Apparently, right now the only time I’m making time to blog is to do a book review. Hope you don’t mind. I’ll give you a glimpse of this week… mom came home last weekend for Valentines, took her to the airport, Christine came down with the cold-flu (major head cold with raging headache & flu symptoms), Christine is “well” now, but Vince woke up with “it” this morning, I’ve been fighting it all week (I just have the headache part), and my dad comes home for this weekend … Last week was the break week between 2nd & 3rd trimesters in the homeschool program we are with – this week was the first week. My daughter missed her classes all week. Yea, we’re starting out a week behind, how fun! (NOT) I did finish up a big project early in the week and have started a couple more. Yes, I’m ready for a “normal” week. Aren’t you glad I didn’t post more throughout the week :-D! Back to the book review….
As you probably already know – I LOVE reading Biblical Fiction. It helps me understand the Bible better because of the lifestyle being more spelled out; I tend to “live” the story I am reading. I don’t have a problem believing the Bible, I just don’t pick up so many of the underlying significances because I don’t have the history knowledge. But, put history in story form and I’m hooked. It would be a toss up as to whether I prefer Biblical or Historical Fiction, with that said – I have to know I can trust the author and their research abilities. If I don’t know an author, I tend to be leary all the way through the story and until I hear information verified from an unrelated source. Anyway….
I really enjoyed reading The Crimson Cord: Rahab’s Story
Even though as children we learn Rahab was a prostitute, we don’t really know what that means growing up, or maybe you did (I didn’t). Then when I learned what it really meant, in my naivety I assumed it was a choice she’d made. This was the second Biblical Fiction I’ve read about Rahab and both times it’s been suggested she was forced into this way of life because of her beauty. I really appreciated Smith’s way of suggesting it wasn’t a simple reason and without a lot of hurt as to why she was in this profession. At the same time, exploring the idea there was safety for her because she lived this way. <- also, the second time this has been portrayed. It was prostitution or worse.
It sounds so easy when we hear about Rahab’s belief, but Smith wrote it beautifully – there wasn’t an elaborate plan or reasoning, Rahab just knew in her heart. For Rahab to believe so contrary to her own country, but to know that she knew she could trust the Israelite spies is crazy-ness, but so very like God in His nature. I appreciate that Smith did not try to elaborate or speculate on this part of the story. Instead it was left pure – Rahab believed in the God of the Israelites. She didn’t try to fix/change/justify her life – she simply believed and Jesus met her where she was.
It was so refreshing to again be reminded of the “imperfect-ness” in the line of Jesus. (You can bring your mess to Jesus.)
How crazy is this? Remember Ruth, the Moabite, who followed Naomi back to her homeland, because she believed? Remember how she married Boaz, the kinsmen redeemer? By laying at his feet in the middle of the night before they got married (not a “good girl” thing to do) – crazy! …and, she became Rahab’s daughter-in-law. Isn’t our God amazing?!
If you want to read these stories yourself in the Bible, I’ve linked to Bible Gateways’ website. Look at this: Matthew 1:5-16
Salmon the father of Boaz, whose mother was Rahab.
Boaz the father of Obed, whose mother was Ruth.
Obed the father of Jesse.
Jesse the father of King David…
(then a whole bunch of generations in verses 6b-15)
…Joseph, the husband of Mary, and Mary was the mother of Jesus.
WOW! If you want to read more about a couple of the women in this lineage.
- Rehab: an Amorite, a prostitute; you can find Rahab’s story in the Bible at Joshua 2, and there is more explanation here about Rahab
- Ruth: a Moabite, loyal to Naomi, laid down at the feet of Boaz in the night; she has a book named after her, Ruth
- Mary: “favored one” of God; even though she was young & unmarried, she miraculously conceived Jesus by the Holy Spirit; parts of her story are found in Matthew 1&2 and Luke 1
Too often we get caught up in thinking we need to live or be a certain way in order to be “good enough” to turn to Jesus. We can come in all our mess to the throne of Jesus, don’t try to fix your life – bring your mess to Jesus.
** I received a copy of The Crimson Cord from Revell in exchange for my honest review. I was not required or encouraged to write a positive review. **