

Sarah’s Trials

Biblical and Midrashic Texts

Gallery item — Idol Shop
2008 6' x 5'
Terach, my father-in-law, made idols and had an idol shop.

Gallery item — Smashing Venus
2012 6' x 5'
My husband, Abraham, discovered God; transcendent, without substance, or gender. While working at his father’s idol shop he decided to smash the idols to show how powerless they were.

Gallery item — Sister Act – Entering Egypt
2008 6' x 5'
When famine forced us from our new home down to Egypt, Abraham suddenly took note of my beauty and fearing that the Egyptians would murder him to take me, he demanded that I pose as his sister. He tried to hide me in a box, but I was discovered. Then I was abducted by Pharaoh himself. He tried to rape me.

Gallery item — Whip Angel defends Sarah from Pharaoh
2008 6' x 5'
I cried all night for God to save me from that man. Abraham tried the exact same ruse later when we entered the kingdom of Avimelech.

Gallery item — Abraham Taking Hagar
2008 6' x 5'
I tried for ten years to have Abraham’s child, to no avail. I was barren. So I gave him my maidservant, the Egyptian Hagar, to provide Abraham with an heir.

Gallery item — Sarah’s Despair
2008 6' x 5'
Just like that, Abraham went and had sex with her and she conceived a male child, Ishmael.

Gallery item — Sarah Laughs
2008 6' x 5'
Then these strangers told my husband that I, ninety years old, would give birth to a son next year. I laughed. Was my strategy for Hagar to give Abraham an heir a mistake?

Gallery item — Go Fetch
2008 6' x 5'
After Abraham circumcised himself as God had ordered, three strangers arrived. My husband ordered me, as if I didn’t know what to do, to make fine cakes for the new guests.

Gallery item — Hagar is Expelled
2008 6' x 5'
The minute Hagar got pregnant she mocked me like I was nothing in her eyes. I wanted her out of my sight.

Gallery item — Hagar and Ishmael are Expelled
2008 6' x 5'
When her son Ishmael was born I could see he was as much of a problem as his uppity mother, Hagar. I saw him mocking my son Isaac and I was afraid he might hurt him. I had to protect my family.

Gallery item — Sarah Alone
2008 6' x 5'
I woke up and Abraham had gone early in the morning. And my son Isaac was missing.

Gallery item — Abraham Hears God
2008 6' x 5'
I only found out much later that God spoke to Abraham that night while we were sleeping. He told him to take my only son, Isaac, and sacrifice him on the mountain.

Gallery item — Isaac Returns
2008 6' x 5'
I worried about my missing son and husband. Then Isaac returned, shaken. He told me Abraham almost slaughtered him on an altar to God. I cried out.

Gallery item — Abraham Mourns
2008 6' x 5'
After I died Abraham mourned me.

Gallery item — Abraham Returns to Hagar
2008 6' x 5'
Men have needs… so again Abraham took a wife and her name was Keturah. This was Hagar. They had six children. When he died he was buried next to me in the cave of Machpelah.

Gallery item — Isaac Comforted
2008 6' x 5'
After Abraham buried me, he sent to his family in Haran for a child-bride for Isaac.