The Crimson Cord

If you like historical fiction, you'll enjoy The Crimson Cord: Rahab's Story, by Jill Eileen Smith.  I was selected to review this book for Family Christian, and was pleasantly surprised at how much it brought the Bible to life in my imagination.

This book tells the story of Rahab, the woman who helped the Israelite spies, and in doing so saved the lives of herself and her family.

Honestly, I'd never given Rahab much thought.  In the Biblical account, she's referred to as "Rahab the harlot" or "Rahab the prostitute."  I mentally dismissed her.  And yet, the author has created a scenario where her circumstances are not entirely her fault.  Obviously, this is a fictional tale, and one needs to be careful not to rewrite history in our minds, but I really enjoyed the way this book made the time period real for me.

In the story, Rahab stays with the Israelites after Jericho falls.  Her family decides to go to Egypt, and it's yet another loss for her when they leave without saying goodbye.  As the story unfolds, we see events in the book of Joshua unfold through Rahab's eyes.

Interestingly enough, the sermon I heard at church after finishing this book mentioned Joshua and the ripple effect Achan's choice had on the Israelites, which was part of the story.

One of the things I appreciated as an adoptive mom was the way Rahab was allowed to become part of the tribe.  And not only a part of God's chosen people, but one of two foreign women included in the lineage of King David, and ultimately, the lineage of Jesus.  Our God is a god of inclusion, which warms my heart.

Interwoven into the account of Israel claiming the Promised Land in The Crimson Cord: Rahab's Story is a friendship and romance that springs up between Rahab and Salmon, one of the men she hid in Jericho.  It was slow to unfold, as Rahab needed to better understand the God of Israel and forgiveness and redemption, and Salmon struggled with Rahab's past.  Redemption is a beautiful thing, and I was moved to tears more than once in this tender tale.

Author Jill Eileen Smith has written more than half a dozen fiction books about the women of the Bible.  I look forward to reading some of her other works!  You can connect with her on Facebook and Twitter.

Family Christian carries a plethora of books and gifts, including almost a dozen types of Christian fiction.  You can connect with them on Facebook and Twitter, too.

This post may be linked up at these linky parties.

Thanks for clicking for us!