Pearl in the Sand book review

Pearl in the Sand                  

TitleAuthor: Tessa Afshar
Publisher: Moody Publishers
ISBN: 978-0-8024-5881-0

     I was absorbed in this book from the minute I began reading it. It has been a long time since I was an avid reader, but this book had me hooked. I did find it had me running to the Bible often to look up battles I could not remember and other Biblical references. Afshar did not disappoint me, as this romantic tale is intertwined deeply with Biblical accuracy. While many are familiar with the story of the fall of Jericho and may be familiar with the union of Salmone and Rahab from the book of Matthew, we are left to wonder in silence how such a union occurred. How did the Canaanite woman, known to be a harlot, become the revered and loved wife of one of Judah’s sons?  Afshar takes dramatic and literary license to create a story based in Biblical history to help us fill in the blanks of what could have happened to bring this couple together to become the lineage of Christ.
     Afshar uses Pearl in the Sand to teach the reader how the Lord can take anyone from a life of sin and use them and their lives to define a purpose for the world and themselves as individuals. Through the story, Rahab and Salmone both discover how to find value and worth in themselves and then, in each other. The Lord leads Rahab through self-healing and then takes into a world where she learns to learn herself and others.

     This book was different from many I have read in a long time. Pearl in the Sand moved me to tears at times, as Rahab experienced pain and tears of her own. Afshar does well by taking the reader into the depths of Rahab’s character. This is one story that has made me think about interactions with other and members of my family. Its message was timeless and will remain with me long after the words of the author fade.

     This is one book I would recommend to anyone, Christian or those who do not yet know Christ. It has already been loaned to my neighbor to read. You may read more of this review at http://www.biguniversesmallworld.blogspot.com/ and at the Amazon website.

    

     I received this book free from Moody Publishers as part of their Blogger Review Program. In order to adhere to Federal Trade Commission guidelines (16 CFR, Part 255), I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.